Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1887
Complete Left, 10th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
I, FREDERICK MYERS of Chapel Street Bootle, in the County of Lancaster Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to type-writing machines, in which the type carrying
levers are set radially round a common centre, and has for its object improvements on
my former patent, dated 21st June 1886 and numbered 8198.
In carrying out my improvements, I provide an inking pad placed directly under
the centre of the levers, and attached to a bracket of suitable construction by means
of a pin or rivet. The bracket is conveniently attached to the base frame of the
machine. The inking pad is constructed of a disc, formed of a rubber or similar
elastic material, preferably formed slightly hollow or cup shaped, and provided on its
upper surface with a pad of any absorptive material, which will contain a supply of
ink, the ink may be distributed direct upon the upper surface of the rubber disc.
When the type-levers are caused to descend, the type strikes the inking pad, and
takes up sufficient ink for making an impression. The inking pad being constructed
of elastic material, resumes its normal position as each type lever returns to its
place.
The paper to be printed upon is held in position on the impression cylinder or roller
by means of two clips. One edge of the paper is slipped under a rod or holder, which
is secured to two brackets pivoted eccentrically with the impression cylinder. When
these two brackets are partially rotated, the rod or holder will clip the paper and hold
it in position. The other end of the paper is secured by a bar or holder carried by
movable brackets and set eccentrically in them. The bar is provided with a lever so
that it may be easily moved with the fingers in order to clip or release the paper as
desired. The brackets are preferably forked so that while one of the forks carries the
paper clip, the other one may carry a steady rod or stay for keeping the holder
parallel. The brackets are pivoted so as to rotate radially with the impression cylinder,
and the holder may thus be moved to any position on its circumference. By this
means paper of larger or smaller size may be used on the same cylinder. At each

page_text: end of the impression roller frame, I pivot a lever of convenient length, the other end
of each of the levers is made to receive a rod running the whole length of roller
forming a rocking bar, and may be operated upon at any point along its entire length,
one end of the rod carries a pawl fitted loosely thereon and prevented from moving
laterally by means of a pin or washer, being provided with an arm or balance weight
to keep it in contact with a ratchet wheel attached to one end of the impression roller,
the upper and rear portion of the pawl is provided with a wedge shaped projection
which when at zero rests against a pin or stud secured to the frame of the impression
roller.
As each lever is depressed an upward motion is conveyed to the rocking bar through
the medium of the spacing lever operating a rocking arm, one end of which rests
under the rocking bar causing the pawl to rise a distance equal to one tooth of the
ratchet wheel; immediately the lever is released the rocking bar returns to its normal
position by means of a suitable spring at the same time causing the impression roller
to turn about its axis the distance of one tooth or the space of one letter, as the pawl
descends, the wedge shaped projection strikes the pin or stud, preventing the pawl
from descending beyond a given point and jamming firmly against the ratchet wheel
locking the same, and thereby securing accurate spacing.
The roller may be turned at any time by hand, if desired by pressing down upon
the spacing lever, which instantly releases the pawl from the ratchet wheel.
When the impression roller is withdrawn to receive fresh paper thereon, the spacing
lever will not be in connection with the rocking bar and will therefore not release the
pawl, I therefore supply a small lever pivoted to the roller frame arranged in a suitable
manner so as to raise and keep the pawl sufficiently out of gear with the ratchet wheel
to allow the roller to be turned.
The teeth in the roller ratchet wheel may be formed only on such portion of its
circumference as will equal the greatest width of paper it is required to print. The
remainder of the wheel not being provided with teeth, the roller may be quickly
turned by hand ready for commencing a fresh line without touching the spacing
lever.
In order to avoid any slurring of the type, I arrange that each type lever may
descend into a guide made as near as possible the same width as the lever. These
guides prevent any shaking of the levers, and further form stops for preventing the
levers descending too far, or striking the impression roller with too great force, thus
preventing injury to the surface of the impression roller and type. The upper part
of the guides may be made slightly enlarged so as to facilitate the levers entering
them.

