An Improved Typewriter Paper-carriage or Paper-roller or Platen, and Apparatus for Operating same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1898
CL
1000
4Ash Lan
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Typewriter Paper-carriage or Paper-roller or Platen,
and Apparatus for Operating same.
T, WILLIAM PATRICK MACBEAN BLACK, of 136, Wellington Street, Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, Writer and Notary Public, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows: -
This invention relates to the construction and application of an improved and
more effective paper-carriage or paper-roller or platen for typewriting machines
and apparatus for more rapidly replacing same at the completion of each line in
position for beginning the following line.
My improved appliance consists of a paper roller of ordinary construction, but
of at least as great circumference as the width of the line intended to be printed
and preferably of not much greater circumference. It must also be of a little
greater length than the height of the paper to be used. Round this roller the paper
is wrapped in somewhat the same fashion as a map is rolled up, the top and bottom
of the page, however, being at the ends of the roller and the portion of the paper
which is to be margin being overlapped by the rest, unless when it is intended to
put in marginal notes. A rubber band or metallic or other equivalent is then
slipped over each end of the roller over the paper and keeps the paper securely in
position. At the centre of each end of the roller a square hole is placed and by
means of these square holes the roller is affixed to the paper carriage by a spring
being compressed and two axles of square section (attached to the carriage frame in
such a way as to be capable of revolving with the roller) snapped into the corre-
sponding holes in the ends of the roller. One of these axles (which for purposes
of reference I call A) is very short and carries the spring which permits of the
space between the axles being lengthened to take in the roller and which by its
recoil causes the axles to securely hold the roller. The top of the page to be type-
written, when in position is next axle A. The other axle (which I call B) is
carried through a ratchet wheel which has at its centre a corresponding hole of
square section so that while the ratchet wheel cannot turn without turning the
axle (and of course, the roller) and vice versa, each can be moved longitudinally
without affecting the other. The ratchet wheel is attached to clockwork which
causes it to tend to turn in one direction, which it is prevented from doing by a
detent (which I call C). This detent is depressed by every depression of the keys of
the typewriter causing the roller to move round a short distance each time.
Attached to the ratchet wheel and making with it one short cylinder is a disc having
only one tooth on it. By a longitudinal movement effected by the operator depress-
ing a new key (which I call X) on the typewriter this disc can be brought forward
so as to take the place of the ratchet wheel and lie over detent C; and when that
is done, the wheel, axles, roller etc. fly round till the single tooth is caught by the
detent. One of the sides of axle B has a rack running down the middle of it. This
rack, when the roller has returned to the beginning of the line, is engaged by a
detent (which I call D) and this detent is connected with an eccentric or other
device which is connected either with the disc or more immediately with the key X,

page_text: so that when that key is depressed, not only does the disc fly round but at the latter
end of its movement (or after it has ceased, by the return of the key X it depresses
this detent and so moves the roller and paper along longitudinally and presents a
new line to be printed on. Detent D is adjustable so as to push the paper up one
two or three lines as desired. To keep the axle and its connections from moving
longitudinally during the rest of the revolution, a short tube encircles the axle
underneath the detent, the tube having, however, an opening or slot down its whole
length to permit of the detent engaging with the rack at the proper time. On
this tube is an internal ring or flange with an opening in it corresponding to the
opening in the tube and this flange is so placed that when the rack is revolving
within the tube one of its teeth is always caught by this flange and the axle thus
prevented from moving longitudinally.
If placing the roller and axle B in line would make the carriage take up, too
much space, these might be placed parallel to one another.
As this form of carriage may be applied to any typewriting machine and as in its
application to different machines it will require to be differently placed relatively
to the other parts of the machine, it will be necessary in order to describe this
invention in operation to take it in its application to some well-known machine.
Suppose it is to be applied to the Remington typewriter. The first thing to do
would be to remove the Remington's present carriage and its present mainspring.
The apparatus just described would then be mounted on the top of the machine
at right angles to the position of the present carriage, but like it on a horizontal
plane. The present arrangement for operating the dogs would be remodelled so
that it would depress the detent C every time any key of the machine was depressed
and so cause the roller to move one step. The axle A of my appliance would have
on its end next the operator an index hand which would evolve with the paper-
roller and show upon a circular index what part of the line the machine had
reached. Attached to this index dial would be a tiny bell which would be caused
to be rung by the index finger at any part of the line. The clockwork having been
wound up (this would have to be done only once a day or seldomer) and detent I)
having been pressed down by a finger being placed on its end; (if not then raised
as in one form of the device it would be) and the axle, thus free to move
longitudinally, pushed through the ratchet wheel etc. away from the operator as far
as it will go, carrying, of course, the roller (which we will suppose already charged
with paper) and connections with it, the operator would begin to typewrite. As
each letter was printed or the space bar depressed, the ratchet wheel released by
the detent C would carry the roller round a small space and present another portion
of its periphery to be printed on. The line of printing would form nearly a
complete ring round the roller; and when the end of the line was reached, the
space then just over the printing point would be close to the space with which the
line started, the beginning and the end of the line almost meeting. When the
end of the line was reached the operator would press down the new key X which had
been placed in the keyboard of the typewriter and this through suitable connections
would move the disc with the one tooth into the place over the detent Coccupied
by the ratchet wheel. The consequence would be that the paper would instantly
complete its then not quite completed revolution and be brought back with the
beginning of the line again just over the printing point. While, however, perform-
ing the last part of its revolution or while the key X is returning to rest, the
eccentric connected to the disc or more immediately to key X would depress the
detent D and the machine being so designed that the rack would be then engaged
by that detent, the roller would be moved a short distance towards the operator, thus
putting the paper one line up and in position for a new line being printed. When
the first page was completed, the roller would be unmounted by pressing axle A
and the roller would be removed. A moment would suffice to slip off the printed
page and slip on a new sheet, but in places where occasionally there was great
pressure of work, a number of rollers could be kept ready changed or two could
be used to be worked alternately, another clerk charging the one not at the moment

page_text: in use. In typing post cards or envelopes, three or more according to the length
of the paper roller might be put on the roller at once, thus reducing the frequency
with which the roller would have to be taken out of the machine.
Dated this 15th day of February 1898
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
An Improved Typewriter Paper-carriage or Paper-roller or Platen,
and Apparatus for Operating same.
I, WILLIAM PATRICK MACBEAN BLACK, of 136, Wellington Street, Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, Writer and Notary Public, 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 construction and application of an improved and
more effective paper carriage or paper roller or platen for typewriting machines
and apparatus for more rapidly replacing same at the completion of each line in
position for beginning the following line.
My improved appliance embodies a paper roller or cylinder of ordinary con-
struction, but of at least as great circumference as the width of the line intended
to be printed and preferably of not much greater circumference; mechanism con-
trolled by an escapement for rotating the cylinder, to effect the letter spacing;
means for releasing the escapement wheel to allow free rotation of
the cylinder after the completion of each line, and spacing mechanism
for moving the cylinder longitudinally and effecting the spacing between the
lines.
In the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typewriter carriage constructed according to
this invention and adapted to be applied to a typewriter of the Remington pattern.
Fig. 2 is a part plan of Fig. 1 showing the actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a
front elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an escape-
ment, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of a key with its connections to releasing apparatus,
for allowing the rotation of the cylinder before commencing a new line.
The paper-carriage is placed in a horizontal position on the top of the ordinary
typewriter frame and at right angles to the front of the frame. The frame a of the
carriage is provided at its base with wheels which run on the rails and thus
enable the carriage to be traversed towards and from the operator. Mounted in
bearings in the frame is the cylinder d provided at each end with a short
spindle ef each spindle having a square end which is removeably fitted in a corre-
sponding slot in the end of the cylinder and the outer ends of the spindles resting on
the bearings g. To render the cylinder d easily removeable spindle e is provided
with a knob e and is capable of being drawn out against the action of a spring e².
Also mounted to rotate in the frame a and directly above and parallel with the
cylinder d is a rod i, square in cross section and having rack teeth j on one face,
the rod and cylinder d being geared together by the gear wheels k with an
equal number of teeth so that the cylinder and rod i rotate together at the same
rate. When the rod i is in such a position that the rack j is uppermost, the rack
gears with a pinion m keyed on to a shaft n which is mounted in a suitable casing
or frame o. A bevel wheel p mounted loosely on the shaft n is driven by the
ratchet pinion m' keyed on the shaft n, and pawl m² pivotted on the wheel
gears with a similar bevel wheel 7 mounted on a spindler to which is fixed the
inner end of a helical driving spring contained in the box s and adapted to be
and

page_text: wound by the action of the rack j on the pinion m.
takes into a ratchet wheel m³ on the bevel wheel
rotation thereof.
A pawl q pivotted on the frame
and prevents the backwards
The spring box s is formed integral with or fixed to a toothed wheel & held in
position during the winding of the spring by a pawl r¹ and detent and gearing
with a similar wheel u on the rod i, the wheel u being mounted so that the rod i
rotates with it, but is free to move longitudinally and independently of the wheel w
which is kept in position by the spring box s on one side and by a flange on wheel t
on the other side. The helical spring on relaxing thus drives the cylinder d
through the gear wheels tu rod i and gear wheels kl.
To effect the letter spacing the rotation of cylinder d is rendered intermittent or
arranged to take place only after each operation of a letter or space key, by means
of escapement mechanism operated from the universal bar of the typewriter and
comprising an escapement with pallets ww¹, acting on the escapement wheel c
which is mounted on the rod i and rotates therewith. The escapement is
pivotted on a rod y secured to the bracket y', and connected with the universal
bar y through a rod z jointed to the eye on the pallet w¹.
