Improvements in Machines for Writing Braille Type.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Writing Braille Type.
SIDNEY MANTHORP COCKBURN 66 Victoria Street Westminster Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A machine consisting of a board of suitable size on which the paper to be written
on is fixed. Stretching over the board & running in grooves is a sliding frame
which moves from end to end of the board. In this frame slides a traveller on
which is mounted three punches or styles actuated by three stops or finger levers.
The punches work on to a "rail" having cells or grooves as in use at present for
writing Braille. This "rail" is fixed in a sliding frame & moves with it. To
form the letters stops are pressed down & as they recover the traveller advances.
When the end of the line is reached the frame is moved down the board, a distance
equal to the space between each line of writing, the traveller is then drawn back &
a new line commenced. In place of the frame moving along the paper the paper
may be moved through the frame by a suitable arrangement of rollers in which case
the board may be dispensed with.
Dated this 10th day of February 1800
S. MANTHORP
CKBURN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Writing Braille Type.
I, SIDNEY MANTHORP COCKBURN, of 66 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to machines for writing Braille type, that is to say, a
punctured alphabet consisting of cells or oblong spaces in each of which is punctured
or formed a system of dots representing a letter. The said cells or spaces are
capable of holding six dots at such a distance as to be readily distinguished by the
touch, the letters being expressed by the number and position of the said dots in
the said cells or spaces.
An important feature of my said invention consists in the provision of suitable
means whereby six or any less number of dots, indentations, depressions or punctures
can be produced in a cell or oblong space in the paper or other material by means
of a single row of punches or styles arranged to be intermittently and automatically
fed or moved forward a short distance at each operation. I am thus enabled to
effect the necessary combinations for the Braille type by means of three or a lesser
number of keys or finger pieces instead of six as hitherto employed, thereby
greatly simplifying the construction of the apparatus and facilitating the working
thereof.
Another feature of my said invention is the provision of means whereby when
one or more of the keys or finger pieces and punches or styles are repeatedly
depressed the said operating levers and styles or punches will be moved or fed
across the paper alternately through a distance equal to the length of the space to
be left between the two rows or series of holes or indentations forming a cell, and
then through a distance equal to the length of the space to be left between two
adjacent cells. Suitable means are also provided for moving the said operating
levers and styles or punches lengthways of the said paper. Devices for indicating
the position of the said styles or punches at any portion of their travel, and for

page_text: hereinafter set forth.
WILICH the rume 18 set, anu Other improvements
In carrying my said inventien into practice I provide a board or plate of suitable
size on which the paper or other material is fixed. Stretching over or across this
board is a sliding frame capable of moving in suitable ways from end to end thereof.
In this sliding frame is arranged to move freely a traveller or carriage upon which
are mounted in a single row three punches or styles which can be actuated by three
keys, stops or finger levers, and a suitable spacing lever. The said punches or
styles work in corresponding cells, recesses or grooves as in use at present for Braille
type and which cells, recesses or grooves are provided in a suitable rail or cross
piece firmly secured to the sliding frame and moving with it. Suitable springs
or other means are provided for feeding or moving the traveller or carriage on
the sliding frame and the latter from end to end of the board, and for returning
the keys, stops or finger levers to their normal position after each operation.
To form the type or characters the keys, stops or finger levers are pressed down so
as to cause the corresponding punches or styles to press the paper or other material
into the cells, recesses or grooves in the rail or cross piece and form punctures or
depressions in the said paper or other material. As the said keys, stops or finger
levers recover or resume their normal position the traveller or carriage advances.
This intermittant advance or feed movement is so arranged as to be slightly longer
at every second operation of the said keys, stops or finger levers thus leaving a
suitable space between each letter. When the end of the line is reached suitable
catches or detents are released either by hand or automatically and the sliding
frame is permitted to move a distance equal to the predetermined space between
cach line of writing. The traveller or carriage is then drawn back by hand and a
new line commenced.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan
Figure 2 is a front elevation, and
Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating my improved machine for writing Braille
type.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line z, z Figures 1 and 3.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line ', z Figures 1, 2 and 4.
