Machine for Automatically Operating Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Automatically Operating Typewriting Machines.
I, WILLIAM PATRICK MACBEAN BLACK, of 136, Wellington Street, Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, Writer and Notary Public, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
1
The object of this machine (which may be called the "Mechanical Typist") is
to typewrite automatically those formal passages which so frequently occur in
legal and similar documents and so not only relieve the typist of the most irksome
part of his work, but very materially increase the speed at which it can be done.
It would also prove exceedingly useful to those sending out numbers of circulars
etc. weekly or monthly for automatically addressing on the typewriter those
circulars. This end is attained by the use of a machine which is constructed
upon the principle of the piano mechanique or of other automatic stringed instru-
ments which are operated by bands or discs of perforated paper or metal.
Such machines, when used to produce music, simply require to be capable of
depressing the keys of the instrument as required for a larger or shorter time.
If used, however, to operate a typewriter, they would require not only to be
capable of depressing the keys as required, but also to be capable of shifting
the typewriter carriage back at the end of each line (at whatever part of the
matter it might happen to occur) so as to commence a new one; otherwise they
would be of little use in connection with type writers. In the present invention
the difficulty presented by that requirement has been solved in this way. On
the spiked barrel or perforated paper which actuates the keys, there is placed
between each word and between the syllables of the larger words in the former
case immediately after the spike or hole used for operating the space bar-a
spike or hole or spikes or holes which, instead of operating a key-depressing
lever, operate an arrangement for sliding the carriage back from left to right
and pulling forward the shifting lever of the typewriter. The effect of this
apparatus as just described, would be to shift the carriage back and put the
paper up another line always at the end of each word and often in the middle of
one; but this is prevented by the use of a locking device which keeps the spikes
or holes from having the effect they would otherwise have and only allows them
to operate when it is unlocked. The locking device is controlled by a lever
which, when it is pressed against by the carriage of the typewriter 6 or 8 or any
predetermined number of letters from the end of the line releases the locking
apparatus and so leaves the shifting apparatus to come into play at the end of
the word or syllable then being printed. A modification of the shifting apparatus
would be used for causing the printing of a hyphen, where the line happened to
end in the middle of a syllable. In the spiked barrel or perforated paper, when
used for addressing purposes, there would not be any necessity for placing shifting
spaces at the end of each syllable and word. These would only be required at
the end of each line of the address.
Supposing the "Mechanical Typist" was to be constructed upon the principle

page_text: of Bristow Hunt's Patent (No. 3158, 1871), that machine would require to be
modified in the following ways. There would not be only one row of pieces
(marked E in Figs. 1 and 3) but several rows corresponding in number with
the rows of keys in the typewriter and one would also require to be over the
space bar. To enable the machine to operate the sloping key-board of the type-
writer, the pieces of wood E, E, would require to vary in length according to the
height above the base-board or table of the keys upon which these pieces rested.
The axles F, F, would be fixed (not moveable as in the Specification of Bristow
Hunt) and each would carry not simply one, but as many levers as there were
keys in line underneath it. To enable each lever to be exactly over the centre
of the piece of wood E it had to operate, most of the strips G would require to be
thickened (some more, some less, some towards the front and some towards the
back of the machine) at their left hand ends or a small tube of varying length
would require to encircle the axle to form the fulcrum of the bell-crank at the
end of many of the strips. The pieces M connected with the shifting device
would not be kept down by the eccentric axle n, but by an independent eccentric
axle. This independent eccentric axle would always keep them down except when
released by the carriage of the typewriter touching a lever connected with it
when at the predetermined distance from the left hand end of the typewriter.
The strip connected with the hole designed for pulling the carriage to the right
would, when it came into operation, throw the cylinders etc. out of gear by means
of a suitable bell-crank and connections and cause a split nut attached to an
arm fixed (while the mechanical typist was working) to the typewriter carriage
and moving right and left with it-cause this split nut to close upon a screwed
spindle running horizontally along the back of the mechanical typist. At the
same time it would connect the crank with this screwed spindle and by its rotation
the carriage would be run back to the right hand side ready for beginning a new
line. (An endless chain, one link of which could be attached to the shifting lever
of the typewriter might be used instead of the split nut and screwed spindle).
As soon as that had been accomplished, the mechanism would open the split nut,
disconnect the crank from the screwed spindle and again connect it with the
cylinders etc. As soon as the shifting lever of the typewriter again reached the
right-hand end of the machine and just when the cylinders etc. had been recon-
nected, the hole operating the typewriter's shifting lever would come into play
and by means of a simple bell crank arrangement pull the shifting lever and
move the paper on to the next line.
