Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 24th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
1, BURNHAM Coos STICKNEY, of No. 151 Jefferson Avenue, in the City of
Elizabeth, County of Union and State of New Jersey, in the United States
of America, Inventor, 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 more particularly to that class of type-writing machines in
which there is employed, in connection with the type-mechanism, the paper-carriage,
and its escapement or feed-mechanism, a tripping means or detaching device
arranged at some point between the finger-piece or key and the type, by which
both the type and feed mechanisms are released after the initial depression of the
finger-piece or key, so that both may return to their normal positions independently
and in advance of the finger-piece or key, or while the finger-piece or key is
depressed or held down, whereby another finger-piece or key may be actuated
without waiting for the removal of the finger first employed and the return of the
previously depressed finger-piece or key.
My invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of devices
hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a type-writing machine embodying
my present improvements; and
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken at the line Z Z of Figure 1, and looking
in the direction of the arrow, but omitting the several springs shown at Fig. 1.
In both views the same parts will be found designated by the same numerals of
reference.
1 designates the frame-work of the machine, 2 the top plate or type-ring, 3 the
type-bars, 4 the connecting-rods, and 5 the usual power-driven paper-carriage.
The paper-carriage is provided with a feed-rack 6, with which co-operates a
spacing-dog 7 and a detaining dog 8, mounted upon a trunnion or rocker 9, held by
a bracket 10 and actuated by a link 11 connected at its lower end to an arm 12,
Eccured to a transverse rock-shaft 13, pivoted at 14 to the framework of the
machine. The rock-shaft 13 is provided on each side with forwardly extending
arms 15, the front ends of which are united by a universal-bar 16, extending trans-
versely of the machine parallel with said rock-shaft 13.
The escapement or spacing mechanism may be of any usual or suitable
Construction. A spring 17 is provided to return the universal-bar of the spacing
mechanism to normal position after releasement, as will presently appear.
Key-levers 18, extending lengthwise of the machine, are pivoted at their rear
ends to a transverse fulcrum-rod 19, and provided at their front ends with heads or
keys 20. To each key-lever and near the rear end thereof is pivoted at 21 an
upwardly and forwardly extending lever or arm 22. These arms are indicated at
Fig. 2 by heavy lines. Each of the connecting-rods 4 is pivoted at its lower end
to one of the arms 22. The type-bar 3, the connecting-rod 4 and arm 22 are
preferably held in their normal positions by gravity, the weight of the type-bar
being superior to that of the connecting-rod and arm 22; but of course a spring 22*
may be employed for returning these parts and holding them in their normal

page_text: positions. Where a spring is employed for returning these parts, one end of the
spring may be connected to the arm 22, and the other end to a bar 22b, which may
extend across the machine above the series of arms 22, and may have its ends
supported on or in the side frames of the machine. The arms 22 are extended
forwardly of or beyond their points of pivotal connection 4° to the rods 4, and
their forward ends all terminate in a right line transversely of the machine.
Each
To the side of each key-lever 18, just below the forward end of the arm 22, is
pivoted at 23 a perpendicular trip 24, the upper end of which is provided with a
projection or hook 24, which catches over the forward end of arm 22.
trip 24 is provided at its lower end with a projection 25, against which bears a
spring 26 arranged upon the key-lever, which serves to hold the trip in normal
position and pressing against a pin or stop 27 on the key-lever.
In operation, when a key-lever 18 is depressed, the trip 24 is carried down, and
the arm 22, being engaged at its forward end by the hook 24 of the trip 24,
and being pivoted at its rear end to the key-lever 18, moves simultaneously with
the lever 18; the lever 18, the trip 24 and the arm 22 all moving bodily together
about the key-lever fulerum-rod as a center of motion. During this depression of
the key-lever, the type-bar through the connecting-rod 4 is swung upwardly from
its position of rest towards the platen. At the same time the universal-bar 16 is
depressed, being arranged above the levers 18 and just beneath the arms 22.
When the universal-bar is depressed, the arms 15. are vibrated, the rocking-shaft 13
oscillated, the arm 12 elevated, and through the link 11 the feed-dogs actuated..
Through the feed-mechanism described or any other suitable feed-mechanism, the
carriage is fed the necessary letter-space distances as the impressions are made.
At a predetermined time (just before the type strikes the paper) the arm 22 and
its associated type-bar, together with the universal-bar 16 and the feed-mechanism,
. are released from the control of the key-lever 18 and returned to their normal
positions independently and in advance of said key-lever, the release being accom.
plished in the following manner: A horizontal bar 28 extends beneath the key-
levers transversely of the machine, and is provided with a series of threaded
perforations, into each of which is inserted from beneath a screw. 29, provided with
a clamping-nut 30. Each screw 29 is arranged normally in the path of the
horizontal projection 25 of its associated trip 24, and during the depression of
the key-lever the screw intercepts or stops the projection 25, and causes the trip 24
to vibrate independently forward about its pivot 23, and the hooked portion. 24 of
the trip to withdraw from the forward end of the arm 22, thereby releasing said
arm from the control of the lever 18. This releasing action is timed to occur
when the type is in proximity to the platen but before the imprint is made, the
type-bar proceeding by inertia to make the impression, and then falling by gravity
or under the influence of the spring 22ª to its normal position, raising the
connecting-rod 4 and its connected arm 22, these parts being thus returned to
normal position independently of the key-lever 18, which is still held depressed,
permitting the manipulation of another key-lever or levers without relieving the
first one from finger-pressure. During this return movement the universal-bar.
follows the arm 22, under the action of its returning-spring 17, and in consequence
the spacing mechanism is simultaneously returned to its normal position.
→
A pad 31 extends across the machine beneath the key-levers to receive the blow
of the fingers when the type-bars are released from the key-levers.
The positions assumed by the parts just after the release has taken place and
while the impression is being made are indicated by dotted lines at Fig. 1, which
figure also shows by full lines the positions of the type-bar, connecting-rod and
arm after they have returned to normal position, and while the key-lever is still
held in the dotted-line position, the rear pivoted end of the arm 22 remaining,
however, in the dotted line position. During this return movement the arm 22 is
vibrated upwardly independently about the pivot 21, which permits the forward
operative end of the arm to rise.
Upon relieving the key-lever 18 from finger-pressure, it resumes its initial

