Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug.,
1897
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, OTTO KNEIST, of the firm of Wunder and Kneist, of Hanover, Germany,
Manufacturer, 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 improved mechanism for that class of type-writing
machines in which the whole of the type are mounted upon an elastic plate capable
of horizontal motion, such as the machine known in the trade as Meyer and
Funckes" type-writer and as shewn on the accompanying drawing. In these and
similar machines the hammer that strikes the type is only actuated indirectly,
which has an influence on the strength of the impression.
According to one of the present improvements an accurately determined pressure
is brought to bear directly upon the hammer at the moment when it is situated
exactly over the particular type to be printed. By this means the letter or other
symbol is transferred in a uniformly strong and reliable manner to the paper. In
order to enable the work to be performed more rapidly with these machines than
is at present possible, the gauge pin g is released before the pressure is taken off
the finger key p, whereby the bringing into position of a fresh type is con-
siderably accelerated, and the type writing is consequently capable of being effected
much faster. The improvements also have for their object to enable the locking
pawls to be easily and reliably disengaged by a pressure on the key p when the
transporting slide of the machine has travelled a certain distance.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn a type writing machine of known con-
struction with my said improvements applied thereto only those parts being
referred to that are necessary for explaining the invention. Fig. 1 shews, a plan
and Fig. 2 a vertical section of the machine. Figs. 3 to 9 shew detached details.
As is known, in this class of machines the pressure on the key actuates the
toothed rack o in such manner that it exercises a pressure on the pawl s, whereby
the lateral shifting of the transport slide is effected.
When this motion has been effected a finger on the pawl strikes against a
rail a fixed on the toothed rack o, as at Fig. 2, thereby disengaging the pawl s
and taking up the pressure. The pawls and the parts connected thereto are
shewn in plan and front view at Figs. and 4. The disengagement of the pawl
causes a rotation of its axis and effects a movement to the left of the lever arm we.
On the framing is mounted a two armed lever r, the configuration of which is
shewn in the separate plan and side views at Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and which is so,
arranged that the end of its shorter arm lies next the lever arm while the end
of the other arm lies near the striking hammer. The striking of the lever
arm to against the short arm of a in consequence of the release of the pawl will
therefore produce a forcible forward motion of the end of the lever a lying next
the printing lever m in front of the centre line of the machine. In such motion c
describes a flat arc extending beyond the centre line as shewn at Fig. 7.
In this end of the lever is mounted a cam y the form of which is shewn in
the end view at Fies. 6. 8 and 9.

page_text: This cam, on the springing forward of the lever 'end comes in contact with an
extension m¹ of the printing lever m and presses this downwards, thereby momen-
tarily actuating the hammer so as to cause it to effect the requisite pressure
upon the type; this is effected in the following manner. The rounded acting
surface of the cam y, which before the pressure occupies the position shewn at
Fig. 8 in full lines, bears upon the lateral inclined surface of the extension m¹
of the printing lever, and as the latter cannot yield laterally, it is pressed together
with the hammer into the printing position as shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 8.
As soon as the cam has passed over the inclines of m¹, the pressure ceases and the
arm m³ of lever m is caused by a spring to rise up into a hollow of the cam y. At
this moment also, the forward motion of lever will be completed, the position of
the parts at this moment being shewn at Fig. 9.
A spring fixed to the lever and put in tension during the forward motion then
draws the lever back into the position of rest, when the cam y will slide over
arm m without exercising any pressure thereon and will turn freely upward, Tas
shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 9. In order to regulate the strength of the hammer
pressure the lever Figs. 5 and 6, is provided, with an adjusting screw which
bears against the slide plate and thus determines the height of the cam. Suitably
arranged reacting springs effect, not only the return motion of the lever æ and
cam y, but also that of the lever m and hammer into the original position, after
being actuated.
"
The gauge ping with its guide f is at once free again after the above motion; so
that before the key has been released the pin g can already effect the bringing
of a fresh type into action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A typewriting machine having its types mounted on a common elastic plate
wherein on pressing on the key pa bar u on a toothed rack o is made to disengage
the pawls as soon as the slide has moved through a certain distance' the resulting
motion of the pawl axis being transmitted by means of a finger w to a two armed
lever so that on the motion hereof a cam y carried on its front end momentarily
acts upon the arm m³ of the printing lever m, so as to actuate the hammer, while
the gauge ping remains free with its guide f so that while the key is depressed
the gauge pin can be made to set the next following type, substantially as described.
2. In a type writing machine of the kind referred to in the first' claim, 'regulat-
ing the pressure of the cam y upon the printing lever arm m¹ by the provision of a
fregulating screw z which supports the lever upon the slide plate, substantially
as described.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1907