Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
A communication from abroad by WYCKOFF, SEAMANS, and BENEDICT, of
No. 327, Broadway, New York City, New York, in the United States of
America.
i
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the firm of Fell & Wilding, of No. 1 Victoria Street,
in the City of London, England, Patent Agent, 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 :-
Our invention relates to the ribbon movements of type-writing machines, and
has for its main objects to provide a desirable and efficient construction, whereby.
the ribbon may be moved both lengthwise and width wise, and consists in the various
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 top plan view, partly in section, of so much of a type-writing
machine as is necessary to illustrate our improvements, the top plate of the machine
being shown in dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken at the line a, x of Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken at the line y, y of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the vibratory frame or casting, with the spool
shaft and ribbon carrier support added.
Figure 5 is a detail view showing the mode of mounting of the ribbon-spool.
Figure 6 is a plan of the heart or grooved cam.
In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral
of reference.
1 represents the top plate, and 2 the type-ring or basket, around which the type
bars or levers (not shown) are hung or pivoted in the usual manner. Depending
from the top plate are hangers 3, which support at the rear of the machine a long
shaft 4, which is provided with a bevel gear 5 which meshes with a similar gear 6
upon a shaft or arbor, on which is oscillated a spring-drum 7, in the manner of the
well known Remington machine. To this spring-drum or wheel is attached one
end of a band or belt 8, the other end of which is connected to some part of the
paper carriage, represented in the drawings by 9. During the travel of the paper-
carriage to the left, the gear wheel 6 drives the gear wheel 5 and turns the shaft 4
in the direction of the arrow thereat, but during the travel of the carriage to the
right, for the commencement of a new line, the bevel wheel 6, and consequently
the shaft 4, remain at rest, the spring-drum 7 turning only. Thus, the shaft 4
turns always in one direction, namely, in that indicated by the arrow at Figure 1.
At each end of said shaft 4 is a double tappet or wiper cam 10, while near each
end of said shaft is a grooved or heart-shaped cam 11. The first mentioned cams
are employed to effect a lengthwise movement of the ribbon, while the last named
cams are used to effect a transverse or widthwise movement of the ribbon.
12 represents, as an entirety, a vibratory frame or casting comprising a vertical
support or member 13, a horizontally-arranged arm or member 14 and a vertical
plate-like member 15. There is one of these frames or castings pivoted at each
side of the machine. The free end of the arm 14 is formed with a vertical
bearing 16 which surrounds a pin or pivot 17, depending from the top plate 1 and
held by a screw 18. The lower end of the bearing 16 rests upon the head of a
screw 19, which takes into a threaded hole in the end of the pin 17, and thus the
frame or casting 12 is pivoted and supported.
The vertical plate-like portion 15 is formed with a tubular portion or bearing 20

page_text: :
in line with a hole or perforation at the lower end of the vertical member 13 of
the casting, and through said tubular portion and perforation is passed a ribbon-
spool shaft 21. Upon said shaft is slipped a ribbon-spool 22 which is cut away
at 23 and provided with a spring 24 having a curved or hooked shaped end which
fits into an annular groove 25 formed in said shaft, and presses with sufficient
force to enable said spool to turn with said shaft when the latter is positively
rotated. This construction also admits of the spool being rotated independently
by hand when it may be desired to thus move the ribbon lengthwise, and also
euables the spool to be readily detached from the shaft when it may be necessary,
while at the same time the construction is such that the spool is prevented from
moving endwise upon its shaft accidentally.
On the opposite end of spool shaft 21, nearer the main shaft 4, is secured a
ratchet-wheel 26 which is adapted to be turned step-by-step, and intermittently
rotate said shaft and its spool, by means of a driving-pawl 27, pivoted by a screw
pin 28, upon a lever 29, which is pivoted at 30 in the plate-like member 15 of the
vibratory frame, and is bent or cranked as seen at Figure 3. The driving pawl is
provided with a heel 31 arranged between two pins 32 on said lever to limit its
vibration, and a flat spring 33 is connected at one end to the lever, and at the
other end to the hub of the driving-pawl in a manner such as to keep the driving
end of the pawl normally in position to turn its ratchet-wheel, when said pawl is
in use.
Below the pivot of the lever 29 is pivoted a detent 34 provided with a weight 35
to ensure engagement of said detent with its ratchet wheel, when in operation.
Formed integral with said detent is an upwardly projected finger 36 adapted to
be operated upon by a lug 37 on the lever 29, to disengage said detent when said
lever is vibrated to throw its driving pawl out of operative relation to its ratchet-
wheel, as illustrated at the left hand side of Figure 2.