Figure 6 is an underside view of a portion of Figure 1, showing a detail of
construction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the board or platen which may be formed of wood, metal or other suitable
material, B is the sliding frame, C is the traveller or carriage, D D are the stops,
keys or finger levers, E E are the punches or styles, F is the rail or cross-piece.
The board A. is provided with a hinged plate or piece a adapted to close over one
extremity of the paper or other material to be written on, (when the latter is placed
on the board A) and thus form a clamp or jaws for holding the said paper firmly in
position upon the said board or platen. a¹, a' are catches or fasteners for holding
the said hinged plate or piece a in position when closed or shut down as shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 4. a a² are points or projections provided in the said hinged
plate or piece a and in the board A (as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4).
The said points a² are adapted to pass through the paper or other material when
the hinged plate or piece a is closed and fit into holes or countersinks provided
in the said hinged plate or piece, and in the board A.
The said hinged plate or piece a is shown open and ready to receive the extremity
of the said paper in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 4.
The sliding frame B is arranged to slide freely from end to end of the board or
platen A and at a suitable height therefrom in grooves or ways A¹ or in any other
convenient manner. b is a drum casing or barrel supported upon a spindle b¹ secured
to the board or platen A and to a bracket 62 firmly attached thereto. The said
drum, casing or barrel contains a coiled spring and is substantially similar to the

page_text: spring drum or barrel of an ordinary train of clockwork. c is a wire, cord or
chain one extremity of which is attached to the sliding frame B and the other
extremity to the spring casing or barrel b. When the sliding frame B is at one
end of its travel or close to the said spring drum or barrel the said cord wire or
chain c is wound upon the latter, and when the said sliding frame is at the other
extremity of its travel or in the proper position to begin writing, the said wire,
cord or chain is unwound, and the spring contained in the said drum barrel con-
sequently compressed or wound up so as to tend constantly to move the said sliding
frame lengthways of the board or platen, and towards the said spring drum or
barrel. d, d are catches or detents pivoted at d¹ to the underside of the sliding
frame B and adapted to engage alternately with stops or projections e upon the
board or platen A. so as to prevent the movement of the said sliding frame B until
released as hereinafter described at the proper moment.
The said catches or
detents d are pivoted at or near their centres and are each provided at one extremity
with a hook and at the other with a tail or extension, and are so arranged that when
the hook portion of one of the said detents or catches d is engaged with one of the
pins or projections e on one side of the board or platen A, the enlarged extremity
of the tail or extension of the other catch or detent will engage with one of the
pins or projections e on the other side thereof and rice versa.
1
The traveller or carriage C is fitted to slide freely in grooves or ways B¹ pro-
vided in the sliding frame B. f is another spring drum, barrel or casing supported
upon a spindle secured to the sliding frame B and to a bracket 2 firmly attached
to the latter. The said spring drum, barrel or casing is provided with a cord,
wire or chain one extremity of which is secured to the said drum barrel or
casing and the other extremity to the traveller or carriage C. 9 is a toothed
rack firmly secured to the sliding frame B. h is a spring pawl. i, i are levers
pivoted at to a bracket ; firmly secured to or formed on the traveller or
carriage C. The spring pawl h is mounted upon an extension secured to or
formed on the short arm or one arm of one of the levers i. The said levers i
are connected or coupled together as hereinafter described so as to form the
spacing lever. The said spring pawl engages moreover with the toothed rack
and is released therefrom after each operation of the keys, stops or finger levers D
so as to permit the travel or feed movement of the traveller or carriage C across
the board A as hereinafter described.