If used along with my improved paper carriage and apparatus for operating
same, for which I have applied for a Patent (No. 4030/98), the shifting apparatus
would be exceedingly simple. It would not require the disconnecting of cylinders
etc. from crank and no split nut, screwed spindle etc. would be necessary. In order
to make the explanation of this perfectly clear, I insert here a copy of the Pro-
visi al Specification lodged with my Application No. 4030/98.
The said improved paper carriage and apparatus therefor consists of a paper
roller of ordinary construction, but of at least as great circumference as the
width of the line intended to be printed and preferably of not much greater
circumference. It must also be of a little greater length than the height of the
paper to be used. Round this roller the paper is wrapped in somewhat the same
fashion as a map is rolled up, the top and bottom of the page, however, being at
the ends of the roller and the portion of the paper which is to be margin being
overlapped by the rest, unless when it is intended to put in marginal notes.
A rubber band or metallic or other equivalent is then slipped over each end of
the roller over the paper and keeps the paper securely in position. At the centre
of each end of the roller a square hole is placed and by means of these square holes
the roller is affixed to the paper carriage by a spring being compressed and two
axles of square section (attached to the carriage frame in such a way as to be
capable of revolving with the roller) snapped into the corresponding holes in the

page_text: ends of the roller. One of these axles (which for purposes of reference I call A)
is very short and carries the spring which permits of the space between the axles
being lengthened to take in the roller and which by its recoil causes the axles to
securely hold the roller. The top of the page to be typewritten, when in position
is next axle A. The other, axle (which I call B) is carried through a ratchet
wheel which has at its centre a corresponding hole of square section so that while
the ratchet wheel cannot turn without turning the axle (and of course, the roller) and
vice versa each can be moved longitudinally without affecting the other. The
ratchet wheel is attached to clockwork which causes it to tend to turn in one
direction, which it is prevented from doing by a detent (which I call C). This
detent is depressed by. every depression of the keys of the typewriter causing the
roller to move round a short distance each time. Attached to the ratchet wheel
and making with it one short cylinder is a disc having only one tooth on it. By
a longitudinal movement effected by the operator depressing a new key (which I
call X) on the typewriter this disc can be brought forwards so as to take the
place of the ratchet wheel and lie over detent C; and when that is done, the
wheel, axles, roller.etc. fly round till the single tooth is caught by the detent.
One of the sides of axle B has a rack running down the middle of it. This rack,
when the roller has returned to the beginning of the line, is engaged by a detent
(which I call D) and this detent is connected with an eccentric or other device
which is connected either with the disc or more immediately with the key X, so
that when that key is depressed, not only does the disc fly round but at the latter
end of its movement (or after it has ceased, by the return of the key X it depresses
this detent and so moves the roller and paper along longitudinally and presents a
new line to be printed on. Detent D is adjustable so as to push the paper up one
two or three lines as desired. To keep the axle and its connections from moving
longitudinally during the rest of the revolution, a short tube encircles the axle
underneath the detent, the tube having, however, an opening or slot down its
whole length to permit of the detent engaging with the rack at the proper time.
On this tube is an internal ring or flange with an opening in it corresponding
to the opening in the tube and this flange is so placed that when the rack is
revolving within the tube one of its teeth is always caught by this flange and
the axle thus prevented from moving longitudinally.
If placing the roller and axie B in line would make the carriage take up too
much space, these might be placed parallel to one another.
As this form of carriage may be applied to any typewriting machine and as
in its application to different machines it will require to be differently placed
relatively to the other parts of the machine, it will be necessary in order to
describe this invention in operation to take it in its application to some well-
known machine. Suppose it is to be applied to the Remington typewriter. The
first thing to do would be to remove the Remington's present carriage and its
present mainspring. The apparatus just described would then be mounted on
the top of the machine at right angles to the position of the present carriage, but
like it on a horizontal plane. The present arrangement for operating the dogs
would be remodelled so that it would depress the detent C every time any key of
the machine was depressed and so cause the roller to move one step. The axle A
of my appliance would have on its end next the operator an index hand which
would evolve with the paper-roller and show upon a circular index what part of
the line the machine had reached. Attached to this index dial would be a tiny
bell which would be caused to be rung by the index finger at any part of the line.
