IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITERS
Year: 1886

page_text: We, DANIEL EDGAR KEMPSTER (Inventor) and JAMES HERBERT CURRIER
(Insurance Manager) both of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITERS-and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making
part of this specification, in which-
Figure 1 is a top view of a type-writer embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a front elevation.
Figure 3 a front elevation with the pivoted frame and top plate elevated ninety
degrees, the feed rack on the paper-carrier being broken away to show the paper-
feeding roller back of it.
Figure 4 is a section of Fig. 1 on the dotted line xx, the knob H* being however
in elevation.
Figure 5 a sectional detail looking at the paper-carrier looking from the left of
the dotted line x²x² of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a sectional detail of the type-wheel showing one of the type held
therein by a set screw and
Figure 7 a partial top view of the paper-carrier, and
Figure 8 a sectional detail on the line 3x3, Figure
broken out, and,
the feed wheel being
Figures 9, 10 and 11 modifications to be referred to.
This invention has for its object the production of a simple and efficient type-
writer in which the printing may readily be inspected.
In this our invention the paper-carrier is made laterally movable on guides and
above the said carrier is pivoted the frame which carries the type-wheel, the
mechanism for moving it and the mechanism which moves the feed-wheel that
actuates the paper-carrier and also the mechanism which operates the ink ribbon.
This pivoted frame is made to resemble a yoke and the type-wheel mounted
therein has at its axis a small crown or other suitable gear which is engaged by
Di 77

page_text: the teeth of a pivoted toothed sector having hinged to or made movable with it,
the operating lever, or the lever which is engaged by the operator and moved into
position opposite the letter or character on the index plate which letter or character
is the same as that which it is desired to imprint upon the paper.
The operating lever besides being free to be moved horizontally is also free to
rise and fall a limited distance in a throat, one part of which is provided with
a series of letters or characters thus constituting an index plate while the other
part is provided with correspondingly placed notches or projections so that a
horizontal and vertical movement of the operating lever, ensures the placing of the
type-wheel in such proper position as to enable the particular letter desired to be
printed, to press upon the ink ribbon at the descent of the type-wheel.
We have interposed a top plate between the paper-carrier and the pivoted frame
referred to, and upon this top plate we have adjustably attached the ink ribbon
holder.
The particular features in which our invention consists will be pointed out in the
claim at the end of the specification.
The hase A has rising from its end, brackets A¹ which form bearings for rods A²
A³ A, the rods A² A³ serving as the guides for the paper-carrier B.
This paper-carrier or carriage as it might be called, is shown as a plate, and at
its rear side the carrier bas two upwardly extended arms B¹ provided with holes
through which is extended the guide rod A2, while at its front end, the carrier has
at its lower sides two lugs or ears B2 which embrace the guide rod A³.
One of the arms B¹ see figure 1, has a pointer 2 which co-operates with the
carrier positioning scale B³ on the top plate.
The paper-carrier B has a correspondingly graduated scale C connected with it
at the rear of the paper feeding roller C' see Figure 7 and in such position that its
rear edge falls as a straight edge just below the line being printed.
In case of a wrong letter being inserted, the operator will remove the same and
will notice the point where the letter was erased with relation to the scale C of
the carrier B then move the paper-carrier until the pointer 2 referred to is opposite
a number or line on the positioning scale B³ which corresponds with the mark or
number on the scale B³ opposite the point where the erasure referred to was made.
Such operation ensures the placing of the paper-carrier at exactly the position
which it is necessary that the said carrier should have to enable a letter to be
printed at a particular point in the line or to enable a line to be started at any
desired point with relation to its length.
The feeding roller has its journals mounted in suitable ears of a roller carrying
frame C² see figure 5 pivoted to the paper-carrier at C³.
The outer end of the roller carrying frame C² has a screw rod C which is acted
upon at its upper side by a spring D which serves to maintain the feeding
roller C¹ bearing upon the paper on the paper-carrier with a yielding pressure,
enabling several sheets if desired to be kept under the said roller for manifold
printing.
The paper feeding roller herein shown has the main part of its body covered by
means of an india rubber shell as best shown in the section Figure 4 and outside
the bearings of the said roller, it is provided with a ratchet wheel D¹-see
Figures 2, 3 and 5 which is engaged by a spring detent D² the said roller having
at its end a milled or other head D3 which is turned by the operator after printing
each line and is rotated to feed the paper away from the operator and on the
paper-carrier for the distance of one line, or step by step, the ratchet wheel D¹
being made with a sufficient number of notches to give the required number of
steps or partial rotations of the paper roller during each complete rotation of the
said roller as there are notches in the wheel D¹.
Each step or partial rotation of the said wheel effects the spacing or the distance
between lines.

