Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
I, JAMES DENNY DAUGHERTY, of Kittanning, in the County of Armstrong,
and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Inventor, 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 has relation to that class of typewriters which embody bars
resting in a horizontal or inclined position between the platen and the key board,
the primary objects of the invention are, to shorten and lighten the machine by
bringing the key board adjacent to the outer ends of the type-bars, and as near to
the carriage as possible; thereby securing greater convenience and less arm
movement in returning the carriage; and to hang the type bars in the shortest
practical segment, thereby reducing the angle of their divergence from a vertical
line in the centre, and thus hang them in such operative position, that looseness in
their pivots from wear or otherwise, will have little or no effect upon the align-
ment, and thus increase the durability of the machine for perfect work.
Another object of my present invention is to provide a loug bearing for the type
bars in a series of supporting plates or hangers, by having the long pivoted point
of the bars passing freely through one, two or more of the plates adjacent the
sides of the bars and having their ends pivotally supported in distant plates, in
contradistinction to pivoting them in adjacent plates, which makes a very firm and
rigid support for the type bars, as will be readily understood.
A further object of my present invention is to place the pivotal points of the
type bars one above and outside of the other on a line at an inclination of forty-
five degrees to a vertical line drawn from the printing point of the platen, and to
make each type bar as much shorter than the one adjacent to and below it, as it is
above a horizontal line drawn from the pivotal point of the bar below, whereby
while they print at a common point, the outer ends of all the type bars are in a
line, while at the same time the bars vary in length.
Arother object of my invention is to connect the finger keys directly to the
levers, which are in turn connected with the short ends of the type bars, the
relation of the connected ends of the type bars and the levers being such that when
the short ends of the type bars rise in the act of carrying their longer ends to the
printing point, the adjacent ends of said levers also rise, whereby the relation of
the short ends of the type bars and the connected ends of said levers remain
substantially the same, thus not affecting the leverage between the said levers and
type bars throughout the entire stroke of the former in contradistinction to having
the connected ends of the levers change their relative position to the short ends of
the type bars, thus shortening the leverage upon the type bars as its longer end
approaches the printing point, which is a great advantage, in that the same
leverage is maintained throughout the entire stroke of the bars, as will be readily
understood, and enabling a stronger blow to be given the type bar with the same
amount of touch.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a central longitudinal sectional view of a type writer embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base of the machine, the universal frame,
the arched centrally pivoted frame carrying the feed dogs.

page_text: Figure 8, is a detached view of a portion of one of the connections, showing a
modified form thereof.
Figure 4, is a plan view of several plates or hangers for the type bars, the
pivotal points of the type bars being shown in solid lines and the type bars in
dotted lines.
Figure 5, is a cross sectional view of a curved plate in which the ends of the
supporting plates or hangers for the type bars are held, the plates being shewn
attached thereto and the inner ends of the type bars supported by and between the
plates.
Figure 6, is an enlarged detached view of one of the cross bars which connect
the two side bars of the universal frame.
Figure 7 is a detached perspective view of the curved piece which supports the
type bar supporting plates or hangers, two of said plates or hangers being shewn
attached thereto.
Figure 8 is a diagram view shewing the operation and relative position of the
key levers, the type bars and connections when at rest, and when the type bars are
raised to the printing point.
Figure 9 is a detached side view of one of the type bars supporting plates or
hangers.
Figure 10 is a detached perspective view of the lower end of the paper carriage,
and the bar upon which the same is supported, the portion of the carriage being
broken away to show one of the guiding lugs.
Figure 11 is a plan view of several of the parallel bars which form the support
for the levers which are placed between the key levers and the type bars, and the
said levers being shewn supported in said parallel bars.
Figure 12 is a modified form of support or pivotal rod for the said levers which
are between the type bars and the key levers.
Referring now to the drawings, A indicates the base of the frame which is
preferably rectangular in form as shown in Figure 2, from opposite sides of the
inner ends of which extends the vertical frames B, which form a support for the
paper carriage, its appurtenances, the ribbon shift, the ribbon spools, and the ribbon
feeding mechanisins.