The stops, keys or finger levers D are pivoted at D₁ to a bracket k also firmly
secured to or formed on the traveller or carriage C. I is a plate or extension upon
the traveller or carriage C having slots forming guides for the said stops, keys or
finger levers D. m is a cushion or piece of india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material provided on the pivot i and against which the said finger-levers D strike
when depressed, and which forms a suitable buffer to prevent noise or jarring
thereof during the operation of the machine. The punches or styles E pass
through a hole or slot C in the traveller or carriage C and are supported in
suitable bearings n' in brackets or pieces n, one of which is firmly secured to the
upper and the other to the underside of the said traveller or carriage C. The
punches or styles E are arranged in a line at right angles to the rail or cross
piece F which latter is firmly secured in any convenient manner to the sliding
frame B so as to be in close poximity to or rest upon the board or platen A. The
upper extremity of the central punch or style is directly beneath the central finger-
lever D at a suitable distance from the pivot point thereof, to admit of the said
finger-lever forcibly depressing the said punch or style when operated. The outer
levers D are bent or curved as shown so as to form short levers D' the extremities
of which are arranged to engage with the upper extremities of the other or outer
punches or styles E, and to forcibly depress the latter when the said finger-levers
are operated. I am thus enabled to place the said punches or styles close together
and at the same time to provide a convenient distance between the said levers D.
o, o are spiral springs provided upon the said punches or styles E and which bear
against the lower bracket n, and against collars or enlargements E¹ formed upon

page_text: the said styles or punches, so as to maintain the latter and their respective stops or
finger levers normally in their highest position. I is a cross bar or piece secured
by means of screws or otherwise to the top of the plate 7 and against which the
said levers D bear when in their highest position. The cross bar or piece 12 is also
preferably covered with india-rubber or other suitable elastic material in order to
cushion the upward movement of the said stops or finger levers.
The rail or cross piece F is provided with holes or recesses F arranged in groups
or cells of six. The rows of holes or recesses F' are so arranged relatively to the
punches or styles E that when any of the latter are depressed by means of the stops
or finger-levers D, they will enter whichever of the said holes or recesses F¹ over
which they may happen to be at the time, consequently when the paper or other
material is placed in position upon the board A and between the said styles or
punches and the rail or cross bar F it will be forced into the said recesses thus
forming indentations or recesses in one side of the said paper or other material, and
embossed or raised dots on the converse side thereof. After each operation or
depression of one or more of the keys or finger levers the traveller or carriage C is
fed or moved forward, upon the return of the said finger lever or levers to their
normal position, by the spring drum or barrel so as to bring the said punches or
styles E opposite the next row of holes or recesses F¹. In order to provide for
leaving a proper space between the letters, the spaces between every second row or
one complete cell of the said holes or recesses F¹ is longer and every third tooth
upon the toothed rack g is removed, or the said toothed rack is otherwise spaced so
as to permit a corresponding feed or forward movement of the traveller or
carriage C.
p is a retaining pawl firmly secured to or formed on the long arm or other arm of
the spacing lever in such a position as to be clear of or out of engagement with
the toothed rack g, when the said spacing lever is in its normal or elevated position,
but to engage with one or other of the said teeth when the said spacing lever is
depressed, and thus hold the traveller or carriage C in position.
is a flat or leaf
spring acting upon the said spacing lever so as to maintain it normally in its highest
or inoperative position. When the said spacing lever is depressed, or moved into
the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the spring pawl is released from
the tooth of the rack g with which it was previously engaged, and springs or moves
forward so as to be in a position (as shown in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 5) to
engage with the next or succeeding tooth of the said rack g when the long arm of
the spacing lever i again rises or resumes its normal position.
A suitable stop or guide is in some instances provided for regulating or
adjusting the movement of the spring pawl / when released from the toothed rack g.
s is an index or pointer firmly secured to the short arm or one arm of the spacing
lever and adapted to indicate upon a scale having elevated dots t¹ the number of
letters that have been written in the line. Each of the dots indicates a letter
and every fifth letter is indicated by double dots as shown. The position of the
punches or styles E can thus be at any time conveniently ascertained as for instance
should the operator have had occasion at any time to stop in the middle of a line,
and resume operation after a certain interval.
2 is a cross bar or cross piece connecting together the levers i forming the
spacing lever and against which the keys, stops or finger-levers D are adapted to
strike when depressed to form writing, and thereby also depress the said levers i
thus automatically operating the said spacing lever. The said cross bar or cross
piece is preferably covered with india-rubber, leather or other suitable elastic
material in order to cushion or prevent any jarring or objectionable noise that might
otherwise take place when the said keys, stops or finger-levers strike against the
said cross bar or cross piece.