page_text: If preferred, the milled head can be dispensed with and the shaft of the rubber
roll extended through the ratchet D¹, and have its end rounded to engage the end.
of a bell-crank lever or pawl Gs pivoted on the stop E³ the ratchet D¹ being, in
this case situated on the right of the paper-carrier, see Fig. 10.
At its inner side, the paper-carrier has fastened to it a bell D* and a spring arm E
carrying a hammer.
When the paper-carrier arrives at the end of its traverse toward the left to
complete a line the spring arm E strikes the bent end of an arm E¹ connected
with an adjustable stop E2 mounted on the guide rod A³. This arm E¹ acts to
lift the spring hammer E and just before the ear B reaches the said stop the
spring hammer slips from the end of the arin E' and the hammer strikes the
bell D, sounding an alarm which gives notice to the operator that the end of
the line has been reached. This stop and arm E¹ may be adjusted on the guide A³
to permit the use of paper of any desired width or to enable shorter or longer.
lines to be printed upon the paper being used.
The movement of the paper-carrier to the right preparatory to commencing a
line will be determined by the adjustable stop E³. And if preferred the feed
wheel F may have one end of a clock spring attached thereto and the other
end to a stationary part of the machine, see fig. 11, by which construction on the
releasing of the pawls by pressing the knob 26, the paper-carrier will automatically
return to the commencement of the line and engage the bell-crank pawl Gồ and
effect the desired feed of the paper.
The paper-carrier has a toothed rack E' under which the paper is free to be
moved.
This rack is arranged transversely of the paper-carrier and is engaged by a
toothed feed wheel F shown in Figures 2, 4 and 8, which is free to rotate on a stud 25
held in or by the upright a, the teeth of the said wheel F being cut into a peri-
pheral channel which forms guides for the hooked pawl al and the detent B² each
made as an elbow lever and pivoted respectively at a³ a' on a part a³ of the
pivoted frame G, the two pawls and detents being held toward each other by the
spring a
The short arm of the pawl a¹ has a knob 26 upon which the operator will press
when it is desired to throw the said pawl out of engagement with the wheel F
to move the paper-carrier by hand, such movement of the pawl also causing the.
detent a² to be thrown out of engagement with the said wheel. During the
upward movement of the frame G, caused by the spring b held in the upright a,
the pawl a¹, engages and turns the wheel F, the distance of one tooth to effect the
regular spacing of the letters of the line, provided the pin be held in suitable ears b¹
of the upright a is pushed in and rests in the line of movement of said pawl, but:
in case said pin is pulled out so as to be out of range of the said pawl, then the
pawl in its upward movement sooner engages the teeth of the wheel F and effects
the rotation of the latter for a distance equal to two teeth, such extra movement
being desirable to ensure extra width of spacing as for backing envelopes, etc.
The frame work G shown as a metal yoke pivoted upon the guide rod A' has.
suitable adjustable pointed bearings c made as screws and commonly used in sewing
and other machines.
These screws c shown in Figures 1 and 3 are in practice made adjustable so as
to adjust the type-wheel H and keep the teeth of its connected gear H¹ in proper
engagement with the teeth of the vibrating toothed sector H2 and avoid back lash.
The wheel H is provided with radial recesses, see Fig. 6, for the reception of the
stems of ordinary metal type d, the latter being secured therein by screws d', such
type being thus readily made changeable to permit the use of type of any desired
style or font, and in case a type is broken or injured, another one may be applied.
instead of it and without disturbing any of the other type. Heretofore type-
wheels have been provided with type all held by one clamp in such manner that:
the removal of one was liable to loosen all the others.
3

