Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
A Communication from abroad by WYCKOFF, SEAMANS & BENEDICT, of No. 327
Broadway, New York City, New York, United States of America, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the firm of Fell & James, of No. 1 Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London, Chartered Patent Agents, 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 improvements concern more particularly the paper carriages of that description
of typewriting machines known as the Remington No. 7 machine, but some of said
improvements are applicable to other classes or types of machines.
The said improvements relate :-
:
First To means for firmly guiding the carriage in its lengthwise movements.
Secondly-To means for guiding the carriage in its transverse or shifting
movements.
Third To means for effecting the movement of both ends of the carriage
simultaneously.
Fourth To means for preventing the carriage from being pressed too hard'
against its stops while the finger pressure is on the shift key, so as to avoid shifting
the platen too far for printing in alignment.
Fifth To means for suspending the platen frame carrier.
Sixth To means for readily adjusting the platen to the plane of the alignment
of the type.
Seventh: To means for partially counteracting the weight of the platen carriage.
Eighth To means for readily attaching and detaching the platen.
These features of improvement and others will be hereinafter more fully described
and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine omitting various devices employed therein
in practice but forming no part of the present improvements.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine taken above the keyboard and
showing the platen carrier in a raised or upright position.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the upper part of the machine with the platen
carriage down in working position.
Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken at the line z, z, of figure 1.
Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken at the line y, y, of figures 11,
4 and 1.
Figure 6 is a vertical central section through the entire machine.
Figure 7 is an end view taken from the left-hand side of the machine and showing
the platen shifting mechanism.

page_text: Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation, similar to figure 7, but showing a portion of
the platen shifting mechanism.
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the parts shown at figure 8, but omitting the platen
frame, the shifting finger key and the switching handle.
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the parts shown at figure 8, but omitting the
platen frame, the shifting finger key and the switching handle.
Figure 10 is a section at v, v, figure 2, with platen carriage in normal position
and paper guide omitted.
Figure 11 is a top plan view of the carriage and the platen frame and showing the
means for enabling the detachment of the platen from the frame.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the platen latch or locking device.
Figure 13 is a vertical section taken at the line x, x, of figure 11.
Figure 14 is a similar view but showing the locking device turned to a vertical
position which will permit the detachment of the platen.
Figure 15 is an end view showing the detail construction of the platen axle bearing
in the frame.
Figure 16 is a vertical section taken at the line w, w, of figure 11.
Figure 17 is a plan view of the truck or carriage rollers and their holding frame.
Figure 18 is a plan of the blank from which the bearings for the rolls are formed,
and
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the roll bearings or forks when formed.
In the various views the same parts are designated by the same numerals of
reference.
1 designates the general frame-work of a Remington machine which contains as
usual a series of key levers 2, a series of type bars 3 having each an upper case type 4
and a lower case type 5, and a series of connecting rods 6 between said key levers
and said type bars. The type bars are pivotally supported in brackets or hangers 7
mounted on the top plate 8 of the frame-work.
:
The top plate 8 is cast with four lugs 9 on its upper side upon which is firmly
screwed a guide rail 10 which has a V-shaped groove 11 on its upper side.
12 designates a narrow carriage, frame or truck which is provided on its lower side
with a bar 13 having a V-shaped groove 14 on its underside and opposing the
V-shaped groove in the fixed rail 10. The said bar 13 is provided on its rear side
with a rectangular groove or slot 15 which receives a horizontal flange 16, formed at
the upper edge of a longitudinally arranged plate 17 secured by screws to the rear
side of the fixed grooved rail 10, the said slot 15 and flange 16 operating as a means
for holding the truck or carriage from rising and being lifted. Within the V-shaped
groove in the fixed rail and the V-shaped groove in the carriage or truck are arranged
two pairs of anti-friction rolls or disks 18. The axes of each pair of rolls are
arranged crosswise of or at right angles to each other, and hence the plane of
revolution of one roll of a pair is at right angles to that of its associated roll. The
bearings for the periphery of each roll are arranged parallel with the axis of the roll.
By arranging the rolls of disks crosswise of each other, and in pairs, the carriage or
truck is braced against any moderate transverse force and is firmly guided in a right
line in its movements back and forth across the machine, thereby insuring perfect
alignment of the printing; while at the same time the said rolls or disks reduce the
friction to the minimum, making the movement of the carriage extremely easy
under a comparatively light tension of the driving spring arranged within a drum or
casing 19, which by means of a strap, cord or belt 20 is connected to the carriage in
the usual way.
The two pairs of rolls or disks are preferably connected together and maintained
a distance apart slightly in excess of one-half the entire amount of travel of the
carriage. The roll-tie or connecting means may consist of two thin and narrow
plates of sheet metal 23 (figure 17), riveted or fastened together at suitable points
and provided at their ends with frames 24 having slots or openings at right
angles to each other to receive the two pairs of angularly arranged rolls or disks,
which preferably have pivots. Each roll frame is formed from a piece of sheet

page_text: metal cut into the shape of a cross, (figure 18), so as to provide two arms 25, 25, and
two shorter transverse arms 26, 26. The arms 25, 25 are. bent parallel with each
other (figure 19) and the arms 26, 26 are also bent parallel with ..each
other and at right angles to the arms 25, 25. The opening between the arms 25, 25
receives one of a pair of rolls or disks 18 and the opening formed by the arms 26, 26
receives the other of the pair of rolls or disks 18. The arms. 25 are perforated
at 27 to receive the pivot 28 of the roll 18, and the said arms are also perforated in
two places 29 to receive the rivets 30 by which they are attached to the plates or
bars 23. A small sleeve or filler 21 may be placed on one of the rivets between the
plates or strips 23 to prevent undue or excessive riveting. The arms. 26 are perforated
at 31 to receive the pivot 32 of the other roll 18.
