Improvement in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Type-writing Machines.
We, WILLIAM PREHN QUENTELL, Manufacturer, of Kansas City, in the State
of Missouri, and FRANCIS PATRidge McColl, Broker, of Brooklyn, in the
State of New York, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement consists in the employment in a type-writing machine of a
type-carrier carrying the required types, and in combining therewith keys which
represent the respective letters and other characters and which are provided with
stems or shanks so formed and having such a mode of operation relatively to the
type-carrier that when the latter has by means of any suitable mechanism been
so actuated as to bring into proper position for printing any desired type the key
corresponding to which has been struck or depressed, the stem or shank of such
depressed key will instantly arrest the further movement of the carrier and hold it
until the letter or other character has been printed and the key released.
Any convenient arrangement of levers and small gears, or other appropriate
means, may be employed for the purpose of actuating the type-carrier, and the
manner of supporting the keys and of bringing their respective stems into position
when depressed to limit the movement of the type-carrier at the proper times, may
be varied; but we have found that the mode herein shown of carrying out our
improvement can be put in practice easily and cheaply.
The object of this invention is to provide a type-writer which can be readily
and cheaply constructed and yet will be extremely durable and not liable to get
out of order, and which can be easily operated and sold at a very moderate price.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of our improvement.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 2, 2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 3, 3, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on lines 4, 4, of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the type-carrier.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the machine, the view being given to
illustrate a modified construction, and
Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8, 8, of Fig. 7.
10 represents the base-plate or frame of the machine, above which there is
mounted a segmental disk 11, such disk being carried by a shaft 12, that is
preferably steadied and guided by a bracket 13. The disk 11 is formed with a
downwardly-extending vertical flange 14, which said flange has as many apertures a
as there are finger-keys in the machine, such apertures being narrower at the
peripheral edge of the flange than at the inner face thereof, so that the faces of
the webs or partitions b, between the apertures, are inclined, as represented in
Fig. 6, such inclined faces serving as guides for the hammer which will be herein-
after mentioned.
To the peripheral face of the flange 14, we secure the type-characters c, such
characters being of rubber or of metal united to rubber strips i, a single character
being carried in front of each one of the apertures a, and the several characters
being mounted upon independent strips or upon a strip common to all of the
characters, but divided between the characters.
The key-board, which is shown at 20, is provided with arms 21, that are
connected to standards 22 by pivot screws or bolts 23, the key-board being
normally held in horizontal position by a spring that is preferably arranged as
Гр . 017

page_text: shown at 24 in Figs. 4 and 5. The keys 25 are arranged in any desired number
of banks, (three of such banks being shown in the drawings,) and these keys are
normally held upraised by springs 26, that are coiled about their stems, all undue
elevation of the keys, however, being prevented by laterally-extending projections d
that are formed at the lower ends of the key-stems, such projections bearing
against a plate 27 that is carried by the key-board. The tension of the springs 26
is materially less than that of the spring 24, so that at the initial pressure upon
any one of the keys 25 such key will be depressed and its stem will be thrown
some distance below the plate 27. The purpose of this arrangement will be
presently explained.
Upon the shaft 12 there is mounted a gear 30 that is engaged by a segmental
gear 31, that is pivotally supported at a point e, (see Figs. 1 and 2). A segmental
crown-gear 32 is made integral with or rigidly connected to the hub of the gear 31,
and this crown-gear is engaged by a segmental gear 33 that is pivotally supported
by a standard 34 and formed with a shoulder that is overlapped by a yielding
arm 35 that extends laterally from the key-board 20. The shaft 12 carries an
arm 36 that extends, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, to a point beneath the
plate 27 of the key-board 20, and we prefer to form this arm 36 so that it will
yield vertically at the point h, but will be rigid in so far as any horizontal
movement is concerned.
From the construction above described, it will be seen that if one of the keys 25
be depressed its stem will be carried below the plate 27 at the initial pressure
upon the key, and the key having been brought to rest upon the board any continued
downward pressure will carry the key-board against the tension of its spring 24,
and as the key-board so moves, the arm 35 will tend to throw the gear 33 in a
direction such that the gear 32 will move, as indicated by its arrow, (see Fig. 1,)
and this movement of the gear 32 will carry the gear 31, as indicated, and the
type-carrier will be moved thereby in the direction of its arrow, the forward
movement of the type-carrier being checked by the downwardly-projecting stem
of the depressed key, which stem will act as a stop and limit the movement of
the arm 36, the characters upon the type-carrier being so relatively arranged that
when any particular key is depressed, the corresponding character carried by the
type-carrier will be in printing position at the time of the arrest of the type-carrier,
in the manner just described. In advance of the type-carrier there is an inking-
pad 40, against which the types bear as the carrier is turned.
