Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by THE. IMPERIAL WRITING MACHINE CO.,
LIMITED, of Montreal, in the Dominion of Canada.]
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:—
This invention relates to type-writing machines and particularly to machines in
which the type-bars are advanced by end thrusts, and the said invention comprises
improvements in the key action, in the means for controlling the universal bar, in the
means for working the ribbon spools by a single pawl, and in the means for shifting
the platen in a direction transversely of its length to bring it opposite different
letters on the same type-bar.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side view of a type-bar in its normal position and of the mechanism
for operating said bar..
Figure 2 is a similar view of said parts in the impression position.
Figure 3 is a section of the bar for returning the type-bars to their normal position,
said bar being hereinafter termed the universal bar. The section is taken perpen-
dicular to the bar and shows the controlling spring and a portion of one of the
type-bar levers in its normal position of rest.
Figure 4 is a view of the same parts in the impression position.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the parts for operating the spool by means
of a single pawl, and showing the cover in section and the means for shifting the
pawl.
Figure 6 is a plan of said parts the cover being indicated by dotted lines.
Figure 7 is a top-plan view of so much of one form of type-writing machine as is
necessary to show the action of the platen shifting mechanism, my improved
mechanism being applied thereto.
Figure 8 is a side view of the said parts partly in section on the line 2-2 of
Figure 1..
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail views, partly in section on line 3-3 of Figure 7,
and show, respectively, a part of the platen frame in its normal, intermediate and
lowest position for impression, my movable stop being in the platen shifting path in
Figures 9 and 10, and out of that path in Figure 11.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of another form of shift key arranged to be capable of
tilting on a pivot for a purpose hereinafter specified, and of the parts immediately
in connection therewith.
Figure 13 is an end view, and
Figure 14 is a plan of said parts.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A denotes a portion of the frame of the machine;
B is a key-lever; B' is a comb-shaped pivot-plate on which the key-lever swings;
C is a comb-like guide between the teeth of which the key-levers are guided. Dis
one of the type-bar levers pivoted at E. F is the universal bar pivoted at F¹
on the frame. The short arm D' of the lever D bears on the universal bar and is
operated by the said bar in the now well-known manner. G is a link connecting

page_text: the type-har lever, D.to the key-lever B. It is pivoted to the lever B at G¹ and to
the lever D at G. H is the type-bar, the head 18 of which receives the type.
H1, H2 are slotted guides for guiding the type-bar in its to and fro movements.
His a plate on which the type-bar head rests. His a slot in the type-bar in
which slot a pin D° in the head of the lever D works. The novelty in this part of
my invention resides in the connection between the levers B and D which is so
constructed and arranged that when the key is depressed and the type-bar is in its
forward or impression Position the centres G¹, E, G' are substantially in a straight
line as clearly shown in Figure 2. By this construction the key-lever when
struck is brought gradually to rest by the link G instead of being suddenly
arrested by the striking of the type-bar against the platen 1, and hence the finger
experiences little or no shock and the comfort of the operator is thereby greatly
increased. The spring of the universal bar ensures the proper return of the
lever D.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the universal bar F is controlled by a spring J
one end of which is attached at J' to an arm K secured to the universal bar, and
the other end of which is attached to the frame of the machine at J. When the
type-bar levers are in their normal position the centres J, J, F' are substantially
in a straight line and the leverage of the spring J is nil. As soon however as
the universal bar is depressed by turning it about its pivot, the point J¹ moves
away from the straight line joining the centres J* and F¹, and consequently the
spring comes into operation with a constantly increasing leverage, and tends to
stop the forward movement of the type-bar. The result of this construction is
that the effort required to start the downward movement of the key is very
slight but the pressure required to force the key downward increases as the key
descends. The shock on the finger on first striking the key is thereby reduced to
a minimum being due merely to the effort required to overcome the inertia of
the moving parts. The maximum leverage of the spring occurs when the
type-bar is in the printing position and the spring J then exerts the greatest
force to quickly return the type to its normal position when the key is released.
For working the spools, I provide a long pawl L Figures 5 and 6 pivoted at its
rear end to a block M in such a manner that it can turn freely in a horizontal
plane. The said block M is pivoted by a horizontal pin M¹ to the upper end of a
lever N which is pivoted to the frame of the machine at N¹. The lower end of
the said lever N is connected by a link O to the arm K of the universal bar and
is oscillated by said arm each time a key is depressed. The pawl rests at a point
near its forward end on an incline P¹ formed in the frame A so that gravity tends
to cause the pawl to slide down the said incline, by this action the extreme end of
the pawl is maintained in engagement with the toothed or serrated rim of the ribbon
spool Q, and the said spool is thus turned each time a key is depressed. A similar
incline P, Figure 6, is formed at the other side of the frame A, and the pawl can
be turned about its pivot in the block M to rest on this incline to engage the ribbon
spool Q when it is desired to wind the ribbon in the other direction. One pawl
is thus used to work the ribbon in both directions, and the said pawl is maintained
in the working position by the action of gravity. To shift the pawl from one side
to the other provide a rotatable disc R pivoted at R' to the cover S. The said
disc carries two pins R', R' which extend one on each side of the pawl and serve
to shift the pawl when the disc is turned: A knob or handle R' is provided at the
upper side of the disc for turning the latter.
