Improvements in Type-writing Machines.RI
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex (a communication from Arthur
Wise Cash, a citizen of the United States and resident of Hartford, in the county of
Hartford and state of Connecticut, Machinist,) do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention in IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by.
the following statement :-
My invention relates to the class of machines that, by the manipulation of type-
levers, cause characters corresponding to those displayed on the finger pads to be
imprinted on paper that is held in the machine and fed past a point of imprint that is
common to the several types and characters.
My object is to provide a machine of this class, the key-levers and type-bars of
which shall be easy in action and operated with the application of but little force;
and a further object is to provide a machine in which the writing already done shall
be kept in plain view before the writer.
My invention consists in a type-writing machine made up of the frame that supports
a platen having a sliding motion in two directions below and in a plane parallel to
the base that supports the key-levers and pivot base for the type-bars; it further
consists in the details of the platen feed mechanism, and in the ribbon feed mechanism,
and in several details of the machine and its parts as more particularly hereinafter
described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings that form a part hereof :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a type-writer embodying my invention.

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with a portion broken away to uncover operative
parts, and with most of the type-bars and type-lovers omitted..
Figure 3 is a detail top or plan view, on enlarged scale, of the platen carriage and
its appurtenances.
Figure 4 is a detail view in vertical section of the bed of the machine showing the
type-levers, the type-bars and the ribbon guide operating mechanism in normal
position.
Figure 5 is a like detail view in section of the machine, and showing some of-the
parts with a key-lever depressel and the type in position to imprint.
Figure 6 is a detail sectional view, on enlarged scale, of the type-bar, pivot and
support, illustrating the method of connecting the type-bar to the type-base.
Figure 7 is a detail side view of the machino with parts broken away to show_the
line space mechanism and the means by which the platen carriage is movably supported
on the base and frame.
Figure 8 is a detail diagram view of the line spacing mechanism showing the space
lever depressed.
Figure 9 is a like detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 8 in another position.
Figure-10-is-a-detail-view, partly in-section,-showing-the-operation of the pawl
guard that determines the tooth-on-the-rack-bar that will be engaged by-the-pawl in
its return movement..
Figure 11 is a detail view of a part of the paper clamp device.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are detail plan views, on enlarged scale, of the escapement
that regulates the lateral feed of the platen.
Figure 15 is a detail view in elevation of the escapement and part of the rack bar
-and detent lever.
.
Figure 16 is a detail plan view of part of the device for impolling the platen carriage
in its lateral movement.
In the accompanying drawings the letter A denotes the bed of the machine, on
which is supported the frame B, which comprises the flat top band the supporting
pillars or posts b. On the upper surface of this flat top, and near the edge of the
frame, is formed the parti-circular type-base C, to which are pivotally secured the
type-bars d, a few only of these type-bars being shown in the drawings. The front
edge of the frame is cut away forming a semi circular opening immediately in front of
the type-base, and a number of slots cut into the base vertically form the type-bar
sockets d', the back edge of the type-base being undercut and grooved, as shown in
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, and the pivot d³, that supports the type-bars, is
located in this groove, passing through pivot holes in each type-bar, and it is held in
place by means of pivot clamp screws d³. The pivot for the type-bars may be formed
in one long piece, or in sections, so as to provido for the convenient removal of one or
more of the type-bars. Each of the type-bars is pivotally connected, by a link d, to
the end of a key-lever e, and each of these levers is pivotally supported on a stude
that is secured to the top of the frame by means of a nut e², that fits upon the
threaded end of the stud, this end being smaller in diameter than the body of the
stud. A spring is clamped at one end between the shoulder on the stud and
the upper surface of the frame, the free end of the spring bearing upward against tho
under side of the key-lever. The result of this arrangement of parts is such that the
key-lever and its connected type-bar are held in a raised position, normally, as shown
in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The outer end of each key-lever bears a finger piece e on
which is marked the letter or character corresponding to that borne by the type-bar
connected to said lever and operated by it. A downward pressure upon this finger
piece causes the type-bar to be moved sharply forward, bearing the type forcibly
downward upon a ribbon and making an imprint in the usual manner.
