Improvements in or relating to Key Board Mechanism for Type- writers and Analogous Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
Improvements in or relating to Key Board Mechanism for Type-
writers and Analogous Machines.
A communication from EDMUND B. KIRBY, of 411, 21st Street, in the City of Denver,
County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, United States of America, Mining
Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered 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; -
This invention relates to the key board and the associated mechanism for
operating type writing machines or other analogous machines adapted to print,
impress, or otherwise record or assemble characters in different combinations;
such, for example, as stenographic machines, matrix making machines, type
setting machines, printing telegraphs, calculating and numbering machines, etc.
In all machines of the kind to which this invention is applicable, the characters are
printed, impressed or released through the operation of finger keys, which impart
an operating impulse to levers, rock shafts, or other equivalent operating elements.
Generally one key is required for each character, although there are machines con-
taining shift mechanism which makes it possible for one key to operate either of
several characters.
The object of the present invention is primarily to provide means for operating
machines of the kind referred to, with greater ease and accuracy, and with greater
average speed. And, incidental to this principal purpose, one object of the inven-
tion is to make it unnecessary to use one finger key for each character (or two or
three characters when shift mechanism is employed,) and to make it possible to
employ only a relatively small number of keys, whatever be the number of
characters.
The invention, as will be seen by the subsequent description, is intended to be
attached to machines of the character named, by cutting off the usual bank of
keys and then connecting the mechanism hereinafter described, in an appropriate
manner with the key levers, rock shafts, or other operating elements, to which said
finger keys are connected.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter
described and shown in the drawings, all of which will be definitely pointed out
in the claims.
In using machines having the ordinary key board, it is necessary, before striking
any one of the many keys, to locate it exactly. With a bank of forty to eighty
keys, it is impossible for most operators to locate the keys so that they may be
struck as desired, without using the eyes to assist in locating them. This shifting
of the eyes from the copy to the keys causes much loss of time and frequent errors.
Moreover it is necessary, in order to obtain the best results, with such machines as
are now in common use, to employ both hands. The mental act of locating the
key is therefore accompanied by the mental selection of the hand and finger to be

page_text: used in operating it; this complex mental act never becomes strictly automatic,
and therefore occupies considerable time depending, of course, upon the proficiency
of the operator.
The movement of the hands into range with the keys to be struck
after this complex mental act has been performed, also occupies time. The time
consumed by each of these muscular-mental acts is of course small, but the aggre-
gate loss of time occasioned thereby is very large. Another serious disadvantage
of most of the machines in use, especially typewriters, is that the power to operate
the mechanism is derived from the pressure of the fingers upon the keys. This
prevents the delicacy of touch necessary for the most rapid work, and makes
prolonged work very tiresome. A number of machines of great mechanical merit
have been commercial failures because their touch was harder or more irregular
than that of others.
A machine containing the mechanism about to be described is not open to
criticism in any of the particulars above specified. The operator's hand remains in
the same position relative to the keys at all times, except for the slight movement
forward and back occasionally, as hereinafter described. No mental act is
necessary to find any key, or to determine which finger on which hand shall strike it.
The eyes are of no use in locating any key, and need, therefore, never be removed
from the copy.
To cause the printing of any character, it is only necessary for
an operator to press with one, or two or more fingers simultaneously upon the key
or keys which are always beneath them. Moreover, the pressure of the fingers does
not furnish the power to operate the type writer. This power is furnished from an
independent source. In the form shown, the power is obtained from an electric
current, such for example as is supplied to the offices for light, and is translated
by means of a solenoid. This is, however, a mere detail of the invention, as broadly
claimed. The power may be obtained from any convenient source, and the
particular mechanism employed to transmit the power at the proper time will be
suitable for the purpose.
The keys, therefore, merely act as triggers. When a given combination of keys
is depressed, two principal actions follow.
1. The particular lever, rock shaft or other equivalent device of the type writer
or other machine which corresponds with said combination of keys, is, as one might
say, connected with the power transmitting mechanism.
