Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
A communication from abroad by WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT, of 327, Broad-
way, New York City, New York, United States of America, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the Firm of Fell & James, of 1, Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The line spacing mechanism of a typewriting machine comprises usually a
ratchet wheel secured to one end of a cylindrical platen, a pawl for turning said
ratchet wheel tooth-by-tooth, and a detent or hold-fast for insuring regularity of
spacing and for preventing the platen from turning accidentally during the time
of writing. In most machines the construction is such that the platen may also
be rotated independently of the line spacing pawl, but in such cases, as
well as when the line spacing pawl is actuated to rotate the platen the latter
is turned step-by-step distances equal to the distance apart of the spaces between
the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and hence the ordinary construction is not well
adapted for printing upon ruled lines which are spaced apart differently from the
tooth spaces of the ratchet wheel or for writing upon printed sheets having blank
spaces to be filled or written in with the typewriter. It is one of the objects of
my invention to provide a means whereby the platen may be rotated indepen-
dently of the line spacing mechanism through any desired are, minute or large,
so as to bring any desired line or space on the sheet being written to the printing
point; and it is a further object of my invention to provide a simple and effec-
tive contrivance for releasing the platen ratchet wheel from its detent and to
simultaneously apply a means for preventing the pluten from rotating too freely
and for holding it firmly in any position to which it may be adjusted or turned,
during the course of the writing and quite as effectually as if the detent itself
were in engagement with said ratchet wheel. To these ends my invention con-
sists in the various features of construction and combinations of devices herein-
after more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the carriage of a Remington typewriting machine,
embodying my improvements, the parts being in their normal positions.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the detent as having been
disengaged from the platen ratchet wheel and the friction brake or shoe as applied
to the platen.
Figure 4 is a detached bottom plan view of the detent, its spring, the brake
shoe and its pivoted frame or carrier, and the cam lever by which the detent is
removed from the ratchet wheel and the brake shoe applied to the platen; and
Figure 5 is a detached view of the parts shown in Figure 4, but looking at them
in the direction of the arrow at the line z, z, Figure 1.

page_text: In the various views the same part will be found designated by the same
numeral of reference.
1 designates the platen carriage or frame, in the side bars of which is journaled
the platen axle 2, in the usual manner.. 3 is a cylindrical platen which at one
end is provided with a line spacing ratchet wheel 4 adapted to be turned step-
by-step by the usual line spacing pawl 5. At 6 is secured to the platen frame by
a screw one end of a bar or leaf spring 7, which is forked at its opposite end and
provided with bearings 8 for the pivot pin 9 of a detent 10, which in this instance
is in the form of a small anti-friction roll capable of revolving freely on its pivot,
although any other suitable form of detent may be employed. 11 represents a
sheet metal frame having downwardly projecting ears 12 which are perforated to
receive the pivot pin 9, the ears 12 being arranged outside of or straddling the
forked bearings 8 of the spring 7. At the rear end of the frame 11 is a brake
shoe or friction plate 13 which extends laterally inwardly over the platen and is
supported by or formed integral with an arm or extension 14 projecting rearwardly
from the inner one of the two downwardly projecting ears 12. The arm or
extension 14 and the shoe or plate 13 are arranged at right angles to each other.
The forward end of the frame or device 11 is bifurcated and formed with eyes
or bearings 15 to receive a pivot pin 16 which also passes through a perforation
in a cam or eccentric 17 arranged within the forks of suid bifurcated portion.
Said cam or eccentric is provided with a handle portion 18 for convenience of
manipulation.
Rigidly secured to one of the side bars of the platen frame and extending
upwardly therefrom is a bracket 19, that is provided at its upper end with an
inwardly extending pin 20, upon which the cam or eccentric face 21 of the
device 17 acts in the operation of the contrivance, as will presently be explained;
and the said pin is also adapted to receive a notch or cutaway portion 22 on the
cam or cam lever for the purpose of locking or holding the detent out of engage-
ment with the ratchet wheel and the shoe or brake in engagement with the platen.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the detent roller is shown as in working engage-
ment with the ratchet wheel and the brake or friction shoe as out of contact with
the surface of the platen, while the actuating lever or device 17 is shown as swung
backwardly and with its cam portion or face 21 resting lightly upon the pin 20.
With the parts in the positions shown and described, the line spacing mechanism
may be said to be in normal condition and when the line spacing lever 23 carry-
ing the pawl 5 is actuated the ratchet wheel and the platen will be rotated equal
distances or distances equal to the spaces of the ratchet wheel, with which the
detent roller under the pressure of its spring 7 co-operates to hold the platen
against accidental rotation during the period of writing, after the completion of
the line spacing movement. In this normal condition of the mechanism the shoe
or plate performs no office whatsoever. When, however, it may be desired to
turn the platen irregular or un-uniform distances and to hold the same firm for
printing purposes, the said shoe or plate is brought into action and simultaneously
the detent is thrown out of operative relation to the ratchet wheel. This is
accomplished by one movement of the cam lever. By pulling the handle portion 18
forward or to the position shown at Figure 3, the cam portion proper 21 riding
upon the pin 20 operates to rock the sheet metal frame about the pivot 9 and
to throw the shoe or plate 13 down upon the surface of the platen, and it also
operates, after the shoe or plate has come to a bearing, to cause the detent to
move up out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, the spring 7 yielding or
bending under the force applied to lift the detent, and this flexing of the spring
acts to give it more tension and to cause the brake or plate to bear harder upon
the surface of the platen. When the detent has been lifted sufficiently above the
ratchet teeth and the brake has come to a proper bearing upon the platen the
notched portion 22 of the cam engages with the pin 20 and co-operates therewith
to lock or hold the parts in their new positions as shown clearly at Figure 3.
From this view it will be understood that the platen may be turned by its hand