At about the middle of the truck or carriage is cast a rearwardly projecting arm 33,
and on each side thereof, near the ends of the carriage, is. cast another rearwardly
projecting arm 34.
.
To the extremities of the said arms 33 and 34 is screwed a plain bar 35 which is
arranged parallel with the carriage and which in length exceeds slightly the length
of travel of the latter.
The upper side of the bar 35 bears against a vertically arranged anti-friction
roller 36 whose axle or pivot is mounted in the forked end of a curved bracket 37
extending up from the top plate and projecting forwardly towards. the ca riage.
The said bracket also supports a flanged arm 22 which prevents the bar 35 from
descending when the platen carriage is turned up.
At near the rear end of each arm 34 and on the upper side thereof is cast a box
or housing 38, to which is secured by screws 39 a top or cap 40 which on its underside
is formed with a V-shaped way or groove 41 (figure 5). Within each box 38 is
loosely arranged the rear end of a slide bar or cantilever 42 having on its upper side.
a V-shaped groove 43 opposing that in the cap piece. A single anti-friction ball 44:
is arranged within the said V-shaped grooves 41 and 43 to form a ball bearing for:
the rear end of the slide bar or cantilever 42, and which slide bar at the ends of its:
groove 43, is provided with two pins 45 for confining the ball within said groove..
A thin sheet metal plate 46 is arranged between the housing and its cap piece and.
is formed with upturned flanges 47 at each end for the purpose of preventing the:
escape of the ball from the groove 41 in the cap piece.
Each slide bar or cantilever 42 is stepped upwardly from its rearmost portion and:
is extended forwardly for connection with the platen frame or carrier, as will be
presently described.
.
:
Cast on the upper side of the carriage bar or truck at near each end are two
lugs 48 between which the forward portion of the slide bar is arranged, and the
underside of the slide bar at this locality is formed with a V-shaped groove 49 which
opposes a like groove 50 in a small steel block 51, seated between said lugs and.
having on its underside a pin 52 that is fitted into a hole 53 in the carriage bar..
Between the two V-shaped grooves 49 and 50 is a single anti-friction ball 54, and at
each end of the grooved block is provided a stop 55 to prevent the escape of the
ball;
while on the underside of the forward portion of the slide bar are pins 56 which
are also provided for the purpose of retaining the ball in position. The upright
lugs 48 on opposite sides of the slide bar do not contact therewith. A cap piece 57.
is secured by screws 58 to the upper ends of the lugs 48 but its underside does not..
touch the upper surface of the slide bar. By means of the housing 38 and its cap
plate 40 and the pair of lugs 48 and its cap plate 57 the slide bar is confined loosely:
in working position both laterally and vertically and operate without sliding friction..
against these several members, while reciprocating freely upon the ball bearings:
provided.
At the forward end of each slide bar is formed horizontally a perforation to receive
the pivot or hinge pin 59 of the platen carrier or frame 60, and whereby the latter.
may be swung up and down about said pins for inspection and correction of the :
work, etc.
..
On the back bar 61 of the rectangular platen frame at near each end and in line. :

page_text: with the slide bar is formed or provided a forked bracket 62 having eyes or
perforations in its branches and through which and the perforation in the forward
end of the slide bar passes the hinge pin or pivot 59 of the platen carrier.
The forward end of each slide bar is formed with a downwardly projecting arm
or extension 63 and in line therewith on the back bar of the platen frame is a
projecting screw 64 whose head is adapted to bear against said downwardly projecting
arm when the platen frame or carrier is down in working position.
: Attached to the front bar 65 of the platen frame is a yoke block 66 which is
adapted to embrace the shift rail 67, arranged transversely of the machine and
parallel with the truck or carriage. The said yoke block is formed with a vertical
slot or groove 68 and with a pair of anti-friction rolls 69 which embrace the opposite.
sides of said shift rail. The said rolls are arranged in horizontal plane and hence
have vertical pivots which are supported in the said yoke block. No portion of the
yoke block proper comes in contact with the shift rail. The said pair of horizontal
rolls run in contact with said shift rail on diametrically opposite sides thereof and,
in connection with the two pairs of rolls 18 provided for the carriage or truck,
operate to properly and firmly guide the carriages in their movements back and
forth across the machine and conduce to more perfect alignment of the printing.
The said pair of horizontally arranged rolls 69 do not serve however in any manner
nor does the yoke block in which they are mounted operate to support the weight
of the platen carriage or frame. The entire weight of the latter is borne by the
aforesaid pair of slide bars or cantilevers and their bearings and also by the aforesaid
plain back bar 35 and its anti-friction roller and bracket.
When the platen carriage is brought down to working position and the projecting
heads of the screws 64 bear against the downwardly extending arms of the slide bars,
the weight of the platen carriage and its accessories, being unsupported at the front
side, causes the back bar to press firmly against its overhanging roller. Thus when
the platen frame is fully down and in suspended condition it and the carriage or truck
and its back bar 35 constitute or may be likened to a lever of the first order, the
fulcrum for which is formed by the two pairs of truck rolls 18, the power arin of the
lever being represented by the platen frame and the weight arm by the rear part of
the carriage or truck extending back to and including the plain bar 35. In other
words when the carriages are in working condition the weight of the platen frame
tends to rock the carriage or truck about its supporting rollers 18, but this tendency
is met and resisted by the bracket 37 and its anti-friction roll bearing upon the upper
side of the bar 35.