2. The power is released long enough to cause said lever, rock shaft or other
device to be operated.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan
view of the improved mechanism; Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of
Figure 1; looking toward the left; Figure 3 is a right end view of the machine;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the treadle mechanism; Figure 5 is a detail of the
mechanism through which the movement of each combination bar is accompanied
by a corresponding movement of the locking bar; Figure 6 is a sectional plan view
of the mechanism shown in Figure 5, the section being in the plane indicated by
the line 6-6; Figure 7 is a plan of the combination bars; Figure 8 is a detail of
the striking bar and mechanism immediately connected therewith; Figure 9 is
a right end view of the trigger bar: Figure 10 is a front end view, and
Figure 11 is a side view of one form of adjustable connection
between the push rod of the mechanism and the lever of the typewriter or other
machine with which it is to be used; Figure 12 is a sectional view on line 12-12
of Figure 5; Figure 13 is a front view of the notched bar c and the ten keys and
connecting mechanism of the C and C¹ set; Figure 14 is a sectional view of the
the combination bars, together with a part of one rock shaft connected with one of
the A or A¹ keys; Figure 15 is a similar view showing one rock shaft connected
with the B or B¹ keys; Figure 16 is a similar view showing one rock shaft which is
connected with a C or C key; Figure 17 is a sectional view of the combination bars
showing a modified form of them and an. associated letter bar; and Figure 18 is a
sectional view of a modified form of the device when it is adapted to be used with
a typewriter employing shift mechanism.

page_text: Referring now to the parts by letters, A, B and C represent respectively three
banks of keys, each containing five keys, which are arranged to conform with the
natural positions of the thumb and fingers of the right hand, and A, B and C
represent corresponding banks for the left hand. The connections from the right
hand and left hand sets of banks are exactly the same, so that the operator has the
choice of operating with either hand. In ordinary practice the hands will be used
alternately, thus resting each. The keys in either set are indicated by 1", 2", 3",
4, 5, 1, 2, 3b, 4b, 5b, 1º, 2º, 3º, 4º, 5º.
The keys in each set are intended to be operated by the thumb and four fingers
respectively; and, as before stated, the keys constituting each set are arranged so
as to be beneath the ends of the fingers of the operator when the fingers are in the
most convenient position for operating them. The keys may of course be arranged
to be operated by the left hand, if desired; or each set of keys may contain ten keys,
if desired, to be operated by both hands. The middle set of keys marked B or B
are preferably those which are intended to be most used; that is to say, are those
which are manipulated to cause the printing or release of the small letters period,
comma and space. The A or A' set of keys, to operate which the hand is moved
backward about an inch, so that the fingers are over the keys therein, may control
the printing or release of any one of the capital letters, the apostrophe, semicolon
and colon. The C or C¹ set of keys, which lie in front of the B or B¹ set, may
control the selection and printing or releasing of the numerals and various other
characters. The various characters are selected by pressing down upon one of the
keys, or by pressing down two or more of the keys simultaneously, by means of the
fingers above them, which act also sets in motion the mechanism by which
the selected character is printed or released.
It will be seen that with each set of keys thirty-one combinations are available,
because one can make thirty-one combinations of the five keys. With the three
sets of keys, one is, therefore, able to make ninety-three combinations in all, which
will enable one to select more characters than are ordinarily employed in type
writing or other analogous machines.
Extending transversely across the machine are eight, more or less, combination
bars, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a, c and L, which rest upon suitable supports near their ends,
and are susceptible of independent longitudinal movement. "A spring I enclosed in
a spring box i is provided for each bar, and it exerts a constant pressure upon its
bar to return it to its normal position, in which it strikes against a stop w at the
left end thereof. There are as many of these bars as there are keys in any one set
of keys, (in the present case five) plus one bar for every additional set of keys,
(in this case two,) and a lock bar, eight in all, in the construction shown.
In the top edge of each of these bars are formed the transverse notches 6, one-
eighth of an inch, more or less, deep, which are separated from each other by the
raised parts or stubs 7,-the tops of these stubs being in a common plane. The
width of these notches is such as to permit the easy entry of the letter bars, which
will be presently explained. The arrangement of these notches upon the several
bars must have these characteristics, viz. :-
First They must be relatively so placed that, when all of the bars are in their
normal position, there will be no continuous slot or groove extending across all
of the bars formed by bringing into alignment the notches on all of the bars.
Second: They must be relatively so placed that, when the bars are moved singly,
or in any of their different combinations, (in the manner to be presently described)
a clear slot shall be formed by aligning the notches across the tops of all, some-
where along their length, and that only one of such slots shall be opened up at
one time beneath the letter bars.
Figure 7 is a top view of the eight combination bars, the white portions
representing the raised parts or stubs, and the intermediate black parts, the notches.
The notches, as shown in this figure, are arranged on these bars with special
reference to adapting the machine for use with a Caligraph type writer. Above
the bars in the figure, (which is incomplete at the right hand end,) are letters and

page_text: figures indicating which bars must be moved to form a clear slot at the point
indicated; and, below the bars will be seen the letter or character which will be
printed or released, as the result of opening up such slot.
