Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1898-Accepted, 22hd Aug., 1898
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, WELLINGTON PARKER KIDDER, of Robeson Street, Jamaica Plain, Boston,
Massachusette, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to type-writing machines and has for its chief object the
construction of a machine which shall be substantially noiseless when working.
For this purpose I eliminate concussion' in the key action by substituting pressure
or thrust for the blow usually given.
My improvements are particularly applicable to machines having
4 gėries of
type bars arranged in one plane and adapted to move endwiso to deliver the
impression. For actuating each type bar I provide a pair of levers forming a
toggle joint, in combination with a cam for controlling the movement of the toggle
levers, although in some instances the cam may be dispensed with. In a proferred
form of construction one of the levers forming the toggle is slotted and is actuated
by a pivoted lever carrying a cam roller working in the said slot, said lever being
controlled by a link in operative connection with the key lever. When the type
has completed its forward or printing movement the cam roller enters a part of the
slot which is so shaped that no further movement is imparted to the type bar
although the keɲ. lover may be still further depressed until arrested by any soft
gradually acting stop such as a block of indiarubber which is placed preferably
near the pivot of the key lover. By means of this toggle action the type bar is
gradually brought to rest and is prevented from striking a blow such as that given
by the type bars in other well-known type writing machines. Moreover by the
combination with the toggle lever of the cam slot and cam roller above referred to
great velocity is obtained during the early part of the stroke of the type bar and
great force combined with slow motion during the latter part of the stroke, I find
that with this construction the impression of the type is substantially the same
whether the key be struck forcibly or whether it be depressed gently, so that great
uniformity of the writing is obtained.
I mount each slotted lever and its actuating lever upon a bracket or standard
which can be adjusted by means of a screw whereby the pressure of the several
types on the paper can he independently regulated with great nicety to produce
even writing.
I provide at the back of the paper darringe a’support which accurately maintains
the front surface of the printing-roller or the paper carrier at the proper distance
for the types to press thereon with the required brob. This support is preferably
made adjustable so that it can be quickly changed' to admit two or more sheets of
paper for manifolding as required. For example the said support may be a roller
mounted on an eccentric pivot so that by turning the support a longer or shorter
radius can be brought opposite the printing roller.
For returning the paper carriage noiselessly: I' provide a lever and link forming
a toggle and controlled by a swinging arm (with or without intermediate
connections) pivoted to the frame of the machine. One end of the link is pivoted
to the paper carriage and the other end to its actusting lover.
By this mechanism the carriage is moved rapidly at first and' is then brought
gradually to a state of rest without slamming against the'marginal stops 'ns is the

page_text: case in other machines. The link may be slotted to allow of adjusting the position
of the carriage relatively thereto so as to vary the margin of the 'writing as
required.
1 provide a stop to arrest the lever when it has conipleted its movement. The
said stop is placed near the pivot of the lever and may be of soft rubber or the like
to prevent noise.
The escapement is in. some respects similar to an ordinary clock escapement but
one of the palleta viz. that one which serves to arrest the motion of the star wheel,
consists of a pair of levera or pawls and a spring so arranged that the pressure of
the tooth of tho star wheel when the said wheel is liberated by the pallet on the
other side presses upon the said levers with a gradually decreasing leverage until
brought to rest substantially without concussion. On the return movement of the
escapement the fixed or rigid pallet comes into engagement with the star wheel
without permitting said wheel to turn, and the levers constituting the other pallet
return to their normal position.
A further improvement in my machine relates to the shift mechanism for the
paper carriage. The normal position of the paper roller is preferably opposite
the uppermost types on the type bars, and by depressing a shift key the roller is
lowered to come opposite the middle types of the type bars, its downward motion
being arrested by a movable stop. When the roller is required to be lowered to
the level of the lowest types on the type bara the movable stop is removed out of
the way and the roller is then arrested by a fixed stop. The said movable atop
controlled by the shift key which is capable of rocking on its pivot, 50 that when
the finger is applied to one side of the said kuy to depress the same it has no effect
on the movable stop, but when the finger is applied to the other side of the key the
latter swings on its pivot and operates to remove the movable stop, so that one
shift key only is required for moving the roller to its different positions.
Dated this 21st day of October 1895.
is
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, WELLINGTON Parker Kidder, of Robeson Street, Jamaica Plain, in the
City of Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of
America, Mechanical 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 is an improvement in typewriters of the end-thrust type-bar class.
The different features of my invention may be embodied, if desired, in other styles
and kinds of typewriting machines, and I wish to be understood as herein claiming
my invention in the broadest manner that is legally permissible.
The object of my inveution is to produce an approximately noiseless typewriting
machine and also oue in which the impression is given by a dwelling pressure
rather than by a quick, sharp blow.
An important feature of my construction consists in the combination of a platen
and impression-key lever with an end-thrust type-carrier and toggle, the toggle..
members and type-carrier being substantially in a straight line when the
impression is taken. The particular features of my invention aro pointed out
' hereafter.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 and 2 exhibit my invention disconnected from the old structure upon
which it is an improvement..