The clockwork having been wound up (this would have to be done only once a
day or seldomer) and detent D having been pressed down by a finger being
placed on its end; (if not then raised as in one form of the device it would be)
and the axle, tlius free to move longitudinally, pushed through the ratchet wheel
etc away from the operator as far as it will go, carrying, of course, the roller
(which we will suppose already charged with paper) and connections with it, the

page_text: operator would begin to typewrite. As each letter was printed. or the space bar
depressed, the ratchet wheef released by the detent C would carry the roller round
a small space and present another portion of its periphery to be printed on. The
line of printing would form nearly a complete ring round the roller; and when
the end of the line was reached, the space then just over the printing point would
be close to the space with which the line started, the beginning and the end of
the line almost meeting. When the end of the line was reached the operator
would press down the new key X which had been placed in the keyboard of the
typewriter and this through suitable connections would move the disc with the
one tooth into the place over the detent C occupied by the ratchet wheel. The
consequence would be that the paper would instantly complete its then not quite
completed revolution and be brought back with the beginning of the line again
just over the printing point. While, however, performing the last part of its
revolution or while the key X is returning to rest, the eccentric connected to the
disc or more immediately to key X would depress the detent D and the machine
being so designed that the rack would be then engaged by that detent, the roller
would be moved a short distance towards the operator, thus putting the paper one
line up and in position for a new line being printed. When the first page was
completed, the roller would be unmounted by pressing axle A and the roller
would be removed. A moment would suffice to slip off the printed page and
slip on a new sheet, but in places where occasionally there was great pressure of
work, a number of rollers could be kept ready charged or two could be used to
be worked alternately, another clerk charging the one not at the moment in use.
In typing post cards or envelopes, three or more according to the length of the
paper roller might be put on the roller at once, thus reducing the frequency with
which the roller would have to be taken out of the machine.
If used with a typewriter fitted with the device just described, the shifting
arrangement of the mechanical typist would consist simply of the following
arrangements. The outer end of the axle A would be prolonged a little beyond the
index finger and over this prolongation when the mechanical typist was to be
worked, would be replaced the end of a shaft or spindle having a socket
like the end of a watch key. By means of this spindle which would be so
arranged as to yield to the rotary as well as to the longitudinal movement of the
axle, the motion of the carriage would be communicated to an eccentric con-
trolling the locking apparatus and so contrived as to unlock it at the desired
distance from the end of the line. The hole controlling the shifting apparatus
would (when unlocked) simply have to depress the key used for the shifting in
my improved carriage device and the shifting would be effected. Another hole
(not locked) would work another lever depressing the shifting key. This hole
would be used at the ends of paragraphs and at the ends of lines in addresses.
Another hole (also not locked) would work the hyphen when required for com-
pound words etc.
The mechanical typist might be hinged to the left hand side of the typewriter
keyboard, so that it could be brought into position for work in a moment. When
used for typing the formal parts of documents, any introductory matter would be
typewritten by hand first; then without touching the paper or typewriter the
mechanical typist would be brought into play and the handle turned or treadle
worked until a bell operated by a spike or hole indicated that the first formal
passage was ended. It could then be shifted out of the way, while the intervening
words were put in by hand; then it would be brought back again to do the next
formal passage and so on alternately until the work was finished. The finished
work would present the appearance of having been typewritten by hand from
beginning to end, there being no crowding in one part and blanks to fill up with
lines in others. When the mechanical typist was used with my carriage for
addressing envelopes, two paper rollers could be used alternately and if the

page_text: mechanical typist were turned by treadle and foot, the operator could be charging
one paper roller while the other was in use.
The mechanical typist might also be used for multiplying copies of any docu-
ments. It would have in that work this advantage over other processes and
methods that it could from one original make copies successively in various
sizes such as brief, foolscap, quarto, octavo, by simply adjusting the typewriter's
shifting apparatus or changing the carriage of the typewriter, either of which
could be done in a few seconds.
The machine for cutting the holes in the paper would consist essentially of (1)
a row of punches fixed in a frame and provided with springs to cause them to
return after being pressed down on the paper, (2) a pair of rollers for feeding the
paper through the machine and, (3) a device for causing the return of each punch to
rotate the rollers sufficiently each time to present a new part of the paper to the
action of the punches. The placing of the shifting hole at the end of each word
would (when my improved carriage was to be used) probably be performed
simultaneously with the placing of the space bar hole, there being apparently no
objection to their being side by side. The hyphen hole and shifting hole between
syllables would, however, require to have a line each to itself; but as they would
always come together the punching machine could be rendered more speedy by
having a single punch capable of punching both holes, one of them one line in
advance of the other, and in its return of moving the paper on two spaces.
Dated this 16th day of February 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
A Machine for Automatically Operating Typewriting Machines.