The relative positions of these notches on the several bars, will depend upon the
position of the key levers in the machine with which the invention is to be used,
and also, and more particularly, upon the keys and combinations of keys which it
is thought best to move in order to select the different characters. It is believed to
be preferable to arrange the notches so that the movement of single keys, shall
cause the selection and printing or release of the characters most used. Such
system has been adopted in arranging the notches in the bars in the present
machine, as will be seen by examining Figure 7. These bars, either singly or in
different combinations, are moved a short distance to the right, say 06 of an inch,
by the operation of finger keys and intermediate mechanism.
The keys are of comfortable size, and preferably rectangular in form, and are set
almost in contact with one another. Each celluloid top 6 of each key is secured on
a horizontal base plate 6', having on its under side a vertical guide plate 6 which
moves vertically within a slot in the fixed top plate 63 and prevents the key from
twisting. The key is secured to the top of a vertical key rod 64 by any suitable
means. The means shown consist of a slot in the rod, in which the guide plate 6º
is secured. The lower end of this key rod is reduced in size and passed through a
hole in the lower fixed plate 65; the shoulder 66 thus formed permits a convenient
key stroke of about a quarter of an inch. A pin 67 which passes through the lower
end of this key rod constitutes the other stop. The upper end of each key rod bears
a screw thread for about half an inch of its length, and upon this thread the
adjusting nut 68 may be turned up or down to the exact position required. The
spring which returns the key to its normal position bears against this nut at one
end, and against the lower fixed plate b at its other end. The nut also engages
with the forked extremity of a key lever d, which is rigidly attached to a rock
shaft D; wherefore, the downward movement of the key must turn the shaft
through a small arc. There are, of course, as many of these rock shafts as there are
keys, and they are placed in any convenient position. Each prong of the fork d¹
of the key lever is bent up to the level of the nut 68, and then horizontally to bear
upon its lower face. The rock shafts D are suitably mounted in bearings at each
end, and may also be steadied by a vertical plate bearing ³ in the middle. Beneath
the combination bars short vertical lever arms stand up from the rock shafts,
and these engage with lugs a' formed for this purpose upon the lower edges of the
combination bars. Each lug a' is simply a projecting part of the bar itself, and its
preferred form is shown in Figures 5 and 13. These lugs are placed wherever
necessary to engage with the lever arms d on the rock shafts. The lever arms on
the rock shafts which are moved by the keys in the B or B¹ set move the combina-
tion bars 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Each rock shaft which is moved by
the B or B set has but one vertical lever arm d for communicating motion to the
combination bars. The rock shafts D which are moved by the A or A¹ set of keys
are equipped with two lever arms did, one of said lever arms d' engages with one
of the bars 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, while the other de, engages with a lug a² on the bar a..
The manipulation of any A or A¹ key, therefore, moves not only one of the
bars 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, but the bar a as well. The rock shafts moved by the keys in
the C or C set have also two lever arms dd, one of which do engages with a lug cl
on the bar c, while the other engages with a lug on one of the bars 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
Therefore, the manipulation of any key in the C or C' set moves the same bar which
the corresponding key in the B or B¹ set would move, and it also moves the bar c.
As before stated, the drawing shows a machine adapted for use with a Caligraph
typewriter, which typewriter contains eighty-two main operating levers; and the
notches in the combination bars are so arranged, substantially as shown, that
eighty-two different slots extending across the eight bars may be opened up by the
operation of the fifteen keys, either singly or in combination, as described.
G represents the letter bars, of which there is one bar for each slot that may be

page_text: formed across the combination bars, as described. These letter bars normally rest
upon the stubs 7 of the combination bars, above the points where, by the movement
of said bars, a slot will be formed. When such slot is formed, the letter bar above
said slot is forced into it by a spring g, which is compressed between the top of
said bar and an adjustable spring seat g¹ projecting down from the transverse
plate g. The moving of this particular letter bar into the slot, as described, causes
the printing or releasing of the particular character in the printing machine with
which it is associated. Obviously various forms of mechanism might be employed
for producing this result when the letter bar drops into a slot, and the invention,
as hereinbefore described, is independent of the particular mechanism employed
for this purpose. Effective mechanism, however, is devised for producing the
desired result, which is illustrated in the drawing, and which will now be described.
Each letter bar, as shown, constitutes the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever
which oscillates about the fixed rod g³ as its axis. These levers are held in the
proper position relative to each other and to the combination bars, by slots in the
fixed plate g5 through which the vertical arms g' of said levers pass; and also by
washers strung upon said rod g³ between the levers. This vertical lever arm g
extends downward and carries an adjustable screw 97, the point of which, when said
letter bar moves, presses against a trigger bar E, and carries it forward to the
extent of its movement, say one-tenth of an inch. This trigger bar releases or
renders operative the power which moves the striking bar K. Said vertical lever
arm also bears a projecting head gs, which rests in contact with one of the push
rods M, which are pivotally connected with the operating levers o of the type writer.