I make no claim to the ribbon feed mechanism in this application, and I have
not therefore shewn the same nor will it be described, for the same is fully shown
and described in the specifications of previous patents granted to me.
I will first describe my shifting frame in which the type bars are pivoted, which
consists of the parallel side bars a, having their inner ends pivotally supported by
the hood N, which extends over a portion of the operating mechanism and through
which the finger keys O pass in an inclined position, as clearly shown in
Figure 1.
The opposite ends of these side bars a, are connected by the curved end piece C,
which is the segment of a vertical circle, and this curved piece C is provided with
the cross slits E in its upper and lower edges, which receive the projecting arms F
of the type supporting plates or hangers G, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7.
Opposite ends of the curved end piece Care provided with the grooves W which
receive the ends of the side bars a of this shifting frame, which latter are held in
the grooves by suitable screws. The upper arms F of the type bars supporting
plates or hangers, extend slightly beyond the outer face of the curved end piece C
and have transverse perforations through which the curved rod I passes, and the
opposite ends of these plates are similarly perforated through which latter perfora-
tions the curved rod H passes, and between these ends of the said plates, washers
or collars J are placed, which separate and hold them firmly in their proper
position.
It will be seen from this method of supporting the said type plates or hangers
that they are rigidly and firmly held in their proper position, so that the type bars
are correspondingly held, as will appear further on.
Referring now to Figure 5, the dotted line X represents a line drawn vertically

page_text: from the printing point of the platen, which dotted line passes preferably from the
pivotal point of the second series of bars from the bottom of the supporting plate
or hanger G, though this may vary at will without affecting the operation of my
invention. Owing to the fact thit the printing point is slightly in front of or
inside of the pivotal point of the lower series of type bars, it will be understood
that these type bars when at the printing point slightly incline inward, but the
upper ends of the bars will be so shaped or bent as to present the flat sides of the
type in proper position to print correctly. So also the type bars above the point
will incline outward, and the upper ends of these bars are correspondingly bent so
as to present the flat surface of the type carried thereby, for the purpose of
presenting the surface of the type squarely to the printing point.
Attention is especially directed to the fact that the pivotal points of the type
bars, as clearly shown in Figure 5, are placed on a line at an inclination of forty-
five degrees to the dotted line X, drawn from the printing point, and that cach
type bar is made as much shorter than the type bar adjacent to or below it, as it
is above a horizontal line drawn through the pivotal point of the type bar below
for the purpose of having the outer ends of the type bars in a line, while at the
same time the type carried by the outer ends of the type bars will be presented to
a common printing point on the platen. If this were not true the outer ends of
the type bars would be irregular if their printing points were on a horizontal line
and made of varying lengths to reach the printing point, thus making a very
awkward looking machine.
It is especially desirable to have wide pivotal points for the type bars, whereby
lateral movement of the outer end of the type bar is prevented, and the type bar
held steady and firm. This I accomplish by providing the pivotal points r,
(Figure 4) which extend through the large opening L, (Figure 9) of the two
plates adjacent to the type bar carried by the said pivotal points, and has its
reduced end pivoted in the piston plate, as is clearly shown. The enlarged portion
of the pivotal points pass freely through the openings L, by being smaller in
diameter than the internal diameter of the opening L, so that no friction whatever
is caused at this point, but the type bars wholly supported by the reduced pivotal
ends of the pivotal points of shafts r.
By reference to Figure 5, it will be seen that the pivotal points of the type bars
are arranged in steps, so to speak, one above the other, and by referring to
Figure 4, it will be seen that the pivotal points of the type bars are also arranged
in horizontal steps, and in series or rows, as there clearly illustrated.
By this arrangement I am enabled to lengthen the pivotal points of the bars and
have them extend freely the enlarged openings of the adjacent plates and be
supported in distant plates as before stated, and for the purpose of having the type
bars supported in a curved line corresponding with the curve of the end piece C of
the shifting frame, instead of one above or below the other, the longer type bars
have their inner ends curved downward to correspond with the increased length
thereof, which, as will be seen, brings the long portions of the type bars in a line
one with the other.