page_text: I, FREDERICK MYERS of 56 Huskisson Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
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 :-
In my English Specification No. 8198 of June 21 1886 I described a type-writer
in which the type was carried by levers arranged radially around a common centre
the machine being so designed that the operator could press directly upon the type
carrying levers without the intervention of any secondary or connecting levers.
The present improvements consist :-
1. In substituting for the original inking device T, U, a simpler and cheaper
arrangement, which requires no manipulation in order to ink the type.
2. In a simpler and more effective method of actuating the paper carrying roller G,
in order to space the letters, the said roller being rotated during the return movement
of a type lever C, or spacing lever M, and not as formerly, while a lever was
descending to make an impression or form a space.
3. In making the type levers C of thinner and lighter material and in guiding them
laterally in their descent, so as to prevent any slurring of the type, by means of
vertical slots in one or more guide plates the said guide plates also serving as guard
or shield plates on which the lever may strike, instead of striking upon the plate (S)
as heretofore.
4. In a slight modification of the mechanism for striking the bell P.
5. In a device, whereby, when it is desired to move the paper carrying roller G
independently of the spacing mechanism, the said mechanism can be instantly
disengaged, so as to leave the roller free to be rotated as required.
6. In a modification of the paper gripping device whereby the same is made more
secure and certain in its action.
The above improvements may be best described by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which only so much of the machine is shown as is necessary in con-
junction with the drawings of the original patent to explain the said improvements.
In these drawings :
Figure 1 is a transverse section, and
Figure 2 is a plan of the machine with parts removed.
Figures 3 and 4 are side and end elevations respectively, showing details of letter
spacing mechanism, and disengaging lever.
Figure 5 sectional elevation of inking device.
Figure 6, end elevation showing bell actuating mechanism.
Figure 7 end elevation of paper gripping device.
The inking device, Figure 5, is placed as before, directly under the type ends of the
lever C. It consists of a disc T¹, of india rubber or similar elastic material, which is pre-
ferably slightly hollow or cup-shaped, and is provided on its upper surface with a pad T'

page_text: of any absorptive material, which will contain a supply of ink. The disc and pad are
attached to the supporting bracket V, by means of a pin U¹, which passes through
their centre, and carries retaining washers u². The pin U¹ is secured in position by a
nut u, or its equivalent. The bracket V may be attached to the base A of the machine
in the manner set forth in the original patent, but I prefer to insert its lower ends
into holes V2 in the base A.
When the type levers are caused to descend, the type strikes the inking pad, and
takes up sufficient ink for making an impression. The inking pad being constructed
of elastic material, resumes its normal position, as each type lever returns to its
place.
In actuating the letter spacing mechanism by the return or upward movement
of the type levers, I find it more convenient to place the spacing lever M on the
reverse or left hand side of the machine. Instead of as formerly, connecting the
rocking lever N with the bar L by means of a forked extremity (N³), I simply allow
the said bar to rest on the sloping toe N' at the end of the lever N. This enables the
bar L to be raised clear of the lever N as will be hereinafter described. At each
end of the frame H, ¹, a lever K2 is pivoted as at K³, and between the outer ends
of these levers, the bar L is secured. By this means a rocking movement can be
imparted to the bar L, as in the original machine. A pawl k¹ is carried loosely on
the bar L, being retained thereon by the collar and pin k³, in such a position as to
engage with the ratchet wheel K³ of the roller G. The pawl is kept in continual
contact with the wheel K¹ by its weighted arm . Each time the spacing lever M
is depressed, the bar L is raised and the pawl k¹ slides over one tooth of the wheel K¹
without imparting motion thereto. The weighted arm k*, causes the pawl to drop into
the space behind the said tooth. On the spacing lever being released the toe N³ is
depressed and leaves the bar L free to descend. A spring causes the bar L together
with the pawl k¹ to descend and the wheel K¹ and roller G is thus rotated to the
amount of one tooth.
The upper and rear portion of the pawl is provided with a wedge shaped surface k³.
When the pawl has descended the required distance this surface comes in contact with
a pin or stud 2 secured to the frame H. The pin h³ causes the pawl to be jammed
against the ratchet wheel, thus locking the same, and thereby securing the accurate
spacing of the letters and words.