Each push rod is pivoted to the front end of one of the type writer levers. A
spring m engaging with said lever and with a toe or projection m¹ on the push
rod, exerts its force to throw the push rod out of the vertical position, its upper
end moving forward and resting against a fixed bar or plate. J, which extends
transversely across the machine.
The connection between the push rod and the type writer levers, rock shafts or
other operating elements, may vary with the construction of the type writer to
which the key board is attached. It will generally be preferably to pivot said
push rod to the type writer levers in staggered positions, as shown in Figure 2,
in order to economize room.
When the invention is used in connection with a type writer in which there is
a turn buckle forming a part of the connecting rod between the type bars (not
shown) and the type writer levers O, it is not necessary that this connection
between the push rod and the type writer levers should be adjustable; but when
the type writer or other machine has no such adjustable connection between its
parts, it is desirable to have such a connection between the push rod of the present
mechanism and the type writer levers. Such form of connection is shown in
Figures 10 and 11. From these figures it will be seen that the lower end of the
push rod is pivoted to a block m³ which is connected with the type writer lever by
means of a screw m³, by which the position of said plate on the type writer lever
may be vertically adjusted. In the block is a vertical slot m³, through which pass
two thin ends mo, which project forward from the two ears m8; and the screw m
passes through an ear m² on the block m³ and screws up through said ears, its end
entering an unthreaded hole in the block.
The headrests against the front face of the corresponding push rod, just
below a cam projection m², on the front side of said push rod. The lower end of
this projection is inclined, and so also is the end of the head gs, which bears
against it.
When one of the letter bars G enters the groove formed across the combination
bars, the head 8 acting upon the projection m³ moves the said push rod backward
into a vertical position, so that its end is directly beneath the vertically movable
striking bar K, (as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2.) The striking bar
extends transversely across the machine, its ends being set in vertical grooves k in
the sides of the frame of the machine. As soon as the push rod is beneath the

page_text: striking bar, said bar is moved down by suitable mechanism, one form of which is
shown and will be hereinafter described; and in this downward movement of the
bar, the push rod, and the corresponding type writer lever O, are moved with the
usual result which follows the said movement of said type writer lever.
On the upper arm of said push rod is a notch m³ into which the striking bar
enters, and the push rod in front of said notch is extended up above the said
striking bar. Therefore, its upper end engages with said striking bar when the
push rod is swung backward, and stops the said movement of the push rod, when it
reaches the desired position.
When the push rod begins its downward movement, the bevelled end of the
projection m² acts upon the bevelled end of the head gs and pushes the lever arm g'
forward with the result of lifting the letter bar G out of the slot in the combination
bars. The front face of said projection m² is vertical and holds the letter bar above
the combination bars, until the down and up stroke of the push rod is nearly
completed, during which time the combination bars are returned by their springs
to their normal position, in readiness for another movement.
Any suitable power and mechanism may be used for moving the striking bar;
but in the machine shown the power is derived from a solenoid magnet R, which is
connected in an open electrical circuit which is closed by the mechanism shown in
the drawing, and which will now be explained.
The solenoid magnet is fixed in a suitable position at the bottom of the right side
of the device. Its plunger r is provided with a slot into which a lever arm p¹
projects. This lever arm is on a rock shaft P which extends transversely across
the machine, and is mounted in suitable bearings.
T represents a treadle frame which extends across the machine, and is pivoted
to the sides thereof at its front end at t. Secured to both sides of the rear end of
said treadle frame are the links which pass up and are secured respectively to
the ends of the striking bar K.
Secured to the rock shaft P, near its middle, is an arm p2; and to this arm is
pivoted a rod p³, which extends down through a hole t¹ in the treadle frame. On
the rod is an adjustable nut p, which lies above and bears against the treadle frame.
When, therefore, the solenoid circuit is closed, it draws the plunger in, and this,
by moving lever 21, rocks the rock shaft P, and, through the described connections,
the treadle frame is moved down. This movement is transmitted through the
links to the striking bar K, which is then moved down, with the result before
explained. Two springs, secured to the striking bar and frame work, act to
return all of the said parts to their former positions, when the solenoid circuit is
broken.
To complete the description of this operating mechanism, it remains to describe
the means for closing and breaking the solenoid circuit.
