Improvements in the Construction of Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Type-writing Machines.
We ANTHONY PHILBURN of Hall Court Ashton-under-Lyne, Artist, HENRY
GARTSIDE of Early Bank Mottram Road Stalybridge, Brewer, and CHARLES
EDWARD REDFERN of Sunnyside House Ashton-under-Lyne, Brewers Agent, all
in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of that class of type-writers aving a
curved key board and radiating key levers wherein the impression of the type is
given by the blow of a hammer actuated by the depression of the key levers, the
objects of the invention being to simplify the construction of the machine, and
to reduce the number of parts and consequently cost of its construction to a
minimum.
In the improved machine the key levers are all mounted at one level and there
are two concentric rows of finger keys, the front row of keys being fixed direct on
the ends of every other lever, and the back row being raised up on vertical
projections from the alternate levers. There are also two additional levers
preferably at the centre of the key board one for "capitals" or upper case and
the other for "spacing," that is, moving the paper sideways without giving any
impression.
<3
"
The inner ends of these two latter levers are however shorter than the others and
they divide the other keys into two groups.
All the key levers are pivotted towards their inner ends and are provided with
lifting springs for raising them up again after having been depressed.
They work up and down, in vertical slots in a curved part of the frame beneath
the keyboard to prevent lateral vibration and at the front where the fulcrum wire
passes through them they are also guided and supported by radial slots in a bar
through which the said wire also passes.
The outer ends of the key levers are prevented from rising too high by means
of a curved guard which extends above them all behind the back row of finger
keys.
The inner ends of the key levers are all at the same level excepting when any of
the keys are depressed, in which case the corresponding inner end of the lever is
raised up above the rest.
Immediately beneath each group of key levers on the outer side of the fulcrum is
a transverse rocking bar each of which when depressed acts upon a swing frame or
main lever beneath, which is hung to a fulcrum behind the curved front of the
frame and is provided with a spring or springs for raising it again after having been
depressed.
From this it will be evident that each depression of any one of the keys will impart
a corresponding motion to the said swing frame or main lever.
Behind the inner ends of the key levers there is mounted upon a sleeve working
upon a horizontal axis a vibrating arm which is capable of rocking to and fro
behind the inner ends of the key levers. In or upon this arm is mounted a slide
carrying a hard rubber, metal, or other segment the curve of which is struck from
or concentric with the horizontal axis before mentioned.
The back of this segment carries the type in two curved lines, the upper ones
being the capitals and the less frequently used signs and figures and the lower ones
the small letters, and such signs and figures as are more frequently required.

page_text: 66
The normal position of the slide in the vibrating arm will be such that the lower
row of type will be usually in printing position, but upon placing the finger upon
the "capital" or upper case" key its lever will lower the slide, so as to bring the
upper row of type (capitals &c.) into printing position, until the finger is removed,
when a spring will return the slide to its original position.
In front of this vibrating arm and segment and behind the two central key levers
is a hammer the lever of which is vertical and rocks on a transverse axis.
The head of this hammer (whenever a key is depressed) strikes against the front
of the type segment at a point which is vertical to the axis of the vibrating arm.
The saturated ribbon passes at the back of the type segment, and between it and
the paper to be printed and each time that the hammer strikes against the front of
the segment, the type at the back thereof which happens at that particular moment
to be opposite the vertical centre (or point where the hammer strikes) makes an
impression upon the paper, at the back of which is an abutment which is only of
about the breadth of one letter character so that only the one which is struck will
give an impression. This abutment is formed at one end of a curved arm the other
end of which is pivotted to the frame.