The letters F, G denote the platen as a whole, F being the platen carriage and G
the diaphragm, of enameled leather or other suitable material that is stretched upon
the oblong frame-work making up the top of the carriage and serving as a table or
surface on which is placed the sheet of paper to be printed upon. Extending from

page_text: front to rear, and centrally of the frame of the platen carriage, is the platen rod f
that extends through the sleeve f¹, fast to the carriage, and this serves as a guide
block for the longitudinal reciprocation of the platen. This platen carriage is
supported in guide-ways arranged across the machine, the front guide-way H having
a horizontal groove and a vertical groove adapted to receive the rollers 3, that are
pivoted to the platen carriage, while the guide-way H' has a flange overhanging the
roller pivoted to a downward projecting standard on the carriage, and thus serving
to hold the latter from upward displacement. A ratchet f' is formed on the under
side of the platen rod fand is part of the arrangement for giving the platen its step
by step longitudinal movement. The line spacing lever h has its outer end held up to
normal position by means of the spring h, and this lever . bears at its rearward end
the spring pawl that is forced toward the ratchet and held in normal position by
means of the spring 3; and this spring pawl ² co-operates with the ratchet when
the forward end of the lever his pressed down, and the result is that the platen is
pushed rearward a single line space by a single depression of this line spacing lever h.
In order to regulate and equalize the spaces between the lines of writing, the
screw his arranged in a threaded socket in the carriage, so that its front end or point
is held directly in the path of the pawl in its forward movement and thus forms an
adjustable stop that exactly defines the extent of movement of the pawl and therefore
of the platen that is moved by it. As soon as the pawl strikes this point the upturned
end of the spring-bolt engages a tooth in the ratchet and prevents the return
forward movement of the platen. The pawl is caused to select a certain tooth of
the rack by the contact of its upper side with the arm of the pawl-guard that
overlies the pawl and holds it downward until the engagement with the tooth next in
advance of the one last engaged by the pawl is insured; then the arm slips past the
pawl at the point where it is cut away on the side [see Fig. 3], and leaves the pawl
free to move in feeding the platen. The spring-bolt 4 may be unlocked by pressing
upward upon the outer end of the lever that is pivoted to the platen carriage
[see Figs. 3 and 7] with its inner end overlying the bolt, and the platen can then be
moved forward any desired distance within the limit of its longitudinal motion. On
releasing the lever the spring bolt is at once pressed against the ratch and locks it and
the platen. The outer end of the line spacing lever h, bears a pad that at one end is
pivoted to it, and a pull wire connects this pad with the vertical arm of the trip
lever that bears the pawl-guard h, and when this pad is pulled outward, as shown
in dotted outline in Fig. 3, the pawl-guard is lifted so that the pawl 2, on depressing
the line spacing lever, will engage the second tooth on the ratch back of the one
previously engaged and feed the platen forward a double space.
The lower arms of the trip lever engages the rack-bar of the lateral feed
mechanism of the platen and is used to release the carriage to return it to a position
to begin another line of writing.