The trigger bar E, which as before explained, is in contact with the adjustable
screw points on the lower end of the levers g, is the top member of a rectangular
frame, which is pivoted at its lower end upon adjustable screw points e, which
project from the side frame members. The trigger bar itself projects through the
right frame member and carries a spring pawl e, having a shoulder e², which lies
behind a shoulder on the trigger bar. The toc f of the electric switch lever F
rests upon this pawl e¹. The switch is in the form of a bell crank lever pivoted
to a fixed pivot. On the end of its horizontal arm is a brass blade f¹, which is
adapted to enter between the brass spring jaws f, and to thereby complete the
circuit through the solenoid coils. The switch is moved down in the direction to
make this connection by a spring f³. It is moved in the reverse direction by
means of its vertical arm f, the lower end of which embraces a rod 2, which is
secured to the plunger of the solenoid. On this rod is an adjustable nut which,
when the solenoid plunger is being drawn in, and has nearly completed its stroke,
strikes the lever arm f, thereby lifting the switch, and breaking the circuit of the
solenoid. The plunger is then drawn out of the coils by a spring r
. When the trigger bar is moved backward, a shoulder e³ draws the pawl e¹ from

page_text: beneath the toe of the switch, which thereupon closes, and the other movements
follow, as described. If the trigger bar returns to its normal position before the
switch is raised, the pawl strikes the toe and moves backward, and as soon as the
switch is raised, the pawl spring moves the pawl forward beneath said toe.
A locking pawl 5 for the plunger is pivoted to a short post 6, and it is moved
by a spring into engagement with a recess 8 in the solenoid plunger. It is
released by means of a rod 9, which is connected with the switch lever, and which,
when the switch lever is moved to complete the circuit, presses down on the locking
pawl and releases the plunger.
A rubber buffer 10 receives the surplus energy of the plunger, when moving into
the solenoid coils, and it is prevented from rebounding when it has moved out, by
the locking pawl 75.
The plunger is provided on its inner end with a guide rod 11, which passes
through the post and on the front end of said rod is an adjustable nut 13,
which limits the return movement of said plunger.
The trigger bar frame E is returned to and held in position against an adjust-
able stop screw by springs et.
Returning now to the consideration of the combination bars, attention is called
to that one which is specifically the locking bar, L. The stubs on this bar lie
normally beneath every letter bar, wherefore it is obvious that no leiter bar can
move down, however the other combination bars may move, unless the lock bar
also moves.
This lock bar has, however, no direct connection with a key, but never-
theless it is moved whenever any combination bar is moved, and this movement is
effected by means of certain special mechanism, which will now be explained.
On the under side of each of the seven other combination bars is a push lug a³;
and all of these push lugs bear against a swinging block, which is pivoted
beneath them, and is held in place by a spring . To this block is pivoted a
pawl, which engages with a lug 4, on the lock bar, and consequently when any
one or more of the other combination bars are moved, the swinging block is moved,
and the pawl moves the lock bar, and then, as before stated, the selected letter
bar falls into the slot thus opened. The described mechanism then operates to
print the corresponding character.
If the fingers were not promptly lifted, and if no provision was made to prevent
such action, the bars would remain in said last position, and the same letter bar
would again fall into the same slot, as soon as the letter had been printed, and the
same character would be again printed or released. To prevent this, means are
provided for releasing the lock bar, and permitting it to return to its normal
position, before the mechanism for causing the impression has performed its work,
whether or not the pressure on the keys has been released. The mechanism in
the form shown includes a bell crank tripping lever, the horizontal arm of which
is connected by the adjustable rod to the pawl ; on the vertical arm of the
said lever is a bevelled projection 1, which the rear edge of the treadle frame T
strikes when it begins its downward movement, thereby rocking the rock shaft
and drawing the pawl ³ down out of engagement with the lug on the lock bar.
The lock bar then springs back to its original position, by which a stub is placed
below each of the letter bars.
No letter can drop until the lock bar is again caught by the pawl and moved to
the limit of its travel to the right; and before this can occur, the treadle must
complete its stroke so as to release the trip lever. Moreover, every one of the seven
combination bars in contact with the swinging block must return to their normal
positions before the released pawl can again engage with the lock bar lug. It is
therefore apparent that the printing or release of any character cannot be repeated
unless the keys are released and pressed down a second time.