The carriage B may be mounted upon any proper way or track-such, for
instance, as that shown in the drawings-such carriage being provided with a rack
that is engaged by any appropriate feeding mechanism-as, for instance, a pawl 41,
that is pivotally connected to a link 42, and normally held in engagement with the
rack by a spring 43. The link 42 is formed with a cam-slot h', that is entered by
a stud 44, carried by a lever 45, said lever extending forward to a point beneath
a projection 46, that is carried by the key-board 20, so that at each depression of
the key-board the pawl 41 will be thrown forward and the carriage advanced one
step. The lever 45 also bears upon an articulated arm 47, that is connected to a
hammer 48, this hammer being normally held retracted by a spring 49, the
arrangement being such that as the lever 45 is forced downward, and just after
the desired character has been brought to printing position, the hammer will be
thrown forward and the type will be carried against the paper, which paper at
this time is backed up by a platen 50, carried by the carriage B. After the
hammer has been advanced, as above described, any continued downward movement
of the key-board will bring about the feeding of the carriage, and in order that the
carriage may be advanced without the throwing of the key-board at times when it
is desired to space, we employ a spacing-lever 60, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 5,
this lever being provided with a lip 61, that overlaps the lever 45, whereby if the
lever 60 be depressed the lever 45 will be carried downward and the carriage will
be advanced.
In order that the parts arranged as above described may be returned to their

page_text: normal positions, we apply a spring 84, that is arranged as shown in the drawings,
or the spring might be connected directly to the rack.
As before stated the arm 36 is free to yield at the point h in a vertical line, this
movement being necessary to provide for the continued downward movement of the
key-board after such arm has struck against the depressed key-shank.
Dated this 17th day of October 1890.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Type-writing Machines.
We, WILLIAM PREHN QUENTELL, Manufacturer, of Kansas City, in the State
of Missouri, and FRANCIS PATRIDGE MCCOLL, Broker, of Brooklyn, in the
State of New York, in the United States of America, 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 improvement consists in the employment in a type-writing machine of a
type-carrier carrying the required types, and in combining therewith keys which
represent the respective letters and other characters and which are provided with
stems or shanks so formed and having such a mode of operation relatively to the
type-carrier that when the latter has by means of any suitable mechanism been so
actuated as to bring into proper position for printing any desired type the key
corresponding to which has been struck or depressed, the stem or shank of such
depressed key will instantly arrest the further movement of the carrier and hold
it until the letter or other character has been printed and the key released.
Any convenient arrangement of levers and small gears, or other appropriate
means, may be employed for the purpose of actuating the type-carrier, and the
manner of supporting the keys and of bringing their respective stems into position
when depressed to limit the movement of the type-carrier at the proper times, may
be varied; but we have found that the mode herein shown of carrying out our
improvement can be put in practice easily and cheaply.
The object of this invention is to provide a type-writer which can be readily and
cheaply constructed and yet will be extremely durable and not liable to get out
of order, and which can be easily operated and sold at a very moderate price.
In the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification,
Figure 1 is a plan view of our improvement.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 2, 2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 3, 3, of Fig.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on lines 4, 4, of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the type-carrier.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the machine, the view being given to
illustrate a modified construction, and
Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8, 8, of Fig. 7.
10 represents the base-plate or frame of the machine, above which there is
mounted a segmental disk 11, such disk being carried by a shaft 12, that is
preferably steadied and guided by a bracket 13. The disk 11 is formed with a
downwardly-extending vertical flange 14, which said flange has as many apertures a
as there are finger-keys in the machine, such apertures being narrower at the
peripheral edge of the flange than at the inner face thereof, so that the faces of
the web or partitions b, between the apertures, are inclined, as represented in
Fig. 6, such inclined faces serving as guides for the hammer which will be herein-
after mentioned.
To the peripheral face of the flange 14, we secure the type-characters c, such
characters being of rubber or of metal united to rubber strips i, a single character

page_text: being carried in front of each one of the apertures a, and the several characters
being mounted upon independent strips or upon a strip common to all of the
characters, but divided between the characters.
The key-board, which is shown at 20, is provided with arms 21, that are
connected to standards 22 by pivot screws or bolts 23, the key-board being
normally held in horizontal position by a spring that is preferably arranged as
shown at 24 in Figs. 4 and 5. The keys 25 are arranged in any desired number
of banks, (three of such banks being shown in the drawings,) and these keys are
normally held upraised by springs 26, that are coiled about their stems, all undue
elevation of the keys, however, being prevented by laterally-extending projections d
that are formed at the lower ends of the key-stems, such projections bearing against
a plate 27 that is carried by the key-board. The tension of the springs 26 is
materially less than that of the spring 24, so that at the initial pressure upon any
one of the keys 25 such key will be depressed and its stem will be thrown some
distance below the plate 27. The purpose of this arrangement will be presently
explained.