page_text: position, as shown in full lines, under the return pressure of spring 32, during
which motion the beveled face of the hook 24ª rides along the beveled end of the
arm 22; and when the hooked portion of the trip rises above the arm 22 the trip.
vibrates rearwardly under pressure of spring 26, and resumes its normal position..
in engagement with said arm, as shown in full lines at Fig. 1.
The screw 29 passing through the bar 28 constitutes an adjustable abutment for
contacting with the projection 25 and vibrating the trip, and affords a means for
readily adjusting the action of the trip to occur at the desired moment, and
for readily re-adjusting such action when, by constant use or wear, any of the
key-levers or other parts stand a trifle out of their true. positions. The trip.
normally locks the arin 22 to the key-lever, so that on the down stroke all three
parts move bodily together about the falcrum-rod 19; but the contact of the trip.
with the screw 29 unlocks or releases the arm 22, permitting it to rise in advance
of the key-lever. All of the key-levers have a uniform motion, so that the
connecting-rods 4 that stand farther away from the key-lever fulcrum-rod 19 have
a greater motion-than those rods that stand nearer to it; but this variation in the
motion of the connecting-rods is compensated: for by making the short arms of
the type-bars of varying lengths, so that the motion of all the type-bars is.
uniform.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:
1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-bar of a lever
carrying an arm, said arm being connected to the type-bar, the arm and the lever
moving together during the printing-stroke of the type-bar, and means for
releasing the arm and permitting it and the type-bar to return to normal position
in advance of the return of the lever to normal position, substantially as set.
forth.
2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-bar of a lever to.
which is pivoted a type-bar-actuating arm and to which is also pivoted a trip, the
trip normally locking the arm to the lever, and means for vibrating the trip about
its pivot to release the arm, substantially as set forth.
3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-bar of a lever to.
which is pivoted type-bar-actuating arm and to which is also pivoted a trip, the
trip normally lecking the arm to the lever and having a projection, and an
abutment arranged in the path of the projection to vibrate said trip on the down.
stroke of the lever, substantially as set forth.
4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-bar of a lever
carrying an arm, said arm being connected to the type-bar and also engaging the
universal-bar of the spacing mechanism, the arm, the lever and the universal-bar-
moving together during the printing stroke of the type-bar, and means for
releasing the arm and permitting it and the type-bar and universal-bar to return
to normal position in advance of the return of the lever to normal position.
substantially as set forth.
5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a series of type-bars of a
series of key-levers bearing a series of arms, said arms being arranged above the
key-levers and connected by rods to the type-bars, a universal-bar arranged
beneath said arms and above the key-levers, and a series of trips arranged to.
releasably connect the arms to the key-levers, substantially as set forth.
6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of key-levers, a series.
of arms pivoted thereto and projecting forwardly, a series of type-bars connected
to said pivoted and forwardly-projecting arms, a series of trips connecting said
arms and said key-levers, and ineans for actuating said trips on the downward.
stroke of the key-levers and effecting a separation between the key-levers and the
pivoted arms carried thereby, substantially as set forth.
7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of key-levers, a series.

page_text: of arms pivoted thereto and projecting forwardly above the levers, a series of
type-bars connected to said pivoted and forwardly-projecting arms, a universal-bar
of the spacing mechanism arranged above the levers and in the path of said pivoted
and forwardly-projecting arms, a series of trips connecting said arms and said key-
levers, and means for actuating the said trips on the downward stroke of the key-
levers and effecting a separation between the key-levers and the pivoted arms
carried thereby, substantially as set forth.
8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-bar of a key-lever,
the arm 22 pivoted thereto and connected to the type-bar, the trip 24, the
spring 26, the stop 27, the projection 25 and the abutment 29, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1907
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.