As before stated, every stub must be withdrawn from beneath a given letter bar
before it can descend. It may sometimes happen that in moving the proper
combination letter bars to open up the desired slot, another slot will be opened;
wherefore, it is necessary to move some bar which, by its movement will not close

page_text: the slot which one wishes to be opened, but will move a stub in line with the other
slot which one does not wish to remain open. For instance, the three stubs on
combination bars 2 and 3 and lock bar L, stand beneath the letter bar which
corresponds with the letter r; when these three bars are moved simultaneously to
the right, a slot will be opened, into which said letter bar will drop. Under the
letter bar which corresponds with R are four stubs on combination bars A, 2, 3 and
the lock bar L. When all of these bars are moved so as to open a slot into which
said letter bar may drop, it is obvious that they will at the same time move the
three bars and stubs which open the slot beneath the letter bar which corresponds
with the letter bar corresponding with r would also therefore drop into its slot,
if it were not for the fact that the fourth bar A has at this point been provided with
a stub, which, when the bar A is moved so as to open a slot beneath the letter bar
corresponding with R, will move beneath the letter bar corresponding with r and
prevent its fall.
There are certain machines, as before stated, where, by the employment of shift
key mechanism, the depression of one key may cause either of several characters
to be printed. The Remington and Hammond type writers are examples of this
class of machines. In order to adapt the mechanism to be used with machines
having shift mechanism, it is necessary to modify the present construction so that,
when desired, the striking bar may strike not only a push rod attached to the type
writer lever which one wishes to operate, but a second push rod which is attached
to and operates the shift lever of the type writer. Figure 18 shows one form of
construction by which this result may be attained. The letter bars will be
classified in pairs, arranged side by side. Both letter bars of a pair will be adapted
to operate the same push bar, and one of them will be adapted to also operate a
push rod which is connected with the typewriter shift lever. Except that it
does not have the cam projection, this shift lever push rod is shaped like the other push
rods, and is indicated by the dotted line in Figure 18. The cam projection m² on
the push rod of the type lever is extended laterally, so that the projecting heads 98
on both sides of the letter bars in the pair will strike it, and move the push rod in
the manner described, beneath the striking bar. On one letter bar of the pair
there is a second projection g³, which engages with the front side of the shift
bar S, which extends transversely across the machine and forms the upper member
of the rocking frame, the sides s¹ of which are pivoted to the two sides of the
machine. Passing through this shift bar is an adjustable screw s2, the end of which
engages with the shift lever push rod. A spring 3 secured to the shift bar and to
a stationary part of the machine, returns said shift bar to its normal position.
The operation of the parts described is as follows:
If it is desired to print a character on the Remington machine, which involves
the operation of the shift lever, the combination bars are moved so that that letter
bar of the pair corresponding with the desired character, which is adapted to
operate the shift bar, will drop into a slot; then the head 98 on the vertical arm of
the letter bar lever strikes the push rod which is attached to the type writer lever
and moves it beneath the striking bar; at the same time the small projection g³
strikes the shift bar S, moves it backward, the screw 52 which it carries engages
with the push rod of the shift lever and likewise moves it beneath the striking bar,
then when the striking bar descends it pushes down both push rods, with the result
of operating the shift lever of the type writer, and the desired type lever thereof.
Only one form of power producing mechanism is shown in the drawings and
herein described, by means of which the several parts of the mechanism are operated.
It is, however, obvious that any power which will begin to act each time a push rod
is moved beneath a striking bar, and which will cease to act when the various
parts have made one complete movement, may be substituted without any material
change in the parts of the device, within which the invention is embodied. And
it is not the intention to limit the invention to the solenoid described, or to any
other particular form of power producing device, except in the few claims where
such limitation is particularly set forth.

page_text: Only one form of the letter bars is shown and described, viz., a bell crank lever,
one arm of which acts directly upon the push rods; and this is believed to be the
simplest, and in many respects the best, construction. It is, however, obvious that
said letter bars might be constructed in other forms, and that their movement might
be effectively transmitted to the push rods by other mechanism than that shown.
It is not, therefore, intended that the invention shall be limited to the particular
mechanism shown, by means of which the movement of any letter bar causes the
operation of the corresponding type writer lever or rock shaft, except in the claims
where such limitation clearly appears.
In place of running the notches across the combination bars, one might make
holes in the top thereof, and pins a would be secured to the under side of the
letter bars, as shown in Figure 17. When such bars were moved so as to bring
the holes in all of the bars into alignment beneath any letter bar, it would fall,
and the same results would follow as with the preferred construction hereinbefore
explained. This construction is, therefore, regarded as the full equivalent of the
notched bars recited in the claims and hereinbefore described.
Among the advantages which arise from the invention, may be named the
following:
1st. It is not necessary to locate and move the fingers into range with the key
which it is desired to strike, because the fingers generally remain upon the same
keys, and there are but two occasional and simple changes of position, forward and
backward, to sets A or A¹ and C or C¹.