page_text: Figure 1 being a side-view of my now toggle-joint connection for a typo-carrier
and key-lever with other features of my invention; and
Figure 2 being a plan of part of Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a view showing the type-bar in printing position and the members
of the toggle and their pivots in line with each other.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing so much of an old structure as will
suffice to show the connection of my presont invention therewith.
In the drawings, in which I show my invention embodied in a typewriter of the
end thrust class, this being one of many contemplated embodiments of my invention,
and the best mode now known to me, 1 is the impression key-lever, adapted to he
pivoted to any suitable support, 2 a link pivoted thereto and to a rocker-arm 3
which is pivoted to any suitable support 4. Rocker-arm 3 is provided with a
projection 3 for the pivotal attachment at 3 of the link 2, at one side of the
pivot or centro 3 so that when the link 2 is pulled down to straighten the
toggle-members 3 and 5, the pull on the rocker-arm or toggle-member 3 is not on
a dend centro and the parts are readily operated to move the type-head or carrier 6
to impression. Rocker-arm 3 forms one member of a toggle, the other member
thereof being link 5, which is pivoted to the rocker-arm 3, and also to the
end-thrust type-carrier 6, which is provided with a suitable table in ledge-like
guide-support 7 that supports and with an upper guide 7 that helps to direct and
control the type-carrier in its end-wise movement to and from the platen 8.
Depression of key-lever 1 draws link 2 downwardly, and rocker-arm 3 is thereby
swung forward, bringing link 5 in line with the type-carrier 6 connected thereto.
When rooker-arm 3 completes its full movement, it is in line with link 5, and the
type-carrier presses ngainst the platen 8, boing ginitled thereto by the table or
ledge-like guide-support 7 of any suitable construction. This guide 7 supports
the type-carrier 6 during the forward and back movements thereof, while the
guides 7 and 7, which are placed at the impression point, compel the type-head
to contact unwaveringly with and to run straight against the platen. The toggle-
action of rocker-arm 8 and link 5 is such that the impression is obtained by a
pressure which is characterized by a slight dwell as distinguished from a quick,
sharp blow, and from a rocking movement of the type on the paper that renders
impression indistinct and blurred.
To accomplish this valuable result, the forward or impression-giving movement
of the type-carrier is arrested at the instant of impression; the type-carrier and
link 5 and rocker-arm 3,-in other words, the type-carrier and toggle members,—
being made the length requisite for this purpose. This is my preferred
Construction, but I do not limit my invention to this specific feature. To insure
a minimum of noise in the operation of the machine, I mount a pad 9 (say of
rubber) in the path of the link 5 against which the link strikes when in line with
the type-carrier 0, and place another pad 10 back of link 2, so that the link 2
strikes against a pad on its back-stroke. The key-lever 1 and connected parts
referred to are returned to their position of rest by a spring-pressure as will be
readily understood by all skilled in the art, although for the sake of more clearly
showing the operation of my new toggle connection, I show a spring 11 interposed
between the key-lever and bottom of the machine; but it will of course be
understood that the spring return of the key may be obtained in many different
ways without departing from my invention.
1
In the construction shown, the keylever 1 extends from the front or koy-board
side of the machine rearwardly underneath or at one side of the table or ledge-like
supporting guide 7, and is pivoted to the machine at 1°, well towards the platen.
Type-head or carrier 6 is provided with a plurality of characters at 6*, 8**,
and 6***; and the table or ledge-like guide-support 7 is common to a plurality of
type-heads. The support 7 is preferably horizontal as shown.
.
.
In order to securo approximately exact uniformity of. impression, I provide
means for adjusting and controlling the throw of the type-carrier. By so doing b¨
period, for example, is made to print without injury to the paper; and all types

page_text: impression-key lever with a toggle and end-thrust type-carrier, a link connecting
a member of the toggle with the impression key lover, and a guide at the
impression point for the head of the type-carrier, the link extending across the
plane of the path of the type-head from one toggle-member to the impression-key
fever pivoted at one side of said plane, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Seventh. In a typewriting or like machino, the combination of a platen and'
impression-key lever with an oud-thrust type-carrier and toggle, a link connecting
a inggle-member with the impression-key lever, a guide-support for the type-.
carrier during its movement from and towards the platen, a pad for the toggle
when straightened, and a pad at the rear of said link against which the link strikes
on its back-stroke, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. In a typewriting or liko machine, the combination of an end-thrust
type-carrier, a horizontal ledge-like guide-support therefor during its movement
from and towards the platen, a toggle and impression-key lever, a link connecting
the toggle with the impression-key lever which is pivoted towards the platen, nt
one side of said support and extends forwardly beyond said support, and an
adjustable bracket to which one toggle-member is pivoted, the other toggle-
member being pivoted to the type-carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Ninth. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an impression-key, a link.
connected therewith, a toggle, one member of which is pivoted in the machine nod
connected with said link, a type-carrier with which the other member of said
toggle is connected, a type-carrior guide comprising a table or ledge across which
the type-carrier moves, and a platen, said table being between the platen and the
front of the machine, and the impression-key being pivoted at one side of said.
table, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a type-head
guides to control the type-head at impression, a table or ledge-like support for the
type-head during its. movements from and towards the platen, a toggle, one-
member of which is connected with the type-head and the other member of which
is pivoted in the machine, the centres of the toggle being at one side of said
support, an impression-key pivoted at one side of said support, and a link
connecting said impression-key lever with one of the toggle-members, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, n type-head,
guides to control the type-head at impressiou, a table or ledge-like support for the
type-head during its movements from and towards the platen, a toggle, one member
of which is connected with the type-head and the other member of which is pivoted
in the machine, the centres of the toggle being at one side of said support and a
toggle-member having a projection, an impression-key pivoted at the other side of
said support, and a link connecting said impression-key lever with said projection
on a toggle-member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Twelfth. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type-head and a
support therefor with an impression-key lever, a toggle, one member of which is
pivoted in the machine and the other member of which is operatively connected
with the type-head, a link connecting the impression-key lever with a toggle-
member, and a spring which returns the typo-head and toggle to position of rest,
after impression, the impression-key lever being pivoted at one side of said support
and the toggle and type-head being on the other side thereof, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of July 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.