One of the essential features of this machine as stated in the objects, is
shortening of the entire mechanism to bring it in a compact and concise form, and
this is effected by the intermediate mechanism between the short end of the type
bars and the finger keys. The finger keys O consist of rods with the finger pieces
on the outer ends as usual, and these rods O pass through openings in the hood N
and are supported thereby. The lower ends of these rods O are pivotally or
otherwise loosely connected to the outer ends of levers P, which are preferably of
the bell crank form, as clearly shown in Figure 1.
The opposite and upper ends of these bell crank levers P are connected with the
type bars through the intervention of connections T and V, which latter are
connected pivotally to the short ends of the type bars.
Owing to this construction the upper ends of the bell crank levers P extend
forward of their pivotal points as they are formed on an obtuse angle, the object of

page_text: which is that when the finger keys are depressed the upper and inwardly extending
ends of the said bell crank levers, rise as the short ends of the type bars rise, so
that the relative position of the upper ends of these levers to the short ends of the
type bars are not changed materially throughout the entire stroke. This is an
important feature of construction in type writers, for it enables me to maintain the
same leverage upon the type bare throughout the entire scope, instead of having
the short ends of the type bars travel toward a line drawn between the pivotal
points of the type bars and the device to which it is connected, which as will be
readily understood shortens the leverage upon the type bars, as in the ordinary
construction of the basket type writers now on the market.
By maintaining the same leverage throughout the entire stroke, I am enabled to
obtain a stronger blow with the same amount of touch, than can be obtained where
the leverage of the type-bur decreases as the finger-key is depressed as will be
readily understood. This, as before described, is effected owing to the fact that
the inwardly and outwardly extending ends of the levers P travel up as the short
ends of the type bars likewise travel up, so that they maintain substantially the
same relative position throughout the entire stroke thereof. It is also due to the
fact that the upper ends of the bell crauk levers extend inside of their pivotal
points, whereby they rise when their opposite ends are depressed, and to the fact
that the short ends of the type bars are in a vertical line or substantially a vertical
line below their pivotal point, whereby when their free outer ends are raised their
lower ends likewise rise.
However, I do not limit my invention to the fact that the short ends of the type
bars extend substantially in a vertical line from the pivotal point thereof, for the
reason that they might extend slightly outside of the pivotal point and the leverage
would thereby be slightly increased as the opposite and free end of the type bar
was raised, as will be readily understood.
However, I prefer the construction here shewn, which produces the best
results.
By this intermediate mechanism between the keys and the type bars, I am
enabled to give the proper movement and to obtain the proper power for delivering
the type bars to the printing point, while at the same time the machine is very
materially reduced in length, thereby enabling me to bring the inner bank of
finger keys very near to the outer ends of the type bars, as illustrated in Figure 1,
and the other banks of type bars as near to the adjacent one, as is thought to be
most practical.
A transverse shaft 3 has an arma 1, extending inward and engaging inward
projection 2, upon the outer face of the curved end piece C, and extending from
the same are the two arms 5, which have their outer ends curved upward to form
the operating pieces 4, at opposite sides of the key board, whereby, when the
pieces 4 are depressed the end piece C is raised and the type bars elevated, in a
corresponding manner to that fully shown, described and claimed in the Specification
of Letters Patent granted to me No. 13187 of 1891.
The connections T, preferably of wire between the upper ends of the bell crank
levers P and the pieces V, have U-shaped bends intermediate their ends, primarily
for the purpose of effecting a spring connection between the finger keys and the
type bars, whereby the sudden stop or metallic touch of the finger keys is
prevented at the end of the stroke which in a rigid connection is unpleasant and
thought to be injurious. This bend likewise serves another function namely,-of
enabling the bar to be shortened or lengthened in the assembling of the machine
as may be required to have the upper ends of the bell crank levers assume their
proper relative positions to the universal frame, which will presently be described.
In Figure 3, 1 illustrate a modification of the spring connection, which consists of
a wire piece p baving the spring band z which accomplishes the same purpose.