At the lower end of the lever 29 is connected one end of a spiral spring 38,
the other end of which is connected to the horizontal member 15 of the vibratory
frame.
Projecting towards the right from the lever 29 and formed integral therewith,
is an arm 39 which is provided with a rearward projection 40 that extends under
the wiper wheel or cam 10, so as to be acted upon thereby.
Referring to the right hand side of Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that
the lever 29 is arranged for action, and that the driving pawl 27 is in engagement
with its ratchet-wheel. At this time the spiral spring 38 is acting against the
cam 10, and hence holding the projection 40 in contact with said cam. Now, as
the cam revolves in the direction of the arrow, it gradually forces outwardly the
projection 40, and vibrates the lever 29 against the tension of the coiled spring,
and operates to pull the driving end of the pawl back the distance of one notch
of the ratchet wheel. As soon as this has been accomplished, the low or cut-
away part of the cam arrives at the said projection, which then immediately flies
towards the centre of the cam under the influence of the spring 38, and
simultaneously the lever 29 is vibrated by the force of said spring and the driving
pawl is caused to push the ratchet-wheel and spool the distance of one tooth, and
hence wind up a portion of the ribbon 41 upon the right hand spool.
As will be observed by referring more particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings,
the means for winding the ribbon upon the left hand spool are at this time thrown
out of use.
This is accomplished by pushing down upon the outer extremity of
the arm 39 of the lever 29, which is extended to form a finger piece, so as to rock
the lever 29, raise the driving pawl out of engagement with its ratchet-wheel and
simultaneously by means of the finger 36 and lug 37, cast off the detent, thus
freeing the left hand ribbon spool from its rotating means, and permitting it to
revolve and pay off in accordance with the pull exerted by the right hand ribbon
spool through its actuating devices.
It will be observed, at the left hand side of Figure 2, that when the arm 39 is
depressed to disengage the pawl and detent, the spiral spring is so shifted 'that

page_text: its pull or tension is exerted on the opposite side of the pivot of the lever, and
hence the spring operates to hold the lever and its accessories in their inoperative
or unusual position.
When the ribbon may have been wound step-by-step on to the right hand
spool and it may be desired to reverse its longitudinal direction of movement,
the devices at the right hand side of the machine are thrown out of engagement
by depressing the arm 39 as above described, and the devices at the left hand
side of the machine are thrown into operative relation to the ratchet-wheel and
spool, by simply raising the arm 39 of the lever. Thereafter the cam 10 at the
left hand side of the machine will operate, through the means described to
intermittently rotate the left hand spool positively, and cause it to wind upon itself
the ribbon on the spool on the opposite side of the machine.
I shall now describe the means employed for moving the ribbon widthwise or
transversely, the devices for doing this work like those for moving the ribbon
lengthwise, being the same at each side of the machine.
Secured in a bearing at the upper end of the vertical part 13 of the vibratory
frame, is a horizontally arranged pin or arm 42, upon which is mounted the
tubular end 43 of a ribbon-carrier, 44, which is provided at its inner end with a
transverse loop or guide 45, and between its ends with lateral arms 46, the said
loops and arms serving to support and guide the ribbon.
On the under side of the ribbon-carrier 44 are riveted two spring plates 47,
which at their free ends rest normally in depressions 48 on the upper and lower
sides of the pin or arm 42. The ribbon-carrier. is adapted to be turned up. to a
vertical position to enable the ribbon to be lifted to considerable height, so that
the operator may conveniently clean the type when necessary without interference
by the ribbon and liability of soiling his hands. When the ribbon-carrier is turned
up to a vertical position, the spring plates 47 slide around on the curved or
cylindrical portions of the arm 42 and are expanded slightly, and by their pressure
serve to hold the ribbon carrier in its upright position.
Extending rearwardly from the vertical plate-like portion 15 of the vibratory
frame, is a pin or projection 49 which is operated upon by the grooved or heart
shaped cam 11, and a vibratory motion thus given the frame or casting 12, and the
various devices carried thereby.
The cams 11 are arranged upon the shaft 4 so that the vibratory frames are
moved first in one direction and then returned, during a complete revolution of
the shaft, and hence the ribbon-carriers and the ribbon are moved laterally in one
direction during one-half of the revolution of the shaft and in the opposite direction,
during the remainder of the revolution of the shaft.
In the positions of the parts shown at Figure 1, the cams 11 are acting upon the
pins to move them towards each other or inwardly, thus rocking the vibratory
frames about their pivots 17, and moving the ribbon carriers towards the front of
the machine as represented by the dotted lines.