The presentation of the proper type according to the key struck is effected in the
following manner. The rocking bars beneath the key levers are so connected by a
lever and spring pins to the vibrating arm above mentioned that the depression of
any one of the left hand group of keys shall cause the vibrating arm to oscillate to
the left, and on the other hand the depression of any one of the right hand group of
keys shall cause the said arm to oscillate to the right. It is returned to its central
position by means of a spring. The vibrating arm is slotted and through this slot
passes a stop lever the back end of which is pivotted to the frame, and its front end'
moves to and fro as the arin oscillates, over the inner ends of the key levers acting
as a sort of feeler."
comes
Whenever one of the keys is depressed the inner end of its lever is raised, and as
the arm vibrates in the corresponding direction as soon as the "feeler
against the raised end of the key lever it arrests the further motion of the vibrating
arm at the exact point where the corresponding type or character is in vertical
position between the hammer and the abutment before mentioned, and the further
inovement of the key releases the hammer and causes it to strike against the front
of the type segment and give the impression, the spring pins above mentioned
allowing the rocking lever to continue its motion after the vibrating arm has been
arrested as aforesaid.
The paper holder consists principally of a roller capable of revolving within a
slotted cylindrical casing, and provided with two small india rubber guide rollers.
The pivots of this roller are mounted in a carriage provided with a long toothed
rack which is acted upon by a catch or dog attached to a bell crank lever the lower"
arm of which is actuated at each depression of the swing frame by one of the key
levers so as to take up one tooth of the rack after each impression and thus move
the paper sideways the width of one letter or character.
The spacing" lever, before mentioned also by depressing the swing frame,
(without acting on the rocking levers), moves the paper holder or carriage side-
ways without acting on any other part of the mechanism. The paper roller is
provided with a crank handle or milled head for turning the same to wind on the
paper and a ratchet wheel and retaining catch, and the carriage is also provided
with a lever for moving the long rack sideways out of gear with the dog or
ratchet when it is required to bring the carriage back to commence a fresh
line.
The axis of one of the ribbon drums is provided with a ratchet wheel actuated
by a dog or catch at the upper end of a lever, the lower end of which is acted upon
by one of the rocking levers before mentioned so that at each movement of one of
the keys to give an impression the position of the saturated ribbon is slightly
advanced.
The opposite ribbon drum is merely secured on its pin by a screw nut and when

page_text: the ribbon has been all wound onto one drum the nuts are unscrewed and the
position of the two drums reversed.
Dated this 15th day of September 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Type-writing Machines.
We ANTHONY PHILBURN of Hall Court Ashton-under-Lyne Artist, HENRY
GARTSIDE of Early Bank Mottram Road Stalybridge Brewer, and CHARLES
EDWARD REDFERN of Sunnyside House Ashton-under-Lyne Brewers Agent all
in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention relates to the construction of that class of type writers, having a
curved keyboard and radiating key levers, wherein the impression of the type is
given by the blow of a hammer actuated by the depression of the key levers, the
objects of the invention being to simplify the construction of the machine, and to
reduce the number of parts, and consequently the. cost of its construction to a
minimum.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference
to the two annexed sheets of illustrative drawings and the following explanation
thereof.
Fig. 1 on the drawing is a partial front elevation of the machine shown partly in
section, and with the key levers and hammer removed.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, also partly in section, and with the covering
plate and hammer removed in order more clearly to show the mechanism and
Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through about the centre of the machine.
Figs. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 are detached views of parts hereinafter more particularly
referred to.
According to our invention the key levers a are all mounted at one level and
there are two concentric rows of finger keys and the front row b of the keys
being fixed direct on the ends of every other lever a, and the back row b¹ being
raised up on vertical projections at the ends of the alternate levers.
15
There are also two additional levers (preferably at the centre of the keyboard)
one a for "capitals" or "upper case and the other a² for "spacing" that is
moving the paper sideways without giving any impression. The inner ends of these
two latter levers a' and a² are however shorter than the others (see Figs. 2 and 3)
and they divide the other keys into two groups.
All the key levers are pivotted towards their inner ends, and are provided with
lifting springs c (Fig. 3) for raising them up again after having been depressed.
They work up and down in vertical slots d in the curved front part e of the
frame beneath the keyboard to prevent lateral vibration and at the point where the
fulcrum wire passes through them they are also (excepting a' and a²) guided and
supported by radial slots in a fixed bar through which the said wire also
passes.