The roller may be turned at any time by hand if desired, by pressing down upon
the spacing lever which instantly releases the pawl from the ratchet wheel.
The teeth in the roller ratchet wheel K¹ may be formed only on such portion of its
circumference as will equal the greatest width of paper it is required to print. The
remainder of the wheel as shown at K, not being provided with teeth, the roller may
be quickly turned by hand, ready for commencing a fresh line without touching
the spacing lever, or raising the pawl.
The making of the levers of thinner and lighter material causes them to spring and
vibrate considerably thus producing a blurred impression on the paper. To steady
the levers in their descent, I provide guide plates S', having on their upper edges
vertical slots S, into which the lower edges of levers enter. These slots are preferably
slightly enlarged at their upper edges to facilitate the entrance of the levers. The
guiding slots S also obviate the necessity for fitting the levers C accurately in the
recesses or bearings B. The bottom ends of the slots form stops which prevent
the levers descending too far, and so striking the paper with too great force. The
guide plates S are conveniently supported on the standards S3 attached to the base A.
The plate (S) of the original machine is not required.
As shown in Figure 6, the striking pin p instead of being attached to the periphery
of the bell is secured to the boss thereof, thus leaving the pheriphery free. The
hammer P¹ is also mounted in a slightly different position as shown.
In order that the paper carrying roller G may be turned freely and independently
of the pawl k¹, as for instance, when a fresh sheet of paper is being fixed thereon, I
supply a small disengaging lever Figures 3 and 4. This lever is pivoted to the
roller frame at 12, and is arranged below the end of the bar L. When the lever is

page_text: raised, it raises the bar L and keeps the pawl sufficiently out of gear with the ratchet
wheel to allow the roller to be turned. The lever is fitted tightly on its pivot so
that it will remain in its elevated position when raised, and thus both of the operator's
hands are at liberty to manipulate the paper.
Referring to Figure 7, instead of having an eccentric clip (Q) held in fixed brackets
(g) on the roller G, I simply have a wire or rod Q', bent down at the ends as at q¹
and pivoted rather tightly to the roller as at 7. This wire is pushed over so as to
grip one edge of the paper, between it and the roller. The eccentric clip R is, as in
the original machine, carried by brackets », which revolve as heretofore on the roller
spindle q. To avoid, however, the tendency which the brackets have to twist or get
out of line with each other, the said brackets are each made forked as shown. The
forks carry between then the paper clip R, and the forks are to carry a steady
rod or stay which keeps the holder or clip R parallel to the axis of the roller. The
end of each of the brackets », remote from the clip is enlarged into a plate 5, which
bears against the end of the roller G, and thereby produces sufficient friction to keep
the side brackets securely in position when once the paper is set.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A type-writing machine in which a spacing lever (N) pivoted radially with the
type levers (C) raises in its descent by means of a pivoted lever (N) a bar (L) and with it
a weighted pawl (¹) which, when the spacing lever is released, is depressed by a spring
(1) so as to engage with the ratchet wheel (K¹) of the paper carrying roller (G), and is
arrested by the pin (H2) in such a manner that the paper carrying roller (G) is locked
in position as soon as it has been rotated the distance required to print one character,
substantially as described.
2. A type writing machine in which the type carried by any one of the radially
pivoted lovers (C) is inked as the said lever is depressed, by being brought into
contact with a flexible inking pad (T1, T2,) placed below the said levers, and concentric
therewith, substantially as described.
3. In a type writing machine a ratchet wheel (K¹) rotating with the paper
carrying roller (G) and having teeth on only so much of its circumference as will
correspond with tho greatest breadth of paper required to be printed, substantially
as described.
4. The combination of the paper carrying roller (G) with the cranked pivoted wire
clip (Q¹¹) and with the eccentric clip (R) carried between the arms (¹) of the
forked radial arms (r) held in position by the friction of the plates r² and kept parallel
to the axis of the paper carrying roller (G) by means of a steady rod attached to the
arms (), substantially as described.