The slide bars are purposely loosely fitted and mounted on ball bearings in order
that the platen frame may be easily and freely shifted transversely for upper case
writing, and also for the purpose of enabling the weight of the platen frame to hold
the balls firmly between the grooves of the bars and the grooves of the truck or
carriage. The weight of the platen frame operates with a downward force upon the
forward pair of balls 54 and with an upward force on the rear pair of balls 44, thus
maintaining the balls firinly in their V-shaped grooves or bearings. The result of
this construction is the provision of desirable and efficient means for firmly guiding
the platen carriage in its shifting movements, while at the same time reducing the
resistance to shifting to the minimum, thus making the action at once easy, light
and accurate.
In order to effect a movement of both ends of the platen frame simultaneously, the
two slide.bars are connected together by means of two depending rocker arms 70 and
a longitudinally-arranged rock shaft 71, pivoted at its ends in extensions 72, project-
ing forwardly and upwardly from the cap plates 40. At the lower free end of each
rocker arm is a laterally projecting pin 73 which engages a vertically disposed slot or
groove 74 on the inner side of the slide bar and has a slight up and down motion
therein as the slide bars are shifted back and forth. By reason of this connecting
means between the two widely-separated slide bars the latter are caused to move in
unison and to the same extent at all times. The platen carrier being mounted or
suspended from two independent cantilever members, it is found desirable to provide

page_text: some such means as the oscillating connecting device just described to insure that
the said members shall always move in unison, not only during the shifting action
but at other times, for if each one were permitted to move independently the
pressure upon one end of the platen frame would produce a cramping effect, or the
platen frame would be shifted or skewed to the extent permitted by its stops when-
ever the operator should take hold of the handle and move the carriage quickly to
the right, or should hold the handle while the carriage is permitted to travel down
towards the left, or when inserting paper or turning the plate for any purpose.
The shifting movements of the platen frame rearwardly and forwardly are limited
or defined by screw stops 75 arranged in ears 76 in forward projections of the truck 12,
the platen frame having on each side er end bar a laterally projecting pin 77 which
plays between said stops. The front side of the platen carrier by means of its yoke
block embracing the shift rail 67, whenever the latter is vibrated, the platen carrier
is caused to move therewith in a direction at right angles to the motion of the letter
feed of the carriage and at such time the slide bars reciprocate on their ball bearings
and the oscillator is rocked as the said slide bars move back and forth.
The shift rail, as heretofore in this class of machines, is mounted upon the upper
ends of a pair of upright rocker arms 78, having a pivot shaft 79 in the frame of the
machine below the top plate. These rocker arms have extensions below their pivot
shaft which are connected to shift key levers 80 and 81 one at each side of the
machine. The connections at the shift key 81 on the right-hand side do not involve
any new construction, but those at the shift key 80 embody novel features which
will be presently described. The lever mechanism at this side of the machine is
identically the same in construction and mode of operation as heretofore used in
Remington machines. This mechanism comprises a hand lever 82 (Figures 5, 6, 7
and 8) pivoted at 83 to the curved arm 84 depending below the pivot shaft 79 and
formed integral with the rocker arm 78.
The said hand lever is made angular and on its inner shorter arm is provided
with a stud 85 which plays in a vertical slot 86 in a plate 87 pivoted at its
lower end at 88 to the lower extremity of the curved arm 84. This plate has
an arc-shaped slot 89 struck from the pivot 88 at a center and the ends of said slot
serve to limit the vibration of the said plate, there being two screws 90 and 91 which
co-operate with the ends of the slot in the limiting actions. The hand lever is
provided with a screw or pin 92 to which is attached the upper end of a coiled spring
The said
93 whose lower end is attached at 94 to the framework of the machine.
spring operates to return the platen to its normal position when the shift key is
released and it also serves in connection with said hand lever mechanism to hold the
platen temporarily in either of its two positions; that is to say, when the hand lever
is turned to the position shown at Figures 6 and 7 the platen is held in its upper
case or capital letter position, with the stop pins 77 of the platen carrier in contact
with the back stop-screws 75 on the carriage or truck, and if the shift key be pressed
while the platen is in its rearmost or upper case position the platen will be drawn
forwardly until the stop pins 77 strike against the forward pair of stop screws 75, and
as soon as the pressure upon the release key is removed the said spring 93 will restore
the platen to its first position, and which platen in all of the views, excepting
Figures 8 and 9, is in its upper case position, or that position at which the upper
case types will strike the paper at the printing point. For lower case work the hand
lever is turned to the position shown in full lines at Figure 8, and when so turned
the said spring 93 will act to hold the stop pins 77 against the forward pair of stop
screws 75, and will return the platen to this position after the vibration and release
of the shift key 80. But as before explained this general construction and mode of
operation are embodied in previously made Remington machines. The novel features
of construction in connection with this shifting mechanism will now be described.
At the uppermost end of the plate 87 is an outwardly projecting screw or pin 95
surrounding which is an eye 96 formed at the upper end of a zig-zag or snake-like
wire 97 having a half a dozen more or less folds or turns, and which at its lower end
is formed with a straight threaded portion 98 which screws into a bushing or filler 99

page_text: in a strap 100 which is riveted or attached to the release key lever 80, the
fulcrum or pivot of which is a pin 101 fixed in a bracket or stand 102 attached to the
-base of the framework. The shifting key lever 80 is made of sheet steel and is cut
out as shown to form a spring tongue 103 having a tension at its free end towards
the body of the lever and provided with a projection 104 to bear against the
upper edge of the body of the lever to form a stop for said spring tongue. The
rear extremity of the body of the lever and also that of the spring tongue is beveled
outwardly to form between the two members a flaring mouth to facilitate the
mounting of said lever as a whole upon its pivot. This is accomplished by bringing
the flaring mouth in line with the pivot and then by pressing the lever endwise
rearwardly or in the direction of the arrow at Figure 8, until the pin enters the
circular bearing formed by the curves or arcs in both the spring tongue and the
body of the lever. The throat or inner end of the flaring mouth being narrower
than the diameter of the pivot, the spring is caused to expand in passing over said
pin, but as soon as the latter comes to its bearing the spring snaps down and
thus the lever is locked or caught upon the pivot and cannot accidentally become
detached therefrom. When, however, it may be desired to remove said lever this
may be accomplished by pulling it forward forcibly, thus forcing the spring
member 103 outwardly and thereby expanding the mouth.