The outer ends of the key levers a are prevented from rising too high by means
of a curved guard which extends above them all behind the back row of keys.
The inner ends of the key levers a are all at the same level, excepting when any
of the keys are depressed, in which case the corresponding inner end of the lever is
raised up above the rest (see dotted position on Fig. 3).
Immediately beneath each group of key levers, on the outer side of the fulcrum
is a transverse rocking bar (Figs. 2 & 6) each of which when depressed by any
of the key levers (excepting a' and a³) acts upon a swing frame or main lever k

page_text: beneath, which is hung to a fulcrum ex behind the curved front e of the frame
(Figs. 3 and 8) and is provided with a spring or springs for raising it again after
having been depressed. From this it will be evident that each depression of any
one of the keys a will impart a corresponding motion to the said swing frame or
main lever k. The key levers come first in contact with the lever i which is raised
above it, and the free ends of which acts on the pins u hereinafter mentioned. The
motion is then communicated to the rocking bar i and through it to the frame or
main leverk (see detached views Figs. 6 and 8).
Behind the inner ends of the key levers a there is mounted (upon a sleeve m or
boss (Fig. 3) working upon a horizontal axis) a vibrating arm n which is capable of
rocking to and fro behind the inner ends of the key levers a.
In or upon this arm n is mounted a slide ¹ carrying a hard rubber, metal, or
other segment 2 (see also Figs. 5 and 8) the curve of which is struck from, or
concentric with the horizontal axis of the vibrating arm n. The back of this
segment n² carries the type in two curved lines, the upper ones being the "capitals"
and the less frequently used signs and figures, and the lower ones the small letters
and such signs and figures as are most frequently required. The normal position of
the slide n in the vibrating arm n will be such that the lower row of type will be
usually in printing position, but upon placing the finger upon the "capital" or
upper case" key a¹ the spring p will lower the slide u by means of the pin o
(see Fig. 1) so as to bring the upper row of type (capitals &c.) into printing position
until the finger is removed when a spring p will return the slide n' to its original
position and the "lower case" type again come into action.
66
In front of the vibrating arm and segment n n¹ and behind the two central key
levers a¹, a is a hammer q the lever g' of which is vertical, or nearly so, and rocks
on a transverse axis (see Fig. 3). The head of this hammer, (whenever a key is
depressed) strikes against the front of the type segment n³, as shown in dotted
lines, at a point which is central and vertical to the axis of the vibrating arm n.
The movement of the hammer y follows immediately after the movement of the
type segment as hereinafter described, and a ribbon saturated with ink passes at
the back of the type segment, and between it and the paper to be printed (see
Fig. 3) and each time that the hammer strikes against the front of the segment n³
the type at the back thereof which happens at that particular moment to be
opposite the vertical centre (or point where the hammer strikes) makes an
impression upon the paper, at the back of which is an abutment & which is only of
about the breadth of one letter or character (see Fig. 2) so that only the one which
is struck will give an impression. This abutment is formed at one end of a curved
arm & the other end of which is pivotted to the frame.
The presentation of the proper type, according to the key struck, is effected in
the following manner. The rocking bars i beneath the key levers a are so connected
by the lever and spring pins a to the vibrating arm n that the depression of any
one of the left hand group of keys shall cause the vibrating arm n to oscillate to the
left, and on the other hand the depression of any of the right hand group of keys
shall cause the said arm to oscillate to the right.
It is returned to its central position (when released) by means of the bracket on
the swing frame k see Figs. 1 2 and 6 rising when the pressure of the key lever is
released beneath the spring pins u..
The vibrating arm n is slotted (see Figs. 1 and 5) and through the slot passes 'a
stop lever w the back end of which is pivotted to the frame, and its front end w¹
moves to and fro, as the arm oscillates over the ends of the key levers a (see Figs. 2
and 3) acting as a sort of "feeler."
Whenever one of the keys is depressed the inner end of its lever a is raised, as
before explained and as the arm n vibrates in the corresponding direction, as soon
as the "feeler" w³ comes against the raised up end of the key lever it arrests the
further motion of the vibrating arm n at the exact point where the corresponding
type or character is in the vertical position between the hammer and the
abutment s.