When the portions 50 of the cams arrive at the pins 49, the forward vibration of
the ribbon-carriers has been completed, and as the cams continue to revolve, their
opposite sides press upon opposite sides of the pins and operate to force them
outwardly or away from each other thus rocking the vibratory frames in the
reverse direction, and causing the ribbon-carriers and ribbon to move rearwardly.
The portions 50 of the cams 11 are preferably flattened for the purpose of
delaying, for a moment, the reverse rocking motion of the vibratory frame, in order
to allow, at this time, the devices for moving the ribbon longitudinally to come into
action. The flat portions of the cams 11, and the cut-aways of the cams 10 are
relatively so arranged that the instant the flat portions of the cams arrive at the
pins 49, at each half revolution, there is a cessation of widthwise movement of the
ribbon, the projection 40 passes off of the high point of the cam 10, and the spring-
actuated driving lever 29 is moved to cause its pawl to turn the ratchet-wheel and
wind up a small portion of the ribbon. By the time this longitudinal movement
has been effected, the cams 11 have been turned sufficiently to cause the flat

page_text: portions to pass beyond the pins 49, and at once the reverse widthwise movement of
the ribbon begins to take place.
By this construction and arrangement the ribbon is enabled to move laterally
while the means for moving it longitudinally are at rest, and is enabled to move
lengthwise, while the means for moving it widthwise are out of action. Thus there
is no conflict between the means for effecting a widthwise movement of the ribbon,
and the means for effecting a lengthwise movement thereof, and hence the ribbon
is used by the type first in a line perpendicular to its edge, then it is fed length-
wise about a distance equal to the width of a type, then it is used widthwise again
in a line at right angles to its edge, and parallel to the first used line, and so on
along parallel lines at right angles to the longitudinal movement of the ribbon
until the ribbon has been wound from one spool to the other, or until its lengthwise
direction of movement changed by the operator.
The ribbon is used widthwise its whole extent independently of the movements of
the paper-carriage; that is to say, if the carriage should be stopped and returned
before making its full excursion from right to left, the ribbon would not have its
widthwise direction of movement changed accordingly, as in prior machines, but
will remain at rest while the carriage is being returned and upon the advance
again of the carriage in the writing of the next line, the movement of the ribbon
widthwise will be continued in the same direction from the point where it was
stopped by the previous return of the carriage. Thus, the use of the ribbon for its
full width is ensured, no matter what may be the length of the travel of the
carriage or the length of the lines written.
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
ribbon-spool shaft, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a spring-actuated lever carrying
a driving-pawl and provided with a laterally extending arm, and an actuating cam,
arranged to turn in a plane at right angles to the plane of the pawl-carrying lever.
2nd. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
ribbon-spool shaft, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a spring-actuated lever carrying
a driving-pawl and provided with an arm, a constantly rotating shaft, and a cam on
said shaft acting in opposition to the spring on the lever to retract the driving pawl,
and constructed to release said arm after retraction of said pawl, to enable the said
spring to vibrate said lever and cause its pawl to turn the ratchet-wheel and wind
the ribbon.
3rd. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-
spool shaft, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a spring actuated lever carrying a
driving pawl and provided with an arın, à cam for actuating said lever in one
direction, a detent engaging said ratchet-wheel, and a projection on said lever
adapted to move said detent when said lever is vibrated to throw its driving pawl
out of operative relation to its ratchet-wheel.
4th. In a type-writing machine, the combination. with an inking ribbon, a ribbon-
spool shaft, a ribbon spool, a ratchet-wheel, a lever carrying a driving pawl, means
connected to the carriage driving power, for vibrating said lever and retracting
said driving pawl, and a spring for vibrating said lever in the opposite direction
and advancing said pawl.
5th. In a type-writing' machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, a
ribbon spool shaft, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a lever carrying a driving
pawl, means for vibrating said lever and retracting said pawl, and a spring for
vibrating said lever in the opposite direction and advancing said pawl, and
arranged so as to act on either side of the centre of motion or pivot of the said
lever, whereby, when desired, the said spring may operate to hold the driving-
pawl out of operative relation with its ratchet-wheel.
6th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, a ribbon-

page_text: spool shaft, a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-wheel, a lever provided with an arm, a
constantly rotating cam for vibrating said lever in one direction, a spring for
vibrating said lever in the opposite direction, adapted to act on both sides of the
centre of motion or pivot of said lever, and a detent for said ratchet-wheel
adapted to be disengaged by said lever when the latter is vibrated to throw its
driving pawl out of operative relation with its ratchet wheel.