page_text: The toothed sector H³ (see Figs. 1 to 4) is pivoted on a screw d³ entered through
the yoke and through a backwardly extended portion of the pivoted frame G,
and into a standard d mounted loosely in the guide rod A².
The yoke h of the sector receives a bolt e which serves as a pivot for the
operating lever H³ bent as shown in Figure 1 and provided with a knob which is
engaged by the operator.
The frame work has a curved ledge or portion g which is notched or serrated as
shown in Figure 2, one notch for each letter or character of the wheel.
Above this sector shaped ledge or portion g is an index plate g¹ the face of which
is herein shown as inclined downward so that the letters and characters thereon
may be readily seen by the operator sitting in front of the machine, thus obviating
the trouble of the operator bending over forward and looking down on the index
plate as heretofore done. Between the index plate gl and the ledge or portion g is
a space which we call a throat and the operating lever H³ is passed through
this throat as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and the said lever is free to rise and
fall or turn on its pivot for a distance measured by the width of the said throat.
The lever H is normally elevated by the spring h² and the underside of the
index plate serves as an up stop for the said lever and at its underside the said
lever has a V or other suitable shaped projection 3 which at each descent of the
lever H³ enters one of the spaces in the ledge or portion thus holding the lever
accurately in a certain position and placing the type-wheel in such position as
to ensure that a type in the wheel corresponding with the character on the index
plate opposite the pointer 4. of the lever H³ will be brought by the wheel in proper
position to imprint its letter on the paper at that descent of the frame G, the
operator effecting the descent of the said frame and the type-wheel by a further
downward movement or depression of the lever H³ after the projection 3 of the
said lever comes in the notch referred to of the ledge or portion g.
The guide rod A2 has loosely pivoted upon it two arms m m see Figure 3 which
have screwed to them the top plate B, preferably a piece of wood, and as herein
shown the top plate serves to support the ink ribbon spool holder L shown best in
Figure 3 adjustably connected with the underside of the said top plate B* by
screws 7 so that the said holder may be readily detached from the machine when
it is desired to apply a new ink ribbon on it, the slots 30 permitting lateral
adjustment of the ribbon so that its entire width may be used.
The holder D has ears 8, 9 which receive the spoool spindles 10, screw threaded
at their outer ends to engage threads in the ears 8 and having collars 12 fast
thereon, which by turning operates to join them with the ears 8 and causes the
said collars to be forced against the outer side of the ears 8 to hold the spools 13, 14
frictionally, a washer 15 being interposed between each ear and the said spool.
Each spool has a ratchet 16 which is engaged by bail-shaped pawls n n¹ one or the
other of which in engagement with one or the other of the ratchets of the spools,
enables the ink ribbon to be wound as may be desired from either spool to the
other. The pawl not in use will be held by a suitable spring n² as at the left of
Figure 2. These pawls are pivotally connected with the frame G. It will be.
noticed that the operating lever H³ is extended forward over the sector or arm H
and toward the operator and to do this and enable it to cross and not interfere with
the type-wheel, the said lever is bent or curved upward as fully shown in Figure 4
and by so doing we are enabled to greatly reduce the width of the apparatus and
yet ensure the proper amount of throw of the lever, and it will be noticed that
the lever H³ is always below the index plate, so that the view of the latter is
never obstructed, and it will also be noticed that the operative handle is also
vibrated horizontally above the paper-carrier, and also it will be noticed that
owing to the frame G being pivoted at its rear side and at a point substantially in
line with the paper-carrier that the said frame with all its attached parts and ink
ribbon may be lifted and--tipped back about the guide rod A² to expose the paper-.
carrier and paper enabling the operator to readily see the line upon which he is

page_text: working as well as all the printing upon the page, which is a matter of very great
convenience.
$
The frame and top plate may be instantly turned up when desired from the
frame A' on which it rests and without removing any fastenings.
The type-wheel is provided at its rear side with a space pin t which when the
pointer of the lever H³ is in line with the center line t¹ of the index plate is at
the lower side of the wheel H directly above the foot or right angled projection of
the bracket attached to the top plate B₁, the said foot arresting the descent
of the wheel so that the type will not force the ink. ribbon upon the paper, but will
enable the frame G to descend far enough to ensure the operation of the pawl a¹
on the wheel F to move the paper-carrier sufficiently to ensure a space between
words. The ink ribbon below the underside of the top plate is passed over the
rests w.
In the drawing Figure 1, we have shown a segment H' provided with teeth to
engage the series of teeth of the wheel H¹ operated by the lever H³, but instead of
employing the segment and gear, we may employ a cord or band 28 connected at
its ends directly to the operating lever, passing over pulleys 27 and wound once
around the wheel H¹ and preferably attached thereto as shown in Figure 9, the
said cord or band being the well known equivalent of the gears. The adjusting
screw 29 see Figures 2 and 3 placed in the foot of the upright casting a may be
raised and lowered to serve as a stop against which the central portion of the
frame G strikes, thereby preventing injury to the type from too severe a blow.
This screw will be adjusted or placed at such height that the descent of the
frame will be arrested just as the type upon the type-wheel strikes the ink ribbon
with sufficient force to print a character upon the paper, this screw preventing the
metal type (which are usually soft) from being battered down or injured as
they might be if the blow of the type on the ink ribbon or paper below it was
too hard..
We can dispense with the ink ribbon and in place thereof use suitable inking
rolls attached to the frame G at each side of the printing wheel, said inking rolls.
being of different colors if desired.
Heretofore the type-wheels have each been made in two or more portions, which
on account of the labor of fitting and finishing them, and the milling of the.
recesses for the type was consequently expensive.
We make the type-wheel in one piece which needs no finishing, except at its
pivotal points, a row of holes being drilled radially in its periphery, forming type:
recesses which are circular in cross section, in contradistinction to the square
sockets or recesses heretofore formed, by which construction square type or type
having one side square may be used in said circular recesses, and may be held
exactly in line by the pressure of the square ends of the set screws, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of "the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
1. In a type-writer, the pivoted frame, the pivoted top-plate and the flat paper-
carrier, all combined to operate, substantially as described.
2. In a type-writer, in combination, the pivoted frame, the bail-shaped pawls
thereon, the two ratchet-toothed spools 13, 14, carrying the ink ribbon engaged by
said pawls, and the springs for holding them or one of them out of engagement
with its ratchet-toothed spool, all substantially as set forth.
3. In a type-writer, the type-wheel composed of a single piece having a central
axis and round holes drilled radially in its periphery, combined with type placed
and held in said holes, all substantially as described,
:

page_text: 4. In a type-writer, the combination substantially as herein before set forth of
the flat paper-carrier, the gong and striker attached to the under-side thereof, the
guide rod A³, the collar E' adjustably mounted thereon, and the arm E attached
to said collar, and constructed and arranged, substantially as described, to reach
beneath the said carrier, and operate the gong.
5. In a type-writer, in combination, the guide A2, the flat paper-carrier, the
scale thereon, the pointer attached to the said paper-carrier and guided by the
said guide, the top plate and the scale thereon, all substantially as shown and
described.
6: In a type-writer, the combination of the pivoted frame or lever, so constructed.
as to be operated by its outer or free end, the type-wheel mounted upon said frame
or lever between its pivot centers and outer or free end, the axis of rotation of said.
type-wheel being at right angles to the axial centers of the pivots of the frame or:
lever, and a movable paper-carrier beneath said frame, for the purpose set forth.
7. In a type-writer, the pivoted top-plate, combined with the ink ribbon holder
and its spools and spindles to hold the spools, the said holder being adjustably and
detachably secured to the said top-plate to enable it to. be adjusted thereon, or.
to be quickly removed therefrom as may be desired, substantially as described.
8. The type-wheel, the pivoted frame upon which it is mounted, a pawl carried.
by said frame, and a pivoted top-plate, and the feed wheel mounted upon the. latter
pivoted, plate, combined with the paper-carrier, its attached rack, and the guide for
the said paper-carrier, the latter being fed along laterally by the said feed wheel-
engaging with said rack, the longitudinal axis of the pivots of the said frame and
top-plate being parallel with the line being printed, to operate substantially as.
described.
9. In a type-writer, the pivoted frame G having the axial centers of its pivots.
parallel to the line being printed, and provided with an index plate and notched.
Hange g below it, both of which are situated at the extreme or free end of said:
frame, farthest from its pivot centers, a type-wheel mounted on said frame between
said index plate and the frame pivots, and having its axis of rotation at right
angles to the axial centers of the pivots of the said frame, and provided with an
operating lever and the mechanism substantially as described, whereby a rotary
and a vibrating movement may be given to said type-wheel, combined and
arranged substantially as described for the purpose set forth..
10. In a type-writer, the type-wheel composed of one piece having a central
axis and type receiving recesses or pockets bored or drilled radially in its periphery,
combined with type placed therein and held squarely by set screws arranged in
the wheel at right angles to the type, all substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
11. The paper-carrier provided with the toothed rack, and the top-plate and the
feed wheel F combined with the pivoted frame, its connecting pawl, and with a-
pin to co-operate with the said pawl and enable it to engage with and operate
the said wheel a distance equal to one or two teeth as desired, substantially as
described.
12. In a type-writer, in combination, the pivoted frame G, the ribbon feeding
pawls, the paper-carrier feeding pawls, the pivoted top-plate, the ink ribbon holder
and its spools and spindles, the feed wheel, the paper-carrier, the rack and feed
roll thereon, the carrier guide rod, the type wheel, the type wheel gear and sector
and the operating lever and index plate, all substantially as shown and described.
13. In a type-writer, the friction adjusting ink ribbon holder, consisting of the
plate L provided with two sets of ears 8, 9, screw threaded spindles screwed into
the ears 8 and having shoulders 12 combined with two spools placed on the said
spindles between the said pairs of ears, and adapted to be frictionally held from
revolving by turning the screw spindles, and thus clamping said spools between
the ears as set forth.
:

page_text: 14. The pivoted frame or lever, the feed wheel, the rack and paper carriage,
combined with its feeding and retaining pawls, each pawl being provided with
short arms, whereby a pressure on the knob 26 removes both said pawls from the
teeth of said wheel substantially as described.
15. The clock spring, in combination with the feed wheel F for automatically
returning the paper-carrier to the commencement of a line as set forth.
16. The bell-crank lever G³ co-operating with the ratchet D¹ on the paper-
feeding roll for the purpose set forth,