From the eye 96 of the zigzag wire extends downwardly a straight portion or
arm 105 which is formed or provided with a lateral pin 106 which is engaged at the
upper perforated end of a rod 107, which at its lower end is formed with an eye or
loop 108 that rests upon adjusting nuts 109 on the screw stem of the zigzag wire.
The zigzag wire forms or constitutes a spring, the tendency of which is always to lift
the shifting key lever; or in other words, the coils or folds of. this spring tend to
approach each other and through the screw stem and strap pull the lever 80 upwardly.
This action, however, is resisted or checked by reason of the presence in the organism
of the straight rod 107 against which the nuts 109 presses in the line of the said rod
and its connecting pin 106, which pin sustains the thrust of said rod caused by the
zigzag spring and prevents the latter from lifting the key lever. At the same time
the said zigzag spring operates as a connecting rod or means of connection between
the key lever and the shifter bar frame; or more specifically, the means of connection
between the said key lever and the plate 87 which is mounted on the arm 84 that is
connected through the arm 78 to the shifter bar 67. Thus when the shift key 80 is
depressed the strap 100 causes the zigzag spring to descend bodily and through its
connection to the plate 87 to rock the arms 84 and 78 and effect the vibration of the
shifter bar 67, and through this movement of the now practically rigid zigzag spring
the thrust rod 107 moves therewith and without any change of relationship between
these two parts. The said zigzag spring however performs a function additional to
that of a connecting means, namely to prevent the platten carriage from being pressed
too hard against the stop screws 75 by the finger pressure on the shift key and which
might cause the platen to shift too far for printing in alignment. If while the platen
is in its lower case position the shift rail were pressed back very hard for upper case
work, it would be liable to cause the truck 12 to.slide up on its bearing rolls 18 and
thus throw the line of print out of proper relation to the printing point of the types.
Therefore, for the purpose of preventing such detrimental action the zigzag form of
connection is provided, and under the circumstances of violent shifting action it
operates elastically or has a yielding action between the keys and shift frame, and
serves to prevent the excessive finger pressure from being transmitted to the platen
frame and the truck or carriage. If the shift key 80 should be pressed too hard after
the stop pins 77 have come to a bearing against the stop screws 75 in the shifting
action represented at figure 8, the zigzag spring will yield to the increased pressure,
the nuts 109 descending away from the thrust rod and the folds of the spring
separating or expanding to a limited but to the necessary extent. This expansion of
the said spring, it will be understood, must necessarily take place before any excessive
pressure can be applied to the stop screws 75, since the force required to expand the
aid spring or overcome its normal tension is less than that required to cause the

page_text: truck to slide on its bearing rolls, and hence it follows that any excessive force or
pressure applied to the key lever 80 is expended in stretching the zigzag spring, and
cannot be transmitted to the truck or carriage 12; thus the liability of producing
improper alignment in the printing which would otherwise result is effectually obviated
by reason of the presence in the shifting mechanism of the yielding connecting rod,
or zigzag spring. Of course when excessive pressure on the key is released the
contractile power of the zigzag spring causes it to at once resume its normal condition
and bring the nuts 109 up against the lower end of the thrust rod again, thus
restoring the shifting mechanism to its normal condition in which the said zigzag
spring operates simply as a rigid connecting rod.
This zigzag spring may be regulated by screwing up or down, as may be required,
the adjusting nuts 109. Adjusting the tension of the spring by means of the nuts.
effects also simultaneously an adjustment of the key lever, but this lever may be
independently adjusted to the proper height or position by screwing in or out of
the bushing or filler 99 as may be needed the screw stem 98 of the zigzag wire,"
having first removed the screw 96.
Underneath the key lever supported by the bracket 110 attached to the frame-
work (figure 6) is a screw 111 to limit the descent of the said lever in the shifting
action, but the said screw is so set or adjusted that the zigzag spring wire is caused
to yield or stretch before the underside of the key lever can come in contact with
said screw under a violent action of the keys, the said screw operating as a final dead
stop for the shift key, to prevent any undue or extraordinary depression of the shift
key.
The square heads of the screws 64 are provided for the application of a wrench
whereby said screws may be turned to adjust the platen to the plane of the align-
ment of the types. The presence of such an adjusting screw in the platen frame
near each of its ends arranged to bear against the depending arms of the cantilevers,
enables each end of the platen frame to be readily raised or lowered independent
of the other, so that both ends of the platen may be readily brought into the
plane in which the types are aligned.
may be
The pivots 59 of the platen carrier are preferably elongated and extended inwardly
and about the elongated portion of each said pivot is arranged a coiled spring 112,
one end of which may be fastened to a collar 113 at the inner end of the pivot,
and the other end of which spring may bear against the underside of the platen
carrier back bar in the vicinity of the adjusting screw 64. The collar
turned to put any desired tension in the spring and which said collar may be
affixed by means of a set screw. The tension of these springs 112 is opposed to
the weight of the platen carriage or frame. The platen carriage or frame, especially
in machines intended for wide paper, as is the machine illustrated, is necessarily of
considerable weight, and inasınuch as it has to be lifted by the operator many times
a day, it is desirable to make it as light as possible. At the same time enough
weight must be provided in all parts of the platen and frame to get the full
benefit of the impact of the types. Even when the weight of the platen frame
and its accessories is reduced to the minimum, there is yet considerable weight to
be lifted by the operator, and it is for the purpose of reducing this load to some
extent that the springs 112 are employed. The said springs may have a tension
equal to about one-half of the weight of the platen carrier, thus reducing the load to
be lifted by the hand of the operator about one-half.