page_text: This stoppage of the vibrating arm n does not however arrest the further
movement of the rocking bar i and swing frame or lever as the spring pins a give
way, and the continued downward movement of the key causes the spring plate q*
(see Figs. 3 and 4) to release the hammer 9 which allows the spring q to throw the
hammer backwards by pressing the tail pin 73 and to strike against the front of the
type segment and give the impression. As soon as the finger is removed from
the key the various springs before described bring all the parts back into their
normal position.
The paper holder consists principally of a roller a capable of revolving within a
slotted cylindrical casing y and provided with two small india rubber or other guide
and feed rollers :. The pivots of the roller are mounted in a carriage 1 provided
with a long toothed rack 2 which is acted upon by a double-ended catch or dog 3
(Fig. 1 and Fig. 4) attached to and carried by a cranked lever 4 the lower arm of
which is actuated by the swing frame k every time that it is depressed by one of the
key levers so as to take up one tooth of the rack 2 after each impression and thus
move the paper sideways the width of one letter or character.
The spacing" lever a² before mentioned also by acting on the swing frame k
by means of the arın 5 (without acting on the rocking bars ) moves the paper
holder or carriage 1 sideways when required without acting on any other part of the
mechanism.
The axis of the paper roller a is provided with a crank handle, or with a milled
head 6 for turning the same to wind on the paper, and a ratchet wheel 7 and
retaining catch 8 for holding it in position, and with a lever and thumb piece 9
(see Fig. 2) for rocking and moving the long rack 2 sideways out of gear with the
dog or ratchet 3 when it is required to bring the carriage I back to commence a
fresh line.
To the frame also at the right hand is attached an inclined plane 10 which as the
carriage reaches the limit of its movement to the right acts against ratchet
lever and causes the wheel 7 (see Fig. 4) to be turned a sufficient portion of a
revolution to move the paper vertically the proper distance for commencing the
next line. Provision is also made for working this movement by hand for long
distances by raising the ratchet lever catch and turning the roller by the milled 6
or the catch lever may be repeatedly pressed to effect the same purpose.
The axis of one of the drums 12 (Fig. 2) which carry the saturated inking ribbon
(see Fig. 2 right hand) is provided with a ratchet or toothed wheel 13 actuated by
a dog or catch 14 at the upper end of a cranked lever 15 the lower end of which is
acted upon by one of the rocking bars i through the swing frame & before mentioned,
so that at each movement of one of the keys to give an impression the position of
the saturated ribbon r is slightly advanced. The opposite ribbon drum is merely
secured on its pin by a screw nut and when the ribbon has been all wound onto
one drum the nuts can be unscrewed and the position of the two drums reversed
without unwinding the ribbon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The general construction and arrangement of parts constituting the
improved type writing machine substantially as hereinbefore described and illus-
trated by the annexed drawings.
Secondly. We claim the combination with the radial key levers of the rocking
bars i and swing' frame k with their respective springs, and the vibrating arm n
mounted on a sleeve m working loose upon a horizontal axis.
Thirdly. The combination with the vibrating arm n mounted and oscillating
upon a horizontal axis of a slide n' carrying a curved segment » having the two
curved lines of type at the back thereof."
Fourthly. The combination with the curved type segment n² vibrating on a
horizontal axis, of an abutments at the back thereof and an arm 7' carrying a

page_text: hammer which strike upon the central point at the front of the type segment n²
each time that a key is fully depressed.
Fifthly. The combination with the vibrating arm n, of a lever or "feeler" 20"
which vibrates to and fro with the said arni above the rear ends of the key levers
and arrests the said vibrating arm and type segment whenever it comes against the
rear end of a key lever which has been raised by the depression of its key.
Sixthly. The improved paper holder and carriage and the means hereinbefore
described and shown on the drawings for actuating the same in combination with
the swing frame k rocking bars i and key levers a.
Dated this 14th day of June 1892.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants..