Copy-holder and Line Indicator.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 6th July, 1888
Copy-holder and Line Indicator.
We, JOHN VAN ANTWERP BERRY, of 120 Nassau Street, in the City and State of
New York, United States of America, Stenographer, and ALFRED ROCHEFORT
CALHOUN, of 126 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
Journalist, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a
part of this specification in which :-
Figure 1, is a front view of our device showing in dotted lines the connection of the
movable platen frame to the bedplate and the operation of the spring pawls and
levers in dotted lines.
Figure 2, is a vertical section thereof with the position of the platen frame when
lifted from the bedplate and broken connection in dotted lines.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of the platen frame.
Figure 4 is a view of the lineruler with lugs.
Figure 5, shows the spring pawl and lever, and
Figure 6 is a perspective of a section of the side of the device showing the
connection and operation of the line ruler and spring pawls with the ratchets in the
platen frame and movable ratches.
The object of our invention is to provide a reliable automatic device by which
printed or written copy may be held in a convenient manner and lined with accuracy
by a copyist and consists in a line-ruler which is adjustable at pleasure and is so
connected with and operated by suitable mechanism that a single blow upon a key will
infallibly indicate the line to be copied.
It also consists in details of mechanism to enable us to accomplish the main
purpose.
Before our invention copyists, and especially type-writers have resorted to various
expedients to aid the eye in keeping the lines of copy accurately in view and rulers or
other objects having a straight line have been employed which in all instances obliged
a suspension of the task of copying and an adjustment of the rule at each line,
and while breaking the continuity of labor consumed much time. Devices to hold

page_text: such rules in place have been employed but they have been subject to the same
objections.
By our invention the page of copy once in place and spaces adjusted the copyist has
no further care or labor, other than to strike a key or button conveniently placed so as
to have each succeeding line plainly and certainly presented to view, thus leaving
him to pursue his task without delay or diversion from his copy and his machine or
sheet.
The advantage to the copyist and particularly to those who use the typewriter it is
claimed that not only is there a great relief from strain and convenience in labor but
that the speed obtained is at least 25 per cent. more.
In the drawings, wherein similar letters indicate similar parts, A, is a standard and
base which may be of any usual design material or weight, with or without a set
screw b, and rod c, to adjust the height of the device, which it does, or may support.
At the top of this standard A or rod c is hinged a bracket upon which is fastened
our device. It is so hinged that said device may be set at any desired angle and
secured at such angle by a set screw d.
The part of the copy holder so secured upon said bracket is what we term the
bedplate of the device. By means of rods ff, rocking in the bearings g, g, on the
back of the bedplate e, which rods at each end are provided with arms, h, extending
around and in front of the bedplate e, we attach the movable frane platen B, in any
suitable manner, but as we show them by employing the ends of said arms as pivots
bent so as to enter holes in the side of the frame platen as seen at i, i, i, i. This
frame B, we make prefarably of metal the weight being useful in furnishing pressure
to hold the copy firmly on the bedplate.
As will be seen the device for securing this frame platen enables it to be readily
lifted from the bedplate for the insertion or removal of copy, the arms h, h, describing
the are of a circle and determining the distance it may be lifted.
It is shown as lifted by a downward movement of the arms h, h, but may be
constructed so as to operate the reverse of this.
This movable frame platen is provided on each side with vertical flanges k, k,
provided with lugs l, l, m, m, clearly shown at Figure 3, the lugs being perforated so
as to support and permit to pass through them movable ratchets n, n, playing upward
and downward beside the flange k, k.
The sides of the frame platen B, are notched to correspond with the movable
ratches n,, and these two ratchets on either side are so arranged as to leave what may be
termed slots o, o, between them more particularly shown in perspective in Figure 6,
and in section in Figure 2.
These ratchets n, n, are parallel with each other and with the sides of the frame B,
and are connected at the bottom by a cross bar p, the whole shown in the drawings as
made of one continuous wire.
This cross bar p, passes under and parallel to a flange on the bottom of the frame B,
which serves to limit its upward motion.
In the centre of the cross bar p, we attach a key or button r, so arranged that when
struck it will carry down with it the cross rod p, and the ratchets n, n, the extent of
the down motion being determined by contact with the point of a set screw s,
arranged in a lug projected from the bottom of the frame B.
The upward or return motion of the cross bar P, and ratchets n, n, is caused by
springs t, t, connected with the upper end of the ratchets n, n, above the upper lugs l, l,
which springs as shown are spiral and are compressed on the downward movement
between the lugs 1, 1, and buttons u, u, on the tops of the ratchets n, n.
springs however can be employed for the purpose.
Any suitable
Between the sides of the frame platen B, and provided with lugs v, v, v, v, on each
end, is a line ruler C, so arranged that prefurably its extremities shall slide under the
movable frame platen B, and the lugs in the slots o, o, so called, between the said
frame B, and movable ratchets n, n.
We do not deem it essential that the line ruler shall extend under the sides of the
frame but find it desirable.