The platen carrier pivots 59 may each be provided with a latch 114 having on its
underside a lug 115 adapted to a hole 116 in the top of the truck or carriage 12, for
the purpose of preventing the platen carrier froin accidentally shifting when it is
turned up for inspection of the work, the arrangement being such that when the
platen carrier is thus swung up the lug 115, which normally slides above the top of
the truck, drops into the said hole and prevents any rearward shifting action of the
platen carrier, assuming that the platen carrier is arranged in its normal or lower
case position. When the platen carrier is locked or latched for the time being in
its upper case position and the upper case types alone are being used, the said lug

page_text: will stand normally just back of the rear upper edge of the truck 12, as shown at
figure 3, so that when the platen carrier is lifted said lug will be caused to drop
behind said edge and prevent any accidental shifting of the platen carrier forward.
The said latch 114 is preferably pressed against the head of the pivot 59 by a coiled
spring 117 so that the said latch is carried up and down by reason of its frictional
contact or engagement with the head of said pivot. The latch is provided with a
downwardly extending tang or finger 118 (figure 2) against which part of the platen
carrier strikes when it is turned down so as to positively vibrate the latch upwardly
and cause its lock to stand always normally above the top of the truck and its upper
end to bear against a stop pin 119 on the slide bar.
120 designates the platen or printing roller and 121 its axle which has a bearing
at its right-hand end in a plain vertical slot 122 in the right hand end bar of the
platen frame. The opposite end of the platen axle is provided with a device for
latching or locking the platen within its frame. The said device consists of an
arm 123 which is provided at its free end with a hook-shaped finger piece 124 and at
its opposite end with a sleeve or bearing 125, loosely encircles the platen axle, so that
the device as a whole may be readily turned thereupon. The said locking device
while free to turn is prevented from moving endwise towards the platen by means of a
collar 126 extending from the left hand platen head 127, and from moving outwardly
or towards the left by a collar 128 extending in from the knurled hand wheel 129
fixed to the left-hand extremity of the platen axle.
The left-hand end bar of the platen carrier has a key-hole shaped slot 130, or one
which is circular in form at its lower end and straight or parallel sided at its upper
end, the width of the latter being less than that of the former. The sleeve 125 of the
latch device is adapted to pass through the circular portion of the key-hole slot and
the arm or shank 123 to pass through the straight portion of said slot in the operations
of attaching and detaching the platen from its carrier.
By referring to figures 1 and 11, it will be observed that the right-hand end of the
platen axle, which also bears a hand wheel, is prolonged beyond the platen carrier
end bar, and owing to this fact the said platen axle of the platen may be slid end-
wise towards the left for the purpose of detaching the platen; but before this
detachment can be accomplished the shaft or arm 123 of the latching device, which
in the normal locked position of the platen occupies a substantially horizontal position
as shown at figure 13, and the free end of the hooked portion bearing down upon the
top of the platen carrier end bar, must be turned up to a vertical position as shown
at figure 14, whereupon the platen and its axle may be pushed or pulled endwise
towards the left, the sleeve 125 passing out through the circular portion of the key-
hole slot, and the shank passing out through the straight portion of said slot and
beyond same up to the outside of the platen carrier end bar, as shown in dotted lines
at figure 11. When the platen has been shifted endwise to this position it may be
removed from its frame by simply lifting the same therefrom. This affords a ready
and convenient means of reinoving the platen from the machine for the purpose of
making repairs or exchanging the platen. It will of course be understood that when
it may be desired to replace the platen or insert a new one similarly constructed,
the reverse of the operation described is performed. After the platen has been
restored to its proper position the latch is turned down to the horizontal position
shown at figure 13 with the arm or shank 123 lying substantially parallel with and
against the inner face of the side bar, so that there is no liability of accidental
derangement or detachment of the platen. When the platen is in working position
the sleeve 125 reats at the bottom of the key-hole slot and the platen axle turns
within the same during the rotative movements of the platen. The platen, as usual,
is provided at its right-hand end with a line spacing ratchet wheel 131 which is
adapted to be rotated step-by-step by a line spacing lever 132 having a driving
pawl 133 of the usual construction and which need not be further described. The
platen may also have a spring-pressed detent roller 134 as usual. 135 designates
the feed rack which by arms 136, pivoted at 137, is connected to the truck 12. The
arm 138 extends forwardly from said pivot at the left-hand end of machine and to said

page_text: rm is secured a horizontally arranged finger-piece 139, which when pressed upon
operates to raise the feed rack from out of engagement with its pinion 140 on the
nner end of a shaft mounted in a suitable bearing 141 and provided at it rearmost
end with an escapement wheel 142, adapted to the usual letter spacing dogs, not
shown. This finger piece 139 may be pressed upon either directly by the thumb of
the operator when the platen frame is in an upturned position as shown at figure 2,
to release the carriage for rapid movement in either direction, or it may be acted
upon by a finger key lever 143, pivoted at 144 at the left-hand end of the main
non-shifting carriage and extending outwardly at the front side thereof, where it is
provided with a finger piece 145, which when depressed causes the rear beveled or
inclined portion 146 of said lever to press against the said finger piece 139, and thus
therethrough lift the rack from its pinion, so as to release the carriage for rapid
novement. The said release key lever 143, while pivoted on the main carriage or
truck has its forward end or finger piece carried or brought to the outer side of the
left hand end bar of the platen frame as shown at figures 1 and 2, by reason of a
In order to prevent any
lateral outwardly extended bend 147 in said lever.
accidental bending outwardly or to the left of the outer or forward end of the release
key lever, an arm 148, parallel with the end bar, is provided, and which, together
with said end bar, forms a slot for the working of said release key and for its
guidance and protection. The release key has a small projection just back of the
line of its pivot 144, upon which bears the free end of a flat spring 149, for the
purpose of holding the front or finger piece end of the release key normally in a
raised position, and for restoring it thereto after the said release key has been
depressed and the pressure removed. The downward movement of the release key
may be limited by a stop in the form of a screw 150.