The universal frame consists of two parallel side bars b, which are pivotally
connected with the base A of the machine, through the medium of the connecting
links. These side bars b, are connected by parallel cross bars c, which extend

page_text: across just in rear, preferably just engage, the outer edges of the upper ends of the
bell crank levers P. The inner ends of the parallel bars b, are connected by the
connections 9, with the lower ends of the arched frame i, which carries the dogs k
in its upper end, which dogs engage the feed rack of the carriage in the usual
manner. A bar extends through the arched frame i intermediate its ends and into
the frames B, whereby the said frame i, is pivotally supported, so that when the
universal frame is moved outward by the engagement with one of the cross bars c,
of the bell crank levers P, the said frame i is oscillated for the purpose of effecting
a feed of the carriage. The connections 9 are also provided with the U-shaped
bends h, for the purpose of effecting a yielding connection, and for the purpose of
adjustment.
Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the bars c, are provided with
horizontal slots d, through which screws e pass into bars b. The object of this
construction is to permit of the adjustment of the bars b towards or away from the
bell crank levers P, in the assembling of the machine in order that they may be in
their proper relative positions.
I have described the construction and operation of the bell crank levers P, and
I will now describe the manner in which they are preferably supported.
By reference to Figure 1, S represents two cross bars which support the paralle!
bars R, as shown in Figures 1 and 11. The bell crank levers are provided with
pivotal points Q as shown in Figure 11, which are supported in the parallel bars,
thus providing a good, firm support for the levers to prevent them from having
lateral movement.
However, this manner of supporting the levers may be varied, and the
construction shown in Figure 12 substituted therefor. This modified form consists
of the transverse rod 8, upon which the levers P are pivoted, and collars 9 placed
between the levers for supporting them in their proper position.
The depending arms 10, at opposite ends of the carriage are connected by cross
piece 12, which is supported upon wheel 14, which in turn are supported upon a
bar 15, connected to the frames B. The under edge of this bar 15, is provided
with a longitudinal groove into which pins 16, extend from the curved arms 13,
that project from cross piece 12, of the carriage and under the bar 15, as clearly
shown in Figures 1 and 11.
By this construction an easy movement of the carriage is effected and which is
at the same time firmly held. The upper end of the carriage is supported by a
wheel 17, upon a bar 18.
m indicates an arm extending from the ribbon shifting frame 20, and this arm mis
connected with the lower portion of the feed frame i by connection n. Owing to
this construction when the lower portion of the frame i is drawn inward by the
universal frame, the upper end of the ribbon shifting frame 20, is carried upward
to bring the ribbon in front of the printing point upon the platen in substantially
the same manner as that described and shown in the specification of my prior
patent herein before referred to.
Owing to the fact that the arched frame i, carrying the feed dogs k, is pivoted
intermediate its ends instead of at its lower euds, as in the arrangement described
in my said prior patent herein referred to, the movement of the upper end of the
frame is reversed, as will be readily understood. Thus it is necessary that a
spring 22, instead of normally pressing outward should normally press inward, and
to accomplish this I extend an adjusting screw 23, through the lower end of the
spring and provide it with a head 24, so that by turning the screw outward the
inward pressure of the upward end of the spring 22 is regulated at will, as will be
clearly understood, for the purpose of regulating the touch of the machine.
The spring drum and the alarm bell are the same as that shown in my said prior
specification and need not be described in this connection. It will be understood
that while I show the lower ends of the levers P extended outward, I do not limit
myself to this construction for it will be readily conceived that the lower ends
could extend in a line with the upper ends and the finger keys Q connected

page_text: therewith and the operation remain the same. The object however, in extending
the lower ends of the bell crank levers P substantially in a horizontal line, is to
prevent making the base of the machine high, as it would otherwise be if the ends
of the bell crank levers extended down.
Another object of this is that by having them extend outward I gain a greater
leverage for the reason that the connecting points of the finger keys with the
levers is farther from the pivotal point in a horizontal line than would be the case
if the lower ends of the levers extended in a line with the upper ends, as will be
readily understood.
By providing the horizontal bar with wheels upon which the lower ends of the
carriage move, I am enabled to shorten this rod so that the carriage may extend
beyond the rod in either direction when at the limit of its movement at both ends
of the machine.
This enables me to narrow this portion of the machine, which is desirable, while
at the same time the carriage is positively held to the track and allowed a free and
easy movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :--
1. In a typewriter, the combination of a series of outwardly extending type-bars
pivoted near their inner ends in the segment of a vertical circle, a series of bell
crank levers all of which are pivoted at points below the lowest type bar of said
segment, said bell crank levers having upwardly extending ends connected with
the short ends of the type bars and lower outwardly extending euds, and end wise
moving finger keys outside of the type bars, and connected directly to the outer
ends of the bell crank levers, the upper ends of all of the finger keys being above
all of the said bell crank levers, substantially as described.
2. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bar supporting plates,
type bars between two of the plates the said type bars provided with pivotal points
which pass freely through enlarged openings in the adjacent plates and have their
ends pivotally supported in distant plates for the purpose of affording a long pivotal
bearing.
3. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bar supporting plates or
hangers, type bars having their pivotal ends between two of the said plates, and
provided with rigid laterally extending pivotal points extending freely by the
adjacent plates and pivotally supported in the distant plates, for the purpose of
providing a wide pivotal point therefor.
4. A type writing machine comprising a curved plate, a series of type bar
supporting plates or hangers having one end supported in said curved plate and
extending beyond the same, and curved connecting rods extending through the
ends of the type bar supporting plates or hangers.
5. A type writing machine comprising a platen, a series of type bars pivoted in
parallel arcs of vertical circles below the platen, the type bars in the upper ares
being as much shorter than those in the arcs below, as one arc is above the other,
whereby the ends of the said type bars are in a line when at rest and strike on the
platen at a common point concentric with all of the arcs.
6. A type writing machine comprising a platen a series of type bars pivoted in
parallel vertical arcs of circles below the said platen and adapted to strike the side
thereof, the said arcs being one above the other and on a line forty-five degrees to
a line drawn from the said printing point of the platen, and the bars in the upper
are being as much shorter than those in the adjacent arc below, as one arc is above
the other.
7. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bars, parallel series of
intermediately pivoted levers having upwardly extending ends connected with the
short ends of the type bars, finger keys connected to the opposite ends of said
levers, and a universal frame having a series of transverse bars extending

page_text: respectively in rear of the said parallel series of levers and a lapted to engage the
same when the type bars are operated, for the purpose specified.
8. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bars, a series of levers
having one end connected with the type bars, finger keys connected with the
opposite ends of the said levers, a universal frame having a series of transverse
bars extending across and adapted to engage the said levers, the said cross bars
being transversely adjustable, for the purpose specified.
9. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bars, a series of levers
having one end connected with the type bars, finger keys connected with the
opposite ends of the levers, a universal frame having transverse cross bars adapted
to engage the levers, the ends of the cross bars having transverse slots, and
clamping screws passing through the slots into the frame.
10. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bars, a series of levers
below the type bars having one end connected therewith, finger keys connected
with the opposite end of said levers, and a horizontal enddwise moving universal
frame having a series of transverse bars in rear of said levers and adapted to be
engaged thereby.
11. A type writing machine comprising a universal frame consisting of parallel
side bars, supporting links connected to the bars, parallel cross bars connected to
the said side bars, type bars, finger keys, and connections between the type bars
and finger keys adapted to engage the cross bars of the universal frame.
12. A type writing machine comprising an end wise moving universal frame, an
intermediately pivoted frame carrying at its upper end feed dogs, the lower ends
of the said intermediately pivoted frame, being connected with the universal frame,
whereby when the universal frame moves end wise the upper end of the dog carrying
frame is reciprocated, for the purpose shown.
13. A type writing machine comprising a series of type bars, a series of
intermediately pivoted levers below the type bars having one end connected
therewith, finger keys connected with the opposite ends of said levers, and an
end wise moving universal frame engaged by all of said levers.
14. In a type writer, the combination of a series of type hanging plates, and a
series of type bars having laterally extending pivotal points, the adjacent pivotal
points of two bars of the series supported in each plate of the series.
15. A typewriting machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as
herein shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1896
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.