The object of another part of my invention is to produce a cheap, simple and
efficient mechanism by manipulation of which the platen is brought into position to
receive impression from any desired type-face on a type-head.
This part of my invention comprises a novel combination, a new element of which
is a stop that can be swung into and out of the path of the platen, when the platen
is shifted, the function of the swinging stop being to arrest the platen in an impres
sion-position between its normal and extreme impression-positions, in order that the
platen 'may be moved by a single shift-key from a normal position to a plurality of

page_text: new printing positions in the same direction, one in advance of the other, corre-
sponding with the positions of the several types on the type-heads.
Referring to Figures 7 to 11, is a platen movable both endwise and trans-
versely of its length in the usual manner.. The platen-frame 2 is movable in
grooves 3 of the carriage 4, and is provided with a lengthwise groove 5, the
platen-frame being kept normally in its highest position, as shown in Figure 8,
by means of the spring 6, against the force of which the platen is vibratel or
shifted into each of its other impression positions. For shifting the platen from
its normal or highest impression-position to its other impression positions, I employ
a double rocker-arm 7, and roll 8 thereon moving in the groove 5, so. that the
platen-frame 2 and rocker-arm 7 are mechanically connected. The rocker-arm 7
is secured on the rocker-shaft 9 which is journalled in the frame of the macbine
and which is provided with an arm 10, recessed at 11 to receive the end of the
rocker-arm 12 from the rocker-shaft 13. When the platen-frame 2 is in its highest
position under the stress of the spring 6, one arm 14 of the double rocker-arm 7
rests on an abutment 15, (Figure 9) so that the platen-frame is limited in its
tendency to move upward; but, of course, the upward movement of the platen-
frame under the stress of the spring 6 might be arrested by any other suitable stop.
The rocker-shaft 13 is provided with a shift-key 16, and movement of this key
causes the roll-carrying-arm 14* of the rocker-arm 7 to move downwardly so that
the platen-frame 2 is moved away from its normal position against the force of the
spring 6. When the roll-carrying-arm 14" of the double rocker-arm 7 strikes
against the abutment 17 it arrests the platen at its extreme shiftable position from
the normal. Its said normal position, is, of course, one extreme impression-position,
and its extreme shifting position from the normal is another impression-position;.
and at each of these positions the platen is held for impression positively, owing
to the contact respectively, of one arm 14 of the double rocker-arm 7 with the
abutment 15 and of its other arm 14 with the abutment 17. In its normal
position, the platen is in place to receive impression from type a (for example) ön
type-head 18, and in its lowest position from type c. To arrest the platen-frame 2
positively at its intermediate impression-position, to receive impression of type b,
the movable stop 19 is employed. The normal position of this stop 19 is preferably
in the shifting path of the platen-frame (as shown in Figure 10) and the said stop
is moved out of this path when the platen is moved to its lowest position (see
Figure 11). The stop 19 is carried by a swing-bar 20, pivoted at 21 to the frame
of the machine, and having an upturned end 22, which is pressed outwardly from
the opposed portion of the machine-frame by a spring 23, this spring tending to
keep the farther or stop-carrying end of the bar 20 in the path of the platen.
between the extreme impression positions, as already explained and as indicated
by Figure 4. By pressing the outer end of the bar 20 inwardly, the stop 19, is
swung out of the path of the platen, (as shown in Figure 11) and by then rocking
the shaft 13 the platen is depressed to its lowest position. For the sake of speed
and convenience, I utilize the shift-key 16 not only for rocking the shaft 13, but
also for moving the stop-carrying bar 20. That a single key 16 is used as a
shift-key and a shift-controller. To accomplish this, the key 16 is not only so
connected with the shaft 13 as to serve as a rocker-arm therefor, but is so mounted
in the machine that it moves the stop-carrying-bar 20, at the will of the operator,
to swing the stop 19 out of the path of the platen, being, in order to attain this
object, conveniently hinged at 24 to a bracket 25 fast on the shaft 13. The said
bracket 23 is preferably formed with an arın 26, with which a latch 27 engages
by either tooth 28 or 29 to lock the rock-shaft 13 (through bracket 25 and its
arm 26), and consequently, the platen, in any desired impression-position. The
latch 27 is by a spring 30 held normally out of position in which it can engage
with the arm 26. When the latch 27 and arm 26 are brought together so that
the said arm engages with one or other of the teeth 28, 29, the force exerted by
the spring is sufficient to keep them locked together.