At the right-hand end of the truck is another arm 151 similar to that marked 138,
which has a horizontal outwardly projecting integral portion 152 to co-operate with
another release key 153, generally similar to that marked 143, but unprovided with a
finger piece. Said release key 153 is pivoted at 154 and at its free forward end
terminates under the foot piece 155, extending in from one arm is the line spacing
lever 132, so that when said lever is vibrated to rotate the platen and at the same
time to return the carriages to the right for the beginning of a new line," said release
key operating on the extensions 152 of the arm 151 connected to the rack, operates
to simultaneously lift the rack from engagement with its pinion and thus obviate the
wear which would otherwise take place on said rack and pinion.
On the front side of the platen carrier is mounted a scale bar 156, which in the
present long carriage machine for wide paper is marked and graduated for one
hundred and twenty (120) letter spaces, and on the underside of the platen in the
vicinity of the printing place is arranged another scale 157 of equal length and like
the scale 156 marked to read from left to right. For the scale 156 is provided a
pointer or index 158 which may be attached to the shifter bar 67. This scale and
pointer indicate the progress of the platen frame when it is down in working position.
When the platen frame is in its turned up position, as shown at figure 2, the scale 157 is
brought to view and said scale, as heretofore, serves to locate an error which is to be
corrected when the platen is turned down to working position.
In addition to the said two scales 156 and 157 there is provided a third scale 159 of
equal length and similarly graduated to read from left to right. This last mentioned
scale 159 is designed to co-operate more particularly with the platen scale 157 to
facilitate the correction of errors. In a machine of this class, where the type strike
on the underside of the platen, the platen must be turned up to the position shown
at figure 2, when the paper is reinserted or fed backward for the correction of an
error in order to bring the place or places to be corrected to the line or plane at
which the types strike. Supposing while the platen is in its upturned position the
scale 157 shows that a correction must be made at say the point marked "50" on
its scale, the carriage may now be moved at once either to the right or the left
as may be required, and as rapidly as may be desired, by means of the
on the scale 159
release key 139, so that the graduation marked "50"

page_text: is brought into register with the stationary pointer 160 preferably fixed.
on the guide rail 10. This action brings the point to be corrected in the vertical
plane of the printing center, and hence the platen carrier may now be turned down
to working position, and the type immediately struck without any further adjustment
of the carriage. This combination of the two scales 157 and 159 both showing in the
upturned position of the carriage greatly facilitates of the work correction and has
been found in practice to be a desideratum.
The platen scale 157 is preferably mounted at the lower forward end of a paper
guide or deflector 161 pivotally mounted at 162 on the back par of the platen carriage
and spring-pressed towards the platen. The said guide or deflector is cut away at
163 for the protrusion of sectional feed rollers 164 arranged in pairs on two separate
axles 165 which axles are mounted in spring-pressed arms or hangers 166.
A release shaft 167 extends the entire length of the platen frame, and each
feed roller hanger or arm is provided with a wing 168 (figure 10), by which when the
said shaft is rocked by means of the hand lever 169, all of the feed roller hangers
or arms may be simultaneously vibrated outwardly from the platen, and thus cause
the feed roller sections to move away from contact with the platen to facilitate the
insertion and removal of the paper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
1. In a
typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, bar or frame, and
tracks or ways, of a pair of rolis or disks travelling independently in the rollway formed
by said tracks or ways one roll or disk of the pair being arranged crosswise of the
other; substantially as set forth.
2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, bar or frame having
two longitudinal bearings, a fixed guide rail having two opposing longitudinal
bearings thus forming between them a roll-way, and one or more pairs of rolls or
disks travelling within said roll-way, the rolls or disks of each pair being arranged
crosswise of each other; substantially as set forth.
3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, bar or frame, a fixed
guide rail, an independently movable truck or holder, and pair of rolls or disks
mounted in said truck or holder one crosswise of the other; substantially as set
forth.
4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, bar or frame, a fixed
guide rail, a truck or holder having two slots or openings, arranged one at an angle
to the other, and a roll or disk mounted to turn in each slot or opening; substantially
as set forth.
5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, bar or frame having
suitable bearings, and one or more pairs of rolls or disks adapted to said bearings, the
rolls or disks of each pair being arranged crosswise of each other and mounted in a
suitable frame or holder; substantially as set forth.
6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, bar or frame, a fixed
guide rail, rolls or disks arranged in pairs, one roll or disk of each pair being
'disposed crosswise of the other, and diagonally opposite bearing faces or tracks in the
carriage and guide rails for the said rolls or disks; substantially as set forth.
7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a fixed grooved guide rail, a
carriage having a groove opposing that in the fixed guide rail, the two pairs of
crossed rolls or disks 18, each pair being mounted in a frame comprising the
arms 25 and 26, and the said arins being connected together by the longitudinal
parallel strips or plates 23; substantially as set forth.
8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage mounted on roller
bearings and provided with a back bar, means for preventing said back bar from
rising and the carriage from rocking about said roller bearings, and a platen carrier
suspended from said carriage, and in a manner such that it may be shifted transversely
independently of any movement of said carriage; substantially as set forth.