I, WILLIAM PATRICK MACBEAN BLACK, of 136, Wellington Street, Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, Writer and Notary Public, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
-
The main object of this machine (which may be called the Mechanical
Typist") is to typewrite automatically those formal passages which so frequently
occur in legal and similar documents and so not only relieve the typist of the
most irksome part of his work but very materially increase the speed at which it
can be done. It would also prove exceedingly useful to those sending out num-
bers of circulars etc. periodically for automatically addressing those circulars on
the typewriter. These ends are attained by the use of a machine which is con-
structed upon the principle either of the piano mechanique or of other automatic
stringed musical instruments which are operated by bands or discs of perforated
paper or metal.
Such machines when used to produce music, simply require to be capable of
depressing the keys of the instrument as required for a larger or shorter time. If
used however to operate a typewriter they would require not only to be capable of
depressing the keys as required, but also to be capable of shifting the typewriter
carriage back at the end of each line (at whatever part of the matter it might
happen to occur) so as to be ready to commence a new line; otherwise they would
be of little use in connection with typewriters. In the present invention a
difficulty presented by that requirement is overcome by arranging between each
word on the spiked barrel or perforated paper which actuates the keys and between

page_text: the syllables of the larger words-in the former case immediately after the spike
or hole for operating the space bara spike or hole or spikes or holes which
instead of operating a key depressing lever, operate an arrangement for sliding
the carriage back from left to right and pulling forwards the shifting lever of the
typewriter. The effect of this, apparatus is to shift the carriage back and put
the paper up another line at the end of every word and often in the middle of one,
but this is prevented by the use of a locking device which controls the mechanism
operated by the spikes or holes in question, and only allows them to operate at the
right time. The locking device is suitably controlled, and at any pre-determined
number of letters from the end of the line, releases the locking apparatus and so
aves the shifting apparatus to come into-operation, at the end of the word or
syllable then being printed.
One adaptation of such automatic appartus, as have hitherto been used for
striking the keys of musical instruments, to the operation of typewriters is shown
in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of such apparatus
showing its position over the keys of a typewriter. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is a part end elevation showing the mechanism for operating the shifting
lever. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail
views.
The automatic apparatus embodies a frame a in which cylinders b are mounted
and operated through gear wheels from a crank d. A perforated
paper passes between the cylinders and underneath a grooved cylinder e. Pivoted
detents are held against the perforated paper by rods g and springs so that
when a detent comes opposite a perforation it rises into the groove of the cylinder e
through the action of the spring hon rod 9. Each rod g has a lug or projection
on which rests a strip or bar i provided with teeth j at one end and at the other
connected with a crank lever k formed on a socket / mounted on a fixed spindle m.
The crank levers operate on short rods n guided in the frame and arranged to
rest with their lower ends on the keys o of the typewriter. When the rod
with the detent f it also carries with it the bar until the teeth come into gear
rises
with a ratchet common to all the bars and rotated from the crank through
suitable gearing; the cylinder thus pulls the bar i forwards which operates
through the crank lever and rod on the particular key of the typewriter
corresponding to the perforation in the paper. The spacing bar is operated by
a pivoted spindle, to which the crank lever kis fixed.
the
In order to automatically return the typewriter carriage at the end of a line,
into position for starting a new line, a sprocket wheel or disc p with a circum-
ference of greater length than the length of travel of the typewriter carriage, is
mounted at one end of the frame a on a shaft pt capable of being thrown into
gear with the crank at the right time. An endless sprocket chain p² passes over
the teeth of the disc p and is stretched across the front of the typewriter behind the
shifting lever and traverses over a small sprocket wheel mounted on a shaft på
capable of being adjusted in a slot by means of the
SO that the sprocket chain
screw p
can be readily removed or its tension regu-
luted. A fork 9 is fixed by bolts q¹ to the sprocket chain p², the
prongs passing on each side of the shifting lever 3 so that
fork and thus the sprocket chain is carried along with the typewriter carriage.
The disc is formed with a sleeve 28 on which are collars 7 which keep the
sleeve in position in the bearings, the disc p being mounted on the shaft p
in such manner that it rotates therewith, but the shaft is capable of moving
longitudinally independently of the disc, being alternately operated by a shifting
lever and a spring r which bears against the head on the end of the shaft p¹.