In ordinary operation of the machine, the shift-key is depressed in the usual

page_text: 21
manner; if it be desired to shift the platen from its upper or normal position to its
next lower or intermediate impression-position. But if a shift to the lowest
impression-position is desired, the operator pushes the shift-key downwardly and
sidewise, and the object is attained.
In the modified form of shift-key illustrated in Figures 12 to 14, the said
key 16 is pivoted about a nearly horizontal axis 50 whereby it can be tilted in
order to operate the movable stop. It is extended laterally as shown in Figure 13
and is provided with a downwardly projecting finger 51 that rests against the side
of the upwardly turned end 22 of the lever 20. When the operator desires to
lower the platen to its intermediate position he applies his finger to the shift key at
point directly above the pivot axis 50 whereupon the shift-key descends without
affecting the lever 20, and is finally arrested by the movable stop 19, Figures 9, 10
and 11. If he desires to lower the platen to its lowest impression-position he
applies his finger to the shift key at a point to one side of the pivot axis 50
whereupon the key is tilted about its pivot 50 and the finger 51 is caused to
operate the lever 20 and to withdraw the movable stop 19 out of the path of
the descending platen so as to allow the platen to shift to its lowest impression-
position.
It will be understood that the construction of my improved apparatus may
be varied in several mechanical details without departing from the nature of my
invention.
The abutments 15 and 17 are each provided with an adjustable portion 31, best.
formed of a set screw as shown, so that the platen may be shifted into the
exact position required, by adjustment of the abutments, when the parts become
worn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a type-writing machine having end-thrusting type bars, the connection of
the key lever with its corresponding type-bar lever, by means of a link constructed
and arranged substantially as described and for the purpose, specified.
2. The universal bar controlled by an arm and a spring arranged and operating
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
3. In a type-writing machine, the means for turning the ribbon spools to wind
the ribbon in either direction, said means comprising a single pawl adapted to rest
on either of two inclines so as to engage with either spool and to be kept in gear
by gravity, substantially as described.
4. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a vibrating platen; a carriage
therefor; and a type-head having a plurality of type, with stops for arresting the
platen in two of its impression-positions, and a movable stop for arresting the
platen in another of its impression positions, said movable stop being connected
with, and under the control of, a key, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a vibrating platen and a
type head having a plurality of type with platen shifting and stopping mechanism,
and a shift-key having a duplex movement, one to actuate the platen shifting
mechanism, and the other to actuate the platen stopping mechanism, the stopping
mechanism comprising a lever which is engaged by the shift-key to swing
its stop into the path of the shifting-platen, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a shifting-platen, platen
shifting mechanism; a type-head having a plurality of type; a platen shift-key
and a swinging bar carrying a stop for the platen, said key being adapted to
engage said stop-carrying-bar, whereby the swinging-bar is moved to swing the
stop into the path of the platen as it shifts from its normal printing position for
another priuting position, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.

page_text: 7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a shifting platen and a
swinging stop therefor on a movable bar; a hinged key adapted to engage said
bar to swing it; and platen shift mechanism with which said key is connected to
actuate it, substantially as described.
8. The tilting shift-key constructed to turn about a nearly horizontal axis and
having a depending finger for actuating the movable stop, substantially as described,
and for the purpose specified.
9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a shifting and longitudinally-
travelling platen; a type-head having a plurality of type; a single shift-key;..
mechanism substantially such as described for connecting the shift-key with the
platen; a swinging platen stop; the shift-key being movable sidewise to cause the
swinging-platen stop to move into the path of the platen when the shift-key is
moved to shift the platen from one impression position to another, all substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
10. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a shifting and longitudinally-.
travelling platen; a type-head having a plurality of types; a single shift-key ;.
mechanism, substantially such as described, for connecting the shift-key with the
platen to move it from its normal position to a plurality of new printing positions,.
one in advance of the other, corresponding with positions of the several types on.
the type-heads, a complete movement of the key serving to shift the platen from
its normal position to its extreme printing position; and a movable stop adapted to
be moved into the path of the platen between the normal and extreme printing
positions thereof, by a supplementary motion of the shift-key, all substantially as,.
and for the purpose, set forth.
11. A type-writing machine having incorporated therein the various mechanisms
constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings and operating as specified.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..