Upon the shaft 12 there is mounted a gear 30 that is engaged by a segmental
gear 31, that is pivotally supported at a point e, (see Figs. 1 and 2). A segmental
crown-gear 32 is made integral with or rigidly connected to the hub of the gear 31,
and this crown-gear is engaged by a segmental gear 33 that is pivotally supported
by a standard 34 and formed with a shoulder that is overlapped by a yielding
arm 35 that extends laterally from the key-board 20. The shaft 12 carries an
arm 36 that extends, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, to a point beneath the
plate 27 of the key-board 20, and we prefer to form this arm 36 so that it will
yield vertically at the point h, but will be rigid in so far as any horizontal
movement is concerned.
From the construction above described, it will be seen that if one of the keys 25
be depressed its stem will be carried below the plate 27 at the initial pressure
upon the key, and the key having been brought to rest upon the board any
continued downward pressure will carry the key-board against the tension of its
spring 24, and as the key-board so moves, the arm 35 will tend to throw the
gear 33 in a direction such that the gear 32 will move, as indicated by its arrow,
(see Fig. 1,) and this movement of the gear 32 will carry the gear 31, as indicated,
and the type-carrier will be moved thereby in the direction of its arrow, the
forward movement of the type-carrier being checked by the downwardly-projecting
stem of the depressed key, which stem will act as a stop and limit the movement
of the arm 36, the characters upon the type-carrier being so relatively arranged
that when any particular key is depressed, the corresponding character carried by
the type-carrier will be in printing position at the time of the arrest of the type-
carrier, in the manner just described. In advance of the type-carrier there is an
inking-pad 40, against which the types bear as the carrier is turned.
The carriage B may be mounted upon any proper way or track-such, for
instance, as that shown in the drawings-such carriage being provided with a rack
that is engaged by any appropriate feeding mechanism-as, for instance, a pawl 41,
that is pivotally connected to a link 42, and normally held in engagement with
the rack by a spring 43. The link 42 is formed with a cam-slot h', that is entered
by a stud 44, carried by a lever 45, said lever extending forward to a point
beneath a projection 46, that is carried by the key-board 20, so that at each
depression of the key-board the pawl 41 will be thrown forward and the carriage
advanced one step. The lever 45 also bears upon an articulated arm 47, that is
connected to a hammer 48, this hammer being normally held retracted by a
spring 49, the arrangement being such that as the lever 45 is forced downward,
and just after the desired character has been brought to printing position, the
hammer will be thrown forward and the type will be carried against the paper,
which paper at this time is backed up by a platen 50, carried by the carriage B.
After the hammer has been advanced, as above described, any continued downward
movement of the key-board will bring about the feeding of the carriage, and in

page_text: order that the carriage may be advanced without the throwing of the key-board
at times when it is desired to space, we employ a spacing-lever 60, as shown best
in Figs. 1 and 5, this lever being provided with a lip 61, that overlaps the lever 45,
whereby if the lever 60 be depressed the lever 45 will be carried downward and the
carriage will be advanced.
70 is the feeding-roller, provided with a milled head 71 for rotating it. The alarm
mechanism is an ordinary one and consists in a bell 90, a bell-crank lever 91,
pivoted to the frame below the rear edge of the carriage, the horizontal arm of the
lever having a hammer 92 adjacent to the bell, and the vertical arm having at its
upper end the usual hinged section 93 projected through a slot in the frame or
base into the path of the lug 94. As we lay no claim to the alarm the above
explanation will suffice.
In Figs. 7 and 8 we illustrate a construction wherein the gear 30 is engaged by
the vertically-arranged teeth 80 of a rack 81, such rack being controlled by
a segmental gear 33*, which gear engages horizontal teeth 82, formed on the
rack 81.
In order that the parts arranged as above described may be returned to their
normal positions, we apply a spring 84, that is arranged as shown in the drawings,
or the spring might be connected directly to the rack.
As before stated the arm 36 is free to yield at the point h in a vertical line, this
movement being necessary to provide for the continued downward movement of
the key-board after such arm has struck against the depressed key-shank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a type-writer, the combination of a type-carrier actuated by suitable
mechanism, with keys any one of which, when depressed, will stop the movement
of the carrier.
2. In a type-writer, the combination with a type-carrier and a hammer therefor,
of a pivotally-mounted key-board which successively operates the carrier and the
hammer, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of the type-carrier and vertically-rocking key-board geared
thereto, with the carriage and hammer, all actuated by depressing the key-board,
substantially as described.
4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-carrier and a means
for operating the same, of a pivotally-mounted key-board, a projection or arm 46
carried thereby, a lever 45, and a hammer, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 16th day of July 1891.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.