The catches or detents d are provided with pins or projections d² which project
upwards through the open portion of the sliding frame B. The said pins or
projections are coupled together by means of a connecting rod by operating
or moving which, through a suitable handle or turned up portion thereon, the

page_text: said catches or detents d can be released so as to permit the advance or feed
movement of the sliding frame B under the action of the spring drum or barrel b
for a distance equal to that between two of the stops studs or projections e when
it is desired to form a new line.
In some instances I provide for the automatic release of the sliding frame to
permit of the line spacing.
u is a bell secured to one of the side pieces of the sliding frame B and the
hammer u of which is operated at or near the termination of the travel or move-
ment of the traveller or carriage C by a projection or wiper upon the latter, so
as to give warning or indicate when the punches or styles E are at or near the end
of the line.
, wo, are raised dots arranged on one side of the board or platen A. and forming
a scale, and to is an index or pointer provided upon the sliding frame B and
adapted to indicate upon the said scale the number of the line at which the said
sliding frame is standing, thereby enabling the operator to ascertain at any time
how far off the punches or styles are situated from the end of the paper or other
material, on the board A.
The long arms of the stops, keys or finger-levers D are provided with oblong
or other suitably shaped blocks or pieces D₁ of ebony, ivory or other suitable
material, and the spacing lever i is provided with a similar block or piece ³. The
said blocks or pieces D₁ and 13 are for convenience of depressing or operating the
said stops, keys or finger-levers D by the fingers of the person using the apparatus
is a guide firmly secured to the underside of the traveller or carriage C
for preventing the rising of the paper or other material with the upward movement
of the punches or styles E. y is a handle for convenience of transporting the
apparatus. A² is a space or recess (Figures 4, 5 and 6) formed in the board or
platen A and intended to contain a supply of paper or other material.
sliding door admitting of access to the said space or recess A' as shown more clearly
in Figure 6.
A³ is a
I provide moreover a suitable box or case so arranged that it can be readily
placed in position over the working parts of the machine and secured to the board
or platen A, and adapted to cover or enclose the said working parts so as to
protect them from dirt or injury.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say: The paper or other
material to be stamped, embossed, punctured or written upon is placed upon the board
or platen A and clamped or secured in position by means of the hinged plate or
piece a points a³ and catches or fasteners a'. The sliding frame B is then drawn
or moved up to the end of the board or platen A furthest from the spring barrel
or drum (care being taken to pass the said paper or other material between the
rail or cross-piece and the guide ) thereby unwinding the cord, wire or chain e
therefrom and compressing, winding up, or storing energy in the spring thereof.
The traveller C is likewise moved to the extremity of the sliding frame B furthest
from the spring drum or barrel f and the cord, wire or chain funwound there-
from in like manner, so as to compress wind up or store energy in the spring
thereof. The keys, stops or finger-levers D are then operated or depressed and
consequently also the corresponding punches or styles E so as to press or force the
paper or other material into the holes or recesses in the said rail or cross piece F
and thus form the punctures, depressions, indentures, or embossed dots in the paper
or other material indicating the various letters or signs. After each operation of
one or more of the keys, stops or finger-levers D and the corresponding punches or
styles E the traveller or carriage C is released as hereinbefore described by the
operation of the spacing lever i, and is permitted to travel or move forward one
tooth of the toothed rack under the action of the spring drum or barrel so as
to bring the punches or styles E opposite the next or succeeding row of holes or
depressions . The said toothed rack is so placed as herein before mentioned that
the traveller or carriage C will be permitted to move a longer distance between
every second row of holes or depressions so as to leave a suitable space between

page_text: the cells or oblong spaces forming the words. At the completion of a word the
spacing lever i may be operated independently of the keys, stops or finger-levers D
so as to leave a longer space between each word if desired.