page_text: This arrangement secures the line ruler in position at right angles to the sides of the
frame so that it may move freely up or down.
Upon this line ruler C, at both ends we pivot pawls, x, the outer ends resting
against the lower lugs e, e, these pawls, a, are prefarably made of flat spring metal
and are each divided or bifurcated so that one prong of each engages, the one the
ratchet on the frame and the other the ratchet n.
We find an advantage in having the under prong slightly longer than the outer
one. Connected with each of the pawls c, a, are flat levers y, y, which extend out and
over the line ruler C, to or just beyond the centre terminating with lugs or buttons 2, z,
so arranged that they can be together pressed up or down and in so doing to throw the
pawls a,, out of connection with all the ratchets.
For convenience we have provided on the lower edge of the line ruler on the centre
a thumb or finger piece 2. By pressing with thumb and finger upon the buttons or
lugs, 2, and thumb piece, the pawls, x, will be thrown out of connection with
the ratchets and readily slid to the upper part of the frame platon B.
In operation our device is used as follows:
Lifting the frame B, from the bedplate c, we insert the copy. By pressing the
parts,,, we carry the line ruler C, to the top of the copy. Then we adjust the
thumb screw s, so that the ratchets n, n, can have a motion only slightly in excess of
the space between the lines of the copy. This excess at each stroke is taken up on a
return motion of the ratchets n, n, by the springs t, t.
Commencing work at the end of a line of copy we strike sharply the button »,
which carries down the cross bar p, and with its ratchets n, n. These last in turn
being engaged with the outer of the forks of the spring pawls,, carry down the
line ruler C, one space, the inner of the forks of the pawls on the return motion of
ratchets n, n, engaging with the notches in the side of the movable frame platen B,
preventing the line ruler from being carried back and leaving it just under the
succeeding line while the ratchets n, n, then return to their normal position.
This is continued until the sheet of a copy is exhausted when a new one is inserted
and by compressing the parts z,, s, the pawls are disengaged and the line ruler
slid upward to the first line of the new copy sheet and so on as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:
First. In a copy holder, the combination of a standard platen and movable frame
with suitable connections arranged to hold the copy and also admit of ready insertion
and removal thereof substantially as described.
Second. A copy holder in combination with an adjustable standard and hinge so
that the height and angle of the copy holder may be regulated, substantially as
described.
Third. In a copy holder, a frame with its sides notched and movable ratchets s0
arranged that a space or slot is left between them to receive the ends of a line ruler,
substantially as described.
Fourth. In a copy holder with a movable frame arranged to rest upon a platen and
with the inner edges of its sides notched, the combination of ratchets, pawls and line
ruler, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a copy holder with a frame having its inner side edges notched, the
combination of ratchets on each side pawls and levers to throw the pawls out of
connection, substantially as described.
Sixth. In a copy holder with a frame, the combination of reciprocating ratchets, a
cross bar connecting them, a button or key by which one movement is made and
springs to produce the return movement, substantially as described.
Eighth. In a copy holder with a frame the combination of reciprocating ratchets, a
cross bar connecting them, a button or key by which one movement is actuated and
set screw attached to the frame to regulate the extent of motion, substantially as
lescribed.

page_text: Ninth. In a copy holder, parallel ratchets on each side one reciprocating and one
permanent, in combination with a line ruler provided with pawls, divided or bifurcated
so that one fork of each engages one ratchet, springs to lift the reciprocating ratchets
so arranged that the forks of the pawls in contact with them carry down a line ruler,
while those engaging with the permanent ratchets prevent the line ruler from
returning, substantially as described.