The platen carriage is movable back and forth laterally on the guide bars already
described. The spring J propels the platen laterally when the printing is going on,
and from this spring runs a cord that passes around the cam, while another cord
is wound about the periphery of a pulley ³ concentric with the cam, and this latter
cord is connected to the carriage. This arrangement of spring, pulley, cords and cam
constitute the force and device for propelling the platen laterally when the type-writer
is in operation for printing. As this latter motion of the platen carriage in printing is
necessarily a step by step movement I interpose a detent device to attain that end,
which will now describe. The letter K denotes what I term a detent lever that is
pivoted to the opposite sides of the frame by the pivots k, and extends across the bed
and underneath the platen carriage. The lower bar of the lever has a swinging
movement back and forth lengthwise of the platen, and the arms of the lever
extend inward from opposite sides of the top of the frame and are each pivotally
connected to a lever that is pivoted to a stand that rises from the top of the
machine. Both of these levers k³ are pivotally connected, at the end opposite that
connecting it with the detent lever, to an arm projecting from the bearer that
extends across and rests directly upon each one of the key-levers near the point where

page_text: the lever is pivotally connected to the type-bar. When either of the key-levers is
depressed in printing this bearer is lifted, and by such a lifting movement the detent-
lever, by means of the intermediate device, is caused to swing backward and operates,
the escapement. The space-bar & extends across and overlies the key-levers and is
located just in front of the key-board, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and it is
supported on the upturned ends of the space-levers that are each pivoted to the
stand with their opposite ends underlying and in contact with the bearer. The
escapement L is pivoted to a standard or bracket that rises from the base of the
machine, and it swings in a horizontal plane with a downturned arm that engages
the cross-bar of the detent-lever. This escapement has a fixed tooth and a spring-
tooth, the latter moving between-the-stops--that rise from the body of the escape-
ment. The fixed-tooth-is-arranged on one side of the pivot that secures the escapement
to the bracket, and the spring-tooth is arranged on the opposite side, the result being
that when the detent lever swings backward it disengages the fixed tooth 12 from the
rack-bar D and forces the spring-tooth into engagement with another tooth of the bar,-
this allowing the bar and the carriage to which it is connected to move laterally a
letter space; the return movement of the detent-lever rotates the escapement and
causes the fixed tooth to again engage the ratchet, and to hold it in a fixed position
while the type is printing. This escapement may be operated to effect the lateral feed-
of the platen carriage by depressing either one of the key-levers, or by means of
-the space-bar,¯ the latter device being used to form the spaces between words or
sentences.
Near the rear edge of the top 6 of the frame, and on opposite sides of the type-.
case C, are secured the ribbon reels M in such position that a ribbon wound about
them and stretched across the platen below the point where the type would strike
would lie on one side of such point. The type-bars, the outer ends of which bear a
type with a striking face having any desired character, are caused to strike forward-
and downward upon the point P when the outer or initiated end of the key-lever is
depressed, and each of the types borne on the several type-bars, in a complete type-
writing machine, strike, of course, on the same point. The position of this point is
indicated by the pointed end of the index-bar N that is supported on the under side
of the top of the frame and has a sliding motion in a line passing through this point P.
The reciprocating motion of the index-bar N is caused by operating a key-lever that
lifts the bearer and rocks the cross-bar n of a lever that is pivotally connected to the
bearer and operates the index-lever n', the lower and slotted end of which engages
the index-bar. The relative position of the parts in normal position and in operation
is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
The ribbon m is threaded through the guide m', in the outer end of the index-bar
and it is borne by the guide vertically over the point where the typo will strike
whenever a key-lever is depressed and by the mechanism already described. As soon
as the pressure on the depressed key-lever is removed the bearer drops and by this
movement withdraws the index-bar and the ribbon, leaving an imprint of the type
exposed on the paper that is borne on the platen. The ribbon feed mechanism
consists of a feed-lever m³ pivotally supported on the lever-base m', one end of the
lever bearing a pin that engages an arm of the detent-lever, while the other end of
this lever m³ has a hook that engages the ratch-wheel borne on one side of the ribbon
reel in such manner as to turn the ribbon reel with each downward movement of the
detent-lever. The reel is held from turning, except under the pressure of the feed-
lever, by means of a spring-pawl me which is also borne on the lever-base m. A
feed device precisely similar to the one just described is connected to each ribbon reel
and the lever-bases are connected to each other by a rod m³, so that when one of the
feed-levers is turned into engagement with one of the ribbon reels the feed device on
the opposite side of the key-base is made inoperative by throwing the parts out of
engagement. This latter construction completes the reversing mechanism and it is
operated by means of the handle fast to one of the lever bases in convenient position
for use, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
The surface of the platen is practically a flexible diaphragm, while underneath it

page_text: and borne on top of the carriage is a supporting bar. which I will call a platen bar,
and this underlies the line where the printing is being done and supports the said
diaphragin and the paper upon it firmly on that line as is obviously necessary to
receive the impact of the types. The paper is clamped upon the platen by means of
the clamp o pressed to contact with the platen by springs of, this clamp being an
angular strip of metal lying along the edge of the platen with one flange overlying
and adapted to grasp the paper, and the other having inclined slots o², the pins o³ that
are fast to the platen-frame passing through the slots and serving as guides to control
the motion of the clasp when the lever p, that is connected to the clamp by means of
the link p' is depressed.