When the traveller or carriage C reaches the end of its travel the connecting
rod d³ is operated so as to release the catches or detents d from the stops, or pro-
jections e, with which they were engaged and permit the said sliding frame B and
rail or cross piece F to advance or perform a forward or feed movement (under
the action of the spring drum or barrel 6) a distance equal to that between the
next or succeeding stops or projections e, with which the said catches or detents engage.
When the sliding frame B has reached the extremity of its travel, or of the
paper or other material upon the board or platen A the paper is removed from the
plate or clamp a.
Although I have hereinbefore more particularly illustrated and described my
improved machine as having three punches or styles arranged in a single row and
so that by operating three keys or finger pieces twice six or any less number of
dots indentations or punctures can be produced in a cell or oblong space in the
paper or other material it will be understood that in some cases Braille type is
written with the cells in a position at right angles to that given to them in the
foregoing description. In this manner of writing it is necessary to have two
punches to move forward 3 times to complete a cell in place of 3 punches
moved forward twice. In this case I may therefore employ two instead of three
of the said punches. When two punches or styles placed side by side are employed
the feed or advance movement thereof is so arranged as to be slightly longer at
every third operation thereof.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat modify the construction of my
improved machine for writing Braille type. For instance suitable means other than
that hereinbefore described may be provided for operating the punches and for
feeding them intermittently along the rail.
For example depressing the stops or keys may compress a spring which in
recovering may advance the traveller C. Or the finger levers may actuate small
travellers to strike the punches in place of pressing them. Instead of the sliding
frame supporting the traveller or carriage carrying the punches or styles and
finger levers being arranged to move along the paper or other material, the said
frame may be stationary, and the said paper or other material may be caused to
move through the latter by means of any suitable arrangement of rollers. These
rollers are sometimes arranged to act on the margin of the paper so as not to
damage the dots. In this case the board or platen may be dispensed with. Instead
of the said board or platen I sometimes employ a cylinder, the latter being
suitably recessed so as not to damage the writing on one side of the paper or other
material whilst the other side is being written upon.
The punches or styles may be operated by means of electro magnets controlled
by suitable keys or by other motive power. For instance a spring may be
wound up by the movement of the traveller or carriage carrying the punches
or styles across the board or platen, and may react to operate a punch when
released by hand.
I sometimes construct the machine much heavier and stronger in which case
it may be employed for printing or writing Braille type upon thin sheets of
metal, so as to form what are commonly known as stereotype plates and by
means of which any desired number of copies of the said writing can be afterwards
produced.
The desired copies are taken by placing the paper or other material between
the said stereotype plates and pressing them together in the ordinary way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim
First. A machine or apparatus for writing Braille type, wherein provision is

page_text: made for the production of the writing by means of a single row of punches or
styles arranged to be moved or fed intermittently along a suitable rail for the
purpose above specified.
Second. The combination, in a machine for the purpose above specified, of a row
or series of three punches or styles, and suitable means whereby when one or more
of the said punches are repeatedly depressed and released, the said row or series of
punches will be moved or fed along the rail alternately, first through a distance
equal to the length of the space to be left between the two rows or series of holes
or indentations forming a cell, and then through a distance equal to the length of
the space to be left between two adjacent cells, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The herein described device for indicating the position of the styles or
punches at any part of the travel thereof across the paper or other material, as
above specified.
Fourth. The mechanism for intermittently feeding the punches or styles across
the paper or other material, comprising the toothed rack, the spacing lever, the
spring pawl, the fixed or retaining pawl, and the feed spring, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The combination of the punches or styles the keys or levers for
operating the same, and the spacing lever, substantially as and for the purposes
above specified.
Sixth. The combination with the rail and the punches, of the improved means for
ensuring the proper spacing of the lines, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The improved line-spacing device comprising the spring for feeding the
rail and punches along the board and the escapement consisting of the connected
catches and the pins or studs, substantially as described.
Eighth. The improved device for indicating the number of the line to which the
frame is set at any portion of its travel or movement, substantially as described.
Ninth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as and for the purposes above
specified.
Dated this 21st day of November 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.