2d. The eye and hand are absolutely free to follow copy, shift the platen, etc.
3d. The force required to move the keys may be made of any delicacy required,
by adjusting the tension of the key springs; the muscles of the fingers are therefore
relieved from furnishing the power required to operate the machine, and a delicacy
of touch heretofore unknown may therefore be secured, with any form of type
writer.
4th. It is no longer necessary to select the particular finger out of ten, which
shall be used to strike the particular key selected.
5th. The operation of the key board becomes automatic to the brain nerves and
muscles, in the strict scientific sense of the term. With practice, the muscles
operating the fingers automatically move them into the successive positions required
when a given series of letters is presented to the consciousness; the fingers
assuming those positions without any conscious selection or mental effort or strain,
just as the hand traces the letters in writing, or strikes the chord upon a piano, or
controls the strings to a violin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a type writer, or analogous machine, the combination of a plurality of
notched combination bars which are susceptible of independent longitudinal move-
ment, a series of independent letter bars which extend across the notched edges of
said combination bars, and independent springs acting upon said several letter
bars to hold them in contact with one or more of the stubs on the combination bars
between the notches therein under normal conditions and to move them severally
into the slots formed by the alignment of notches across the combination bars when
the latter are moved, the keys and intermediate mechanism for moving one or more
of said notched bars to withdraw the supporting stub or stubs from engagement
with any letter bar and to align the notches in said combination bars beneath said
letter bar, with the operating elements (levers, rock shafts, etc.,) of a type writer
or analogous machine, and mechanism for severally actuating the operating
elements which correspond with the letter bars which so move into the aligned
notches, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a typewriter, or analogous machine, the combination of a plurality of
notched combination bars which are susceptible of independent longitudinal move-

page_text: ment, the keys, and connecting mechanism for moving them, with a series of
independent pivoted letter bars which extend across said combination bars and
normally rest upon stubs between the notches therein and are adapted to move
severally into slots beneath them formed by the alignment of said notches, and
independent springs acting upon the said letter bars to hold them against said
stubs and to move them into said notches when the stubs are withdrawn, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a typewriter, or analogous machine, in combination, a series of notched
combination bars which are susceptible of independent longitudinal movement,
keys, and intermediate mechanism for moving said bars, with a series of indepen-
dently movable letter bars which extend across the notched edges of said combina-
tion bars, springs for independently moving said letter bars into the slots beneath
them across the combination bars formed by the alignment of the notches in the
combination bars, the operating elements of a typewriter, push rods pivoted thereto,
a movable striking bar for pushing said rods, mechanism whereby the movement of
any letter bar into a slot across the combination bars causes the movement of the
corresponding push rod to a position beneath the striking bar, and operating
mechanism for said striking bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a typewriter or analogous machine, the combination of two or more sets of
keys, notched combination bars susceptible of independent longitudinal movement,
the number of said bars being equal to the number of keys in each set plus one
additional bar for each additional set of keys, mechanism transmitting motion
severally from the keys in one set to the corresponding combination bars, mechanism
transmitting motion from each key in each additional set of keys to the correspond-
ing combination bar, and mechanism transmitting motion from every key in each
additional set of keys to the corresponding additional combination bar, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
5. In typewriters and analogous machines, the combination of a plurality of
notched combination bars, susceptible of independent longitudinal movement, an
equal number of keys, and operating mechanism connecting said keys severally
with said bars, with an additional longitudinally movable notched lock bar, and
operating mechanism transmitting motion from every key to said lock bar,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In typewriters and analogous machines, the combination of a plurality of
notched combination bars which are susceptible of independent longitudinal move-
ment, keys, and mechanism for transmitting motion severally from said keys to
the combination bars, with a longitudinally movable notched lock bar, mechanism
for moving said lock bar when any combination bar is moved, letter bars extending
across the combination bars and lock bar, and which are adapted to move severally
into slots formed by aligning, beneath them, notches on all of the combination bars
and lock bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In typewriting and analogous machines, the combination of a plurality of
notched combination bars which are susceptible of independent longitudinal move-
ment, keys, and mechanism for transmitting motion severally from said keys to
the combination bars, with a longitudinally movable notched lock bar, having a
lug on one edge, a movable block, lugs on all of the combination bars in engagement
with said block, a device carried by said block and adapted to engage with the lug
on the lock bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a typewriter or analogous machine, the combination of a plurality of
longitudinally movable notched combination bars, keys, intermediate mechanism
for operating said bars severally, and springs for returning said bars to their normal