The shifting levert with a collar fixed thereto and sliding freely on the shaft pl
is actuated from the head of a rocking frame u¹. The rocking frame u¹ is
operated from a hole in the perforated paper whose indent f is held out of opera-
tion until the carriage has reached a predetermined position where the line ter-
minates. This is effected as shown in Fig. 4 by a pin fixed at one end of the

page_text: indent and guided in a race &¹ in the disc p, so that the indent is held out of opera-
tion until the pin reaches the recess which corresponds with the end of a line,
and allows the indent and its rod to rise and with it the strip or bar which is pulled
forward by the ratchet cylinder thus oscillating the bell crank lever we and pulling
forward the rocking frame ¹ thereby operating levert which comes against a fixed
collar on the shaft and moves the shaft longitudinally against the action of the
spring until a pinion a fixed on the shaft comes into gear through an idle
pinion with a pinion on the crank axle. The shaft is held in this position
as long as necessary by a spring y which during the shifting of the shaft is pushed
through the opening y in the dise z supported in the strap a² on the cross-bars a¹
fixed to the frame and secured by a set screw. It will be seen that in this position
of the shaft the pinion c¹ is thrown out of gear with the pinions c² so that the
type actuating mechanism is for the time out of gear, and on continuing to turn
the crank the sprocket disc is rotated in the direction of the arrow thus travers-
ing the chain and with it the shifting lever 73 and the carriage of the type-
writer until the position is reached where it is desired to start a new line, when
the shaft is released by the spring y passing through a slot in the disc
and. moves back to its normal position under the action of the spring r, throwing
the sprocket disc p out of gear and putting the printing apparatus in gear with
the crank d.
A hole with a locked indent similar to that described for shifting the carriage
is used for causing the printing of a hyphen where the line happens to end in
the middle of a syllable, and special holes with unlocked indents arranged for
sliding back the carriage and pulling the shifting lever would be used at ends of
paragraphs. In the spiked barrel or perforated paper, when used for addressing
purposes, there would not be any necessity for placing shifting spaces at the end
of each syllable and word. These would only be required at the end of each line
of the address and unlocked shifting holes would be used instead of the others.
The line spacing is effected simultaneously with the shifting of the carriage by
the rocking frame which operates on the lever p³ the width of such space
being adjusted by inserting the top rod u in any one of the holes uu u in the
head u.
For the purpose of readily fixing the rod it is formed with a milled
head and a screw thread adjacent thereto adapted to screw into the holes in
the head u.
Both the disc and sprocket disc p are graduated on their faces, that on the
disc being set according to the width of margin required and that on the sprocket
disc according to the length of line.
To set the automatic apparatus for use the disc is rotated until a certain
division thereon comes opposite a mark on the support a¹ and corresponds with
that upon the typewriter scale which determines the width of margin. Disc z is
fixed in this position.
The sprocket disc is then adjusted for the length of line, that is, so that the
recess in the race may allow the levert to operate at the end of the line, and
to effect this adjustment the chain 72 is taken off the sprocket disc which is turned
round until the index finger z¹ fixed to the frame of the machine points to the
figure on the disc pre-arranged to correspond with the point on the typewriter
scale at which the bell would be set to ring for a line of the required length. The
chain is then put on again and tightened up by the screw p² care being taken that
the fork is in position on the shifting lever.
The "Mechanical Typist" may be hinged to the left hand side of the typewriter
keyboard so that it can be brought into position for work in a moment. When
used for typing the formal parts of documents any introductory matter is written
by hand first, then without touching the paper or typewriter the mechanical
typist is brought into play its shifting frame being brought under the typewriter's
shifting lever and its fork pulled along from right to left or left to right (depend-
ing on what part of the line it last left off) until the shifting lever can be placed
between its prongs. The handle is then turned until a bell operated by a hole

page_text: indicates that the first formal passage is ended. It could then be shifted out of
the way, while any intervening words are put in by hand, then it may be brought
back again to do the next formal passage and so on alternately until the work is
finished. The finished work will have no break or irregularities in it like a
filled up form, but will be indistinguishable from work entirely executed by hand.
In addition to the uses already indicated, the Mechanical Typist" may also
be used for multiplying copies of any document. It would have in that work this
advantage over other processes and methods that it could from one original make
copies successively in various sizes such as, brief, foolscap, quarto, octavo, and in
various styles of type and variety of letter spacing and line spacing. It would
also be much more cleanly to work than all known duplicating processes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An apparatus for automatically operating typewriters consisting in the com-
bination with mechanism for operating the typewriter keys, of line spacing an
shifting mechanism, constructed and operating substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for automatically operating typewriters in which the keys are
actuated by mechanism controlled by a perforated sheet of paper or the like, the
arrangement of holes or penforations at the end of each syllable and word, such
holes operating a shifting device normally locked, and only released towards the
end of each line to return the carriage of the typewriter info position for com-
mencing a new line, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus for automatically operating typewriters, the shifting device,
embodying a chain and sprocket disc, a fork fixed to the chain, and means for
putting the disc into or out of gear with the operating handle, substantially as
described.
4. In apparatus for automatically operating typewriters, the rocking frame
operating on the shifting lever and effecting the line spacing, substantially as
described.
5. The improved machine for automatically operating typewriting machines,
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of December 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.