page_text: wheel 24 freely in either direction and for any desired distance or through a large
or very small are so as to bring the desired point or place upon the paper exactly
to the printing point, and that the pressure or friction of the brake or plate
upon the platen will serve to properly hold the platen in its adjusted position
against accidental turning and quite as effectually as if the detent itself were
co-operating with the ratchet wheel. When the necessity for irregular spacing
no longer exists the detent may be readily restored into engagement with the
ratchet wheel by a simple backward movement of the handle portion 18 of the
cam lever to the position shown at Figure 1, during which the spring 7 will
co-operate to re-engage the detent with the ratchet wheel.
While I prefer to make the arm that carries the detent of elastic or springy
metal, it will, nevertheless, be understood that the said arm may be made inelastic
and that a separate spring may be provided for said arm, which then may be
pivoted as is common in various styles of typewriting machines.
The frame 11 acts as a lever during the operation of lifting the detent, the
platen acting as a bearing or fulcrum for the plate or shoe 13 of said frame while
the forward end of the frame is being lifted to raise the roller and flex its
spring arm.
Although I prefer to have the plate or shoe work or bear directly on the rubber
surface of the platen, it may be arranged to work on the metallic platen head 25
between the core of the platen and the ratchet wheel or at any other suitable
place as long as it operates to put friction on the platen in substantially the
manner shown and described.
Various changes in detail construction and arrangement may be made without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring-pressed detent therefor, and a lever frame having a brake shoe and
connected to said detent, whereby when the lever frame is vibrated in one direction
and the brake shoe comes to a bearing on the platen the said detent is removed
from the ratohet wheel by a further movement of said lever and friction or pres-
sure is put upon the platen.
2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring-pressed detent, a lever frame connected thereto and carrying a
brake shoe, and a cam for vibrating said lever frame and simultaneously disen-
gaging the detent from its ratchet wheel and causing the brake shoe to press upon
the platen.
3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring-pressed detent, a lever frame connected thereto and carrying a
brake shoe and a cam, and a projection or abutment on the frame-work for said
cam to act against.
4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring-pressed detent, a lever frame connected thereto and carrying a
brake shoe and a notched cam, and a pin on the framework for the cam to act
against to lock the detent out of engagement and the shoe into engagement.
6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring arm carrying a detent roller, a lever frame connected to the pivot
of said roller and provided at one end with a brake shoe and at its opposite end
with a cam, and a relatively fixed projection for said cam to act against.
6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing
ratchet wheel, a spring arm provided with a roller detent, a lever frame mounted
to turn on the pivot of said roller detent and provided at one end with a brake
shoe and at its other end with a cam lever, and a relatively fixed pin for the said
cam lever to act against.

page_text: 7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring-pressed arm carrying a detent, a frame pivotally connected to said
spring-pressed arm and provided with a brake shoe, a cam acting first to vibrate
said lever and bring said brake shoe into engagement with the platen and then
to remove said detent from the ratchet wheel against the tension of the detent
spring and while the lever frame is fulcruming on the platen at the brake shoe.
8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring-pressed detent, a lever pivotally connected thereto and provided
with a brake shoe, a cam for moving the brake shoe toward and against the platen
and the detent away from the ratchet wheel, and a projection or abutment for
the cam to act against.
9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a line spacing ratchet
wheel, a spring arm carrying a roller detent, a lever frame provided at one end
with a brake shoe and at its opposite end with a lever, and a projection or abut-
ment for the said lever to act against.
Dated this 15th day of November 1898.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.