page_text: 9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a back bar,
means for preventing said bar from rising, a platen carrier adapted to shift back and
forth transversely and independently of said carriage, and so hung that its entire
weight is suspended from said carriage, wherehy when the platen carrier is down in
working position the main carriage and the platen carrier constitute in effect a lever
of the first order; substantially as set forth.
10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a back bar,
an overhanging bracket to resist any upward motion of said bar, and a transversely
shifting platen carrier pivotally suspended at the front side of said carriage and
wholly supported thereby; substantially as set forth.
11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a back bar, an
overhanging abutment therefor, means supported on said carriage and adapted to
slide back and forth transversely of the same, and a platen carrier attached to said
sliding means; substantially as set forth.
12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a longitudinal
motion only, means mounted on said carriage and adapted to slide transversely
thereof, and a platen carrier attached to said means to shift transversely therewith;
substantially as set forth.
13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a sliding frame thereon
adapted for movement transversely of said carriage, and a platen carrier pivotally
suspended from the front side of said sliding frame; substantially as set forth.
14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a pair of slide bars
mounted on and adapted to move transversely of said carriage, and a platen carrier
attached to the forward ends of said slide bars; substantially as set forth.
15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a pair of slide bars
mounted to move transversely thereof, and a platen carrier pivotally suspended from
and in front of said slide bars; substantially as set forth.
16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a pair of
transversely movable slide bars, means for connecting the same together, and a
platen carrier suspended from said slide bars; substantially as set forth.
17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a pair of transversely
movable slide bars thereon, a rock shaft and rocker arms connecting said slide bars
together, so as to cause them to move in unison, and a platen carrier attached to the
forward ends of said slide bars; substantially as set forth.
18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a pair of slide bars
mounted to move transversely thereon on ball-bearings, and connected together to
move in unison, and a platen carrier pivotally suspended from said slide bars;
substantially as set forth.
19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a back bar,
means for resisting the upward tendency of said bar, a pair of slide bars adapted to
move transversely on said carriage and provided with downward extensions, and a
platen carrier hinged or pivoted to said slide bars and provided with parts which bear
against the said downward projections when the said platen carrier is down in working
position; substantially as set forth.
20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a ball bearing slide
bar adapted to move transversely thereof, and a platen carrier pivotally attached to
the forward end of said slide bar; substantially as set forth.
21. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a back bar,
and overhanging bracket, a slide bar, and a platen carrier pivotally suspended from
said slide bar; substantially as set forth.
22. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a lower ball
bearing groove and an upper ball bearing groove, a slide bar adapted to move
transversely of said carriage and having also an upper ball bearing groove and a
lower ball bearing groove, anti-friction balls in said grooves, and a platen carrier
pivotally attached to said slide bar; substantially as set forth.
23. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a back bar, an
overhanging bracket, a lower ball bearing groove on said carriage, an upper ball

page_text: :
bearing groove also on said carriage, a slide bar having on its under side a ball
bearing groove, adapted to the lower ball bearing groove on the carriage, and having
also a ball bearing groove on its upper side, adapted to the upper ball bearing groove
on the carriage, anti-friction balls arranged in said grooves, a platen carrier attached
to said slide bar, and means for shifting said carriage and said slide bar transversely ;
substantially as set forth.
24. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a slide bar thereon
having a ball bearing on its under side, and a ball bearing on its upper side, and a
platen carrier suspended from said slide bar, so that its weight holds the balls firmly
in their grooves; substantially as set forth.
2.5. In a typewriting machine, the means for firmly guiding the carriage in its
lengthwise movements which consists of a pair of grooved rails, one of which is
fastened to the main frame and the other to the truck or carriage, a gang of anti-
friction guide rolls mounted in a frame arranged to hold them in their proper
relative positions, whereby the grooved rail of the truck or carriage is guided in line
with the grooved rail of the main frame, a plain rail fastened to the back of the truck
or carriage, arranged to bear against the under side of a roll mounted in a bracket
on the frame-work and a platen carrier so mounted as that its weight will hold the
rear plain rail firmly against its roll, substantially as set forth.
26. In a typewriting machine, the means for readily adjusting the platen
in the plane of the alignment of the types, which consists of an adjusting screw,
in the platen frame at or near each of its ends, arranged to bear against the means
by which the platen frame is suspended, whereby each end of the platen frame
may be raised or lowered independent of the other, and both ends of the platen brought
into the plane in which the types are aligned; substantially as set forth.
27. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a platen carrier
suspended therefrom and provided with means for enabling the ends of the platen
frame to be independently adjusted in order that the platen may be brought into
the plane of the alignment of the types; substantially as set forth.
28. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a platen frame
suspended therefrom and having adjusting devices at or near each end which, when
the platen frame is down, bear against said carriage or against portions thereon; the
said adjusting devices enabling the ends of the platen frame to be independently
adjusted for the purpose of bringing the platen in the plane in which the types are
aligned; substantially as set forth.
29. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage provided with the
downwardly extending arms 63, a platen frame pivotally suspended from the upper
ends of said arms and provided at or near each end with the adjusting screw 64;
substantially as set forth.
30. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a shifting platen frame having
a limiting stop, of a shifting mechanism embodying a yielding connection between
the shift key and the platen frame for preventing the platen frame from being
pressed too hard against its stop; substantially as set forth.
31. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a shifting platen frame, of a
shifting mechanism including a spring which normally serves as a connecting
medium between the shifting key and the shifter bar, but which, when the shift
key is actuated unduly, is adapted to expand or elongate to prevent the platen frame
from being pressed beyond the proper position for printing in alignment; sub-
stantially as set forth.
32. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shifting platen frame, a
shifter bar therefor, a shifting key lever, connections between said shifter bar and
said key lever including a spring which is normally under tension, and a means for
resisting the said tension until such time as the shifting key may be pressed on too
hard, when the said spring may then act to relieve the platen frame from such undue
pressure or action, and thereby prevent it from being shifted too far; substantially as
set forth.
33. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shifting platen frame, a

page_text: shifter bar, a shifting key lever, a zigzag spring interposed between said shifter bar
and said key lever, and having a norinal contractile tendency, and a rod or abutment
for normally resisting such tendency; substantially as set forth.
34. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shifting platen carrier, a
frame, a shifter bar, a shifting key lever an interposed zigzag spring operating as
described, a rod normally acting against said spring, and means for adjusting the
tension of said spring; substantially as set forth.
35. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shifting platen carrier, a frame,
a shifter bar, a shifting key lever, a vibratory plate attached to one of the supporting
arms of the shifter bar, means for vibrating said plate, a zigzag spring attached at
one end to the upper end of said plate and at its lower end connected to the shifting
key lever, a rod for resisting the action of said spring, and a nut for adjusting the
tension thereof; substantially as set forth.
36. In a typewriting machine and in a shifting mechanism, substantially as
described, the zigzag spring connected to the shifting key lever and operating in
substantially the manner set forth.
37. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage mounted on roller
bearings 18, a platen frame attached to said carriage and adapted to be shifted trans-
versely thereof and a shifting mechanism including a yielding device which operates
to prevent the carriage from sliding on said roller bearings when the shifting
mechanism is actuated too violently; substantially as set forth.
38. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage mounted on roller
bearings, a platen mounted to move transversely of said carriage against stops-thereon,
a shifter bar, a shifting key lever, and the interposed spring 97 and rod 107 operating
substantially as set forth.
39. In a typewriting machine, and in a shifting key lever provided with a strap, a
zigzag spring having a threaded stem engaging with said strap, a thrust rod 107, and
an adjusting nut 109; substantially as set forth.
40. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pivot and a key lever formed
or provided with a spring 103, whose free end and that of the body of the lever are
beveled to form a flaring mouth by which the said key lever may be fulcrumed on
and removed from said pivot by endwise movements; substantially as set forth.
41. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a pivot, a key lever having a
seat or bearing for the pivot and a beveled end and formed with an integral spring 103
provided also with a partial bearing and with a beveled extremity; substantially as
shown and described.
42. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen frame having open
bearings at each end for the platen axle or shaft, one of said open bearings being
narrower at its upper end than at its lower end, and sleeves or enlargements on the
platen axle or shaft occupying the enlarged portion of said bearing, and being incap-
able of passing out through the contracted upper portion of said bearing, whereby,
when it may be desired to detach the platen, it and its axle or shaft must be slid
end wise a short distance to carry the said sleeve or enlargement past or beyond the
said contracted portion, whereupon the platen and its axle or shaft may be lifted
from its bearing at this end and also from the bearing at its opposite end; substantially
as set forth.
43. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen frame having open
bearings at each end, one of said bearings being in the form of a keyhole slot with its
contracted portion uppermost, a platen, a platen axle, a sleeve on one end thereof of
greater diameter than the width of said contracted portion, and an arm attached to
said sleeve adapted to prevent the platen from moving endwise excepting when said
arm is turned to a position where it may pass through the said open bearing on an
endwise movement of the platen and its shaft or axle; substantially as set forth.
44. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen frame having an open
bearing at each end, one of said bearings being contracted on its upper portion, the
arm 123 and the sleeve 125 on said shaft or axle, and operating in the manner

page_text: described upon endwise movements of the platen when it may be desired to either.
detach or restore the same; substantially as set forth.
45. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a platen frame
suspended therefrom, and a spring or springs for partially counteracting the weight
of the suspended platen frame; substantially as set forth.
46. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a platen frame
pivotally suspended therefrom, and a spring or springs mounted on the pivots of the
platen frame and adapted to act in a direction opposite to that of the weight of the
suspended platen; substantially as set forth.
47. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having slide bars, a
platen frame pivoted to said slide bars and having its weight supported by said
carriage, and a spring or springs for acting in opposition to the weight of the platen
frame; substantially as set forth.
; 48. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, slide bars mounted
thereon, a platen pivoted on said slide bars and carrying the friction latches 114
adapted to the holes 116 and to the rear edge of the carriage bar; substantially as
set forth.
49. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage having a hinged or
pivoted portion of the feed mechanism provided with a key or finger piece 139
arranged substantially as shown and described, a platen frame pivotally connected
to said carriage, so that it may be turned to an upright position, and a release key
lever pivoted at its rear end to the said carriage; the construction and arrangement
being such that when the platen frame is down in working position the carriage may
be released from its feed mechanism by means of the release key acting upon the key
or finger piece 138, and such that when the platen frame is in an upright position
said carriage may be released by finger pressure applied directly upon the said key or
finger piece 139; substantially as set forth.
50. In a typewriting machine, the.combination with a carriage, its feed mechanism
and a platen frame hinged to said carriage, of the release key 143 pivoted in said
carriage and having a lateral bend 147 to bring the forward portion of said key lever
exteriorly of the end bar of the platen frame; substantially as set forth.
51. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a platen frame hinged
thereto so as to be turned to an upright position, a scale bar 157 arranged underneath
the platen when down and in proximity to the line of print, and another scale 159 arranged
on the front side of the carriage and having a fixed pointer or index; the arrangement
being such that when the platen frame is down in working position neither of the
said scales is visible, but when said platen frame, is turned to an upright position
both of said scales are brought to view, and while the platen frame is in this condition
the operator may use the platen scale 157 to locate the place to be corrected and may
then use the carriage scale 159 and its pointer or index to at once conveniently and
accurately bring such place to the printing plane by a movement of the carriage
and without first turning down the platen frame; substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September 1897..
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.