In my within described type-writer each key-lever is pivotally attached to the
frame of the machine and is connnected to a swinging type-bar that is pivoted to a
semicircular type-base and strikes downward towards the center of the parti-curve on
which the type-bars are arranged. Each one of the type-bars bears a printing type,
and an inking ribbon is drawn across the machine by the automatic devices above
described that are operated either by one of the key-levers or by means of the space-
bar, the type striking upon the ribbon to make the imprint. The base of the machine
supports a carriage that is moveable laterally across it, the carriage bearing a swinging
rack that co-operates with an escapement device attached to the base or frame of the
machine, and the teeth of the escapement are capable of a common movement in lines
across the plane of the rack-bar. This carriage is pulled to the left, across the frame,
by means of a cord wound on the wheels, and a spring connected to the cord wound
upon the cam fast to the said wheel, as described. This carriage has a bar forming a
flat surface to receive the impact of the types, and over this lies the platen with its
flexible diaphragm, the said platen having a movement lengthwise on the carriage,
but at right angles to the lateral movement of the carriage across the machine. The
carriage is moved one step to the left by the operation of a key-lever, or by the space-
bar, and it is released to move it to the right by lifting the rack-bar out of engage-
ment with the teeth of the escapement, and this lifting of the rack-bar is effected by
pulling back the pad that operates the trip-lever the arm of which engages the
rack-bar D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my Foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a type-writing machine, in combination with the key-levers, the type-bars
pivotally connected to the type-base and to the key-levers by the intermediate link,
each type-bar bearing a type adapted to strike upon a common point in printing, the
reciprocating index-bar terminating in a pointer and overlying the writing surface in
its normal position and directly indicating the point where each type will strike, all
substantially as described.
2. In combination, in a type-writing machine, the semicircular type-base having
type-bar sockets that are formed on radial lines mecting at the striking point of the
type in printing, the said base having an undercut, groove opening downward and
adapted to receive the type-bar pivots, and the pivot-clamp screws whereby the said
pivot and the type-bars are removably held in place, all substantially as described.
3. In a type-writing machine in combination with the base, the platen carriage
having a lateral movement across the bed, and the platen supported on the said
carriage, the platen rod passing through a sleeve and guide fast to the carriage, and
the said supports of the platen, all substantially as described.
4. In a type-writer, in combination the supporting bed and frame, the platen
carriage movable laterally across the bed, the platen borne on the platen carriage and
movable along it across the line of inoverment of the carriage and its bed, the ratch
fast to the platen, the line spacing lever h, pivoted to the platen carriage and bearing
the spring-pawl 2 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratch, and the spacing lever
spring h¹, whereby the pawl is held normally out of engagement with the ratch, all
substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a type-writing machine, in combination with the laterally movable platen
carriage, the rack-bar pivoted thereto, the detent lever in engagement with the
a fixed and
escapement and pivotally connected to the hearer, the escapement having
a movable tooth and co-operating with those on the rack-bar in limiting the movement.
of the platen carriage, and the bearer overlying the key-levers and spacing-bar levers,
all substantially as described.
=
6. In a type-writing machine, in combination the base with the platen carriage
guides, the platen carriage having side bearings supported in the said ways or guides
and bearing a sleeve and guide f", the platen rod fast to the platen and the lateral
supports for the platen, all substantially as described.
7.In combination in a type-writing machine, the base with the guides for the
platen carriage, the laterally movable platen carriage supporting a pivoted rack-bar,
the trip-lever pivoted to the carriage with one arm in engagement with the rack-bar,
the pull wire connecting the upper arm of the lever and the pad pivoted to the outer
end of the line spacing lever, and the line spacing lever, all substantially as described.
8. In combination in a type-writing machine, the base with its guide-ways, the
laterally moving platen carriage, the platen mounted on the said carriage and bearing
the ratch, the line spacing lever pivoted to the platen carriage and bearing a spring
pawl adapted to engage the teeth of the ratch, the adjustable-stop-placed in-the-path-
of movement of the spring-pawl, the spring-bolt adapted to engage the ratch, and the-
_ releasing lever pivoted to the platen carriage with one end in engagement with the
spring-bolt, all substantially as described.
9. In combination with the platen bearing a platen-rod and a ratch the line
spacing lever pivoted to the platen carriage and bearing a spring-pawl h³, held
normally out of engagement with the ratch by a spring h, the pawl-guard he pivoted
to the platen carriage and overlying the spring-pawl, and the spring-pawl cut away
at the side to permit the passage of the pawl-guide, all substantially as described.
10. In a type-writing machine in combination, the detent lever. K pivotally
connected to the frame of the machine and to the bearer, the latter being located
in the path of movement of the key-levers, the inking ribbon extending across and
over the surface to be printed, and through the index-bar, the reciprocating index-
bar terminating in a pointer and having the ribbon guide, and the within described
mechanism for reciprocating the index-bar, all substantially as described.
11. In combination with the frame of a type-writing machine, the detent lever
pivotally connected to the bearer, the ribbon reels M arranged on opposite sides of
the type-base, the within described mechanism of levers and ratchets connecting the
said reels and the detent lever, the inking ribbon passing through the guide in the
index-bar, and the reciprocating index-bar bearing a pointer and having a ribbon-
guide, all substantially as described.
12. In combination in a type-writing machine, the detent lever branching to
opposite sides of the frame of the machine and pivotally connected to the bearer that
is located in the path of movement of the type-levers, the ribbon reels placed upon
opposite sides of the type-base, the reel feeding mechanism as described connecting.
the detent lever and the recls, the inking ribbon and the reciprocating index-bar
having the ribbon guide, all substantially as described.
13. In combination with the ribbon reels arranged upon opposite sides of the type-
base, each bearing a ratchet-wheel, the ribbon feed mechanism consisting of a feed
lever pivoted to the lever-base, one end of the lever engaging an arm of the detent-
lever K, and the other end having a hook adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel, the
detent-lever pivotally connected to the bearer, and the bearer, all substantially as
described.
14. In combination with the ribbon reels each having a ratchet-wheel, the lever-
base pivoted to the frame of the machine with one end adapted to swing toward and
from the ribbon reels, the reel-feed lever pivoted to the said base and adapted to move
in a plane across the plane of movement of the said base, with one end of the said
lever pivotally connected to a branch of the detent-lever, and the other end adapted
to engage the ratchet-wheel on the reel, the spring-pawl borne on the lever-base and

page_text: adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel on the reel, and the detent-lever, all substantially
as described.
15. In combination with the frame of a type-writing machine, the detent-lever K
branching on opposite sides of the frame and pivoted thereto, and also pivotally
connected to the bearer, the bearer overlying the key-levers, the ribbon reels secured
to the frame on opposite sides of the key-base, the lever-bases pivoted to the top b¹ of
the frame, and joined at their outer ends by a connecting-rod, the said lever-bases each
bearing a feed-lever with one end adapted to engage a ratchet-wheel on the respective
ribbon reel and its other end engaging a branch of the detent lever whereby when one
of the feed levers is in engagement with the ribbon reel the opposito lever is thrown
out of engagement with the opposite wheel, all substantially as described.
TIL:
N1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.