position, a spring actuated movable block, lugs on all of the combination bars in
engagement with said block, a spring pawl carried by said block, a lug on the lock
bar with which said pawl is adapted to engage, means for releasing said pawl from
such engagement, a plurality of spring actuated letter bars which extend across the
notched edges of said combination bars and lock bar, and are adapted to move
severally into slots in all of said combination bars formed by the alignment of the

page_text: notches therein, and mechanism whereby when any letter bar so moves, the
corresponding character will be printed or released, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
9. In a typewriter or other analogous machine, the combination of a plurality
of longitudinally movable notched combination bars, keys, and intermediate
mechanism, with letter bars which extend across the notched edges of said bars and
are adapted to move severally into the slots beneath them formed by the movement
of said bars and consequent alignment of notches in all of them, the
operating elements of the type writer, push rods engaging there-
with, a movable striking bar, and mechanism whereby the described movement of
a letter bar moves the corresponding push rod beneath the striking bar, and operat-
ing mechanism for said striking bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In a type writer or other analogous machine, the combination of a plurality
of spring actuated notched combination bars which are susceptible of independent
longitudinal movement, keys, and connecting mechanism, and spring actuated
letter bars which extend across the notched edge of said combination bars, and are
adapted to move severally into the slots formed beneath them across all of said
combination bars by the movement of said combination bars, with the operating
elements of the type writer, push rods connected therewith, a movable striking bar,
its operating mechanism, mechanism transmitting motion from each letter bar to
its corresponding push rod to move the latter beneath the striking, bar, a trigger
bar for releasing the striking bar operating mechanism, and mechanism trans-
mitting motion from each letter bar to the trigger bar, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
11. In typewriters and analogous machines, the combination with the type writer
operating elements, push rods pivoted thereto, a striking bar, mechanism for
operating it, a trigger for releasing said operating mechanism, springs for moving
the push rods out of range of the striking bar, the keys, and mechanism inter-
mediate of said keys and push rods whereby any push rod may be moved into range
of the striking bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
12. In a typewriter or other analogous machine, the combination of a plurality
of notched combination bars, susceptible of independent longitudinal movement,
keys, and intermediate mechanism, with a series of bell crank levers, the horizontal
arms of which lie across the notched edge of said combination bars, springs for
moving said arms into slots opened up across said combination bars by their move-
ment, a head projecting from the vertical arm of the bell crank lever, a series of
push rods having bevelled projections with which said heads severally engage, a
striking bar, and mechanism for actuating it, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
13. In typewriters and analogous machines, the combination of a series of
notched combination bars susceptible of independent longitudinal movement, keys,
mechanism transmitting motion from the keys to the bars, with spring actuated
letter bars which extend across the notched edge of said combination bars and are
adapted to enter slots formed therein by the alignment beneath them of notches on
all of said combination bars, the operating elements of the type writer, push rods
secured thereto and having cam projections on their edges, levers having heads
which engage with said cam projections, a striking bar and mechanism for operat-
ing it, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
14. In a typewriter or other analogous machine, the combination of a plurality
of notched combination bars susceptible of independent longitudinal motion, keys,
and intermediate mechanism, spring actuated letter bars which extend across the
combination bars and are adapted to enter slots formed across said combination
bars by their described movement, the operating elements of the typewriter, push
rods secured thereto, levers arranged in pairs adapted to engage with one push rod,
the shift operating device of the type writer, a push rod secured thereto, a movable
shift bar adapted to be moved by one lever of each pair of levers and to move the

page_text: last named push rod, a striking bar, and mechanism for actuating it, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
15. In a typewriter or other analogous machine, the combination of the longi-
tudinally movable notched combination bars, keys, intermediate mechanism, spring
pressed letter bars extended across the notched edges of said combination bars,
the type writer operating elements, push rods connected thereto, a movable striking
bar, and mechanism for moving any push rod into range with the striking bar
when its corresponding letter bar is moved, with a solenoid connected in an open
circuit, an electric switch for closing said circuit, a trigger for releasing said
switch, and mechanism for transmitting motion from the solenoid plunger to the
striking bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
16. In a typewriter or other analogous machine, the combination of the letter
bars and mechanism for operating them, the type writer operating elements, push
rods pivoted thereto, a striking bar, a treadle, links connecting the treadle and
striking bar, a solenoid connected in an open circuit, a switch for closing said
circuit, a trigger bar for releasing said switch, a rock shaft, an arm thereon
engaging with the solenoid plunger, a second arm on said rock shaft, and a rod
transmitting motion from the second rock shaft arm to the treadle, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
17. The key board mechanism for typewriters and analogous machines, substan-
tially as herein shown and described.