7th. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool, a ratchet-
wheel, a cranked lever carrying a driving-pawl and provided with a laterally-
extending arm, a cam operating upon said arin to move said lever in one direction,
and a spring connected at one end to said lever and at its other, end to the frame-
work for moving said lever in the opposite direction, and causing said driving
pawl to turn said ratchet-wheel.
8th. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a ribbon-spool shaft having
an annular groove and a ribbon-spool having a cut-away or recess and provided
with an arm having a bent or hooked shaped end to engage said groove.
9th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a
vertically-pivoted vibratory frame provided with a ribbon-spool and a ribbon-
carrier.
10th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a
vertically-pivoted vibratory frame provided with a ribbon-spool and a ribbon-
carrier, and a cam for rocking said frame.
'
11th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a
vertically-pivoted vibratory frame provided with a ribbon-spool and a ribbon-
carrier, and a constantly rotating shaft provided with a cam adapted to rock said
frame first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, to cause the ribbon-
carrier to move the ribbon widthwise both forwardly and rearwardly.
12th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
vertically-pivoted vibratory-frame, a spool-shaft journaled in said frame, a ribbon-
spool on said shaft, a ribbon-carrier mounted on said frame, and means for rocking
said frame.
13th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
vertically pivoted vibratory frame, a spool-shaft journaled in said frame, a ribbon-
spool mounted on said shaft, a ribbon-carrier mounted on said frame and means for
rotating said spool and rocking said frame.
14th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
vertically-pivoted vibratory-frame, a ribbon-spool shaft journaled in said fraine, a
ribbon-spool on said shaft, a horizontally-arranged bar mounted on said frame,
a ribbon-carrier supported upon said bar, a pin projecting laterally from said frame,
and a constantly rotating cam to co-operate with said pin.
15th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
vibratory-frame consisting of the vertical member 13, a horizontal arm 14, and the
plate-like portion 15, a ribbon-spool shaft journaled in said frame, a ribbon-spool
mounted on said shaft, a horizontal bar mounted on said frame, a ribbon carrier
mounted on said bar, a pin projecting laterally from said frame, a cam for actuating
said pin, and a vertical pivot for said frame.
16th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a
pair of horizontally hinged or pivoted ribbon-carriers extending inwardly towards
each other and in the direction of travel of the paper carriage and adapted to be
turned up in opposite directions to lift the ribbon, so that the operator may
conveniently clean the type, etc.
17th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
horizontally arranged supporting bar, disposed at substantially right angles to the
length of said ribbon, a ribbon carrier pivoted or hinged at one end upon said bar,
and extending in the direction of the length of said ribbon, so that it may be turned
to an upright position, and means substantially as described for maintaining said
carrier in such upright position.
18th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a

page_text: horizontally arranged supporting bar formed with notches or depressions, and a
ribbon-carrier hinged or pivoted upon said bar and provided with a spring plate
or finger.
19th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
pair of vertically-pivoted vibratory frames, a pair of ribbon-carriers connected to
said frames, and means substantially as described for rocking both said frames and
moving said carriers simultaneously in the same direction.
20th. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking-ribbon, of a
pair of independent vertically-pivoted vibratory frames, a ribbon carrier connected
to each of said frames and projecting inwardly towards each other, and a pair of
constantly rotating cams adapted to simultaneously rock both of said vibratory
frames, and cause the ribbon-carriers to simultaneously move laterally in the same
direction.
21st. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a pair
of independent vertically pivoted vibratory frames provided with ribbon-spools and
ribbon-carriers, means for turning one of said spools at a time, and a pair of cams
for rocking said frames first in one direction and then in the other, and constructed
to delay or momentarily stop said rocking action at the time the means for
turning the ribbon-spools are acting or are in operation.
22nd. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a
pair of independent vertically-pivoted vibratory frames provided each with a
ribbon-spool and a ribbon-carrier, a ratchet wheel connected to each said spool,
a spring actuated lever connected to each said vibratory frame and carrying a
driving pawl, a cam for rocking each said vibratory frame, and a cam for actuating
each said pawl carrying lever in one direction.
23rd. In a type-writing machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a
vertically pivoted vibratory frame provided with a ribbon-spool and a ribbon-
carrier, a ratchet-wheel connected to said spool, a driving pawl for turning said
ratchet-wheel pivotally connected to a lever, a cain for rocking said vibratory
frame, a cam for actuating said pawl carrying lever in one direction, and a spring
for actuating said lever in the opposite direction.
Dated this 13th day of July 1800
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.