In order to rotate cylinder d into position for commencing a new line, it is
necessary to allow the escapement wheel a to rotate freely and with it rod i and
cylinder d and this is done by shifting wheel a longitudinally along rod i until the
pallets ww¹ are no longer in the path of the teeth. Striking gear is employed for
this purpose, a fork 2 being actuated from a special key 3 through levers 4 5 6 and
rocking bar 7 pivotted in the frame at 20-20 in the casing o. On depressing
key 3 the fork 2 moves the escapement wheel x in the direction of the arrow. until
it is free of the pallets. w w¹, the escapement wheel is thereupon rotated freely and
also the cylinder d until it has reached the correct position for starting a new line.
this position being ensured by a stop 8 coming against the pallet w the stop being
carried on a disc 9 fixed to or formed integral with the escapement wheel x.
position of the pallet w¹ in the path of the stop is insured by the spring 10 which
bears against pallet w. On releasing key 3 the fork 2 escapement wheel x and
disc 9 return to their to their normal positions.
The
The line spacing at the commencement of each new line is effected simultaneously
with the return of the escapement wheel and one toothed disc 9 to their normal
positions, the cylinder d and the whole carriage being traversed the necessary
distance in a direction away from the operator. For this purpose a small lever 11
pivoted on supports 12 projects with its lower end between the teeth ; of the
rack i, and is held at its upper end by means of a small spring 13 against an
adjusted tappet 14 fixed to the side of disc 9 so that when the escapement wheel
and disc assume the normal position on the rising of the key 3, the tappet 14
presses upon the upper end of lever 11 and forced the lower end thereof against
one of the teeth of the rack, moving the rack and thus the whole carriage a
distance corresponding with the space to be left between two lines. The space
may be increased or diminished by altering the length of the tappet 14, which is
formed of an elongated nut 15 screwed on to a stud 16, thus by screwing the nut
inwards the tappet is shortened and the length of travel of the lower end of the
lever 11 and thus of the carriage is reduced. It will be seen that lever 11 is only
in engagement with the rack teeth when the rack is in the correct position for line
spacing, that is, uppermost, for immediately the function of lever 11 is performed,
and the first letter of a new line is struck, the rod i, and with it the rack teeth, is
rotated as herein before described and the lever is free to return to its normal
position under the action of the small spring 13.
To ensure perfect alignment the carriage is prevented from moving on its rails
through vibration or from other causes when the machine is typing a line, by
means of a collar 17, open at its upper part 18 and having an internal flange 19
which takes between the rack teeth j, during the rotation of the rod i and prevents
longitudinal movements of the rod and thus of the carriage, except when the rack
teeth coincide with the opening 18, which is the position where the spacing takes

page_text: place. The collar 17 is fixed to a standard A firmly fixed on to the frame of the
typewriter, and which also serves to hold down the carriage and keep it in position
on the rails c.
An index 21 is fixed on the frame end and a pointer 22 fixed to rod i indicates
the position of the paper with regard to the type, each division on the index
corresponding with a space.
In operation the cylinder which is slightly longer than the sheet of paper to be
used, is taken out to receive the paper which is wrapped thereon lengthwise with
the top and bottom of the page at each end of the cylinder, the paper preferably
just going once round the cylinder with no portion intended for printing, over-
lapping. An elastic band or metallic or other equivalent is then slipped over each
end of the paper and keeps it in position on the roller which is then replaced on the
carriage with the top of the page away from the operator. Supposing it is desired
to commence a new page, one page having just been completed, during the
printing of which it is assumed the carriage had travelled until the head / came
against the standard A signifying that the page was finished. The operator is
seated facing that end of the carriage on which the scale is fixed, and pulls the
carriage forwards until the top of the page is over the printing point. During
the operation of drawing the carriage forwards the ratchet wheel m is rotated by
the rack and operates through the gearing p q to wind the driving spring con-
tained in the box s which spring tends to rotate the rod i through the gear
wheels tu and thus the cylinder d. On striking a key the escapement wheel x
and thus the rod i and cylinder d, the cylinder being set and the margin read off
on the scale, are allowed to rotate the space of one tooth, the action being continued
until the end of the line is reached which may be indicated by a small bell placed
on the scale and rung by the pointer. The line of print, forms in most cases nearly
a complete ring round the cylinder.
To rotate the cylinder into position for a new line the key 3 is depressed, and
through the fork 2 throws the escapement wheel out of the way of the escape-
ment pallets ww¹ and allows wheel x, disc 9, rod i and cylinder
to rotate until
the stop or tooth 8 on the disc 9 comes against pallet w¹. On allowing key 3 to rise
the wheel and disc 9 return to their normal positions, and during this movement
the tappet 14 on the disc 9 actuates the lever 11 and through it the rack and the
carriage, in the longitudinal direction to measure off the space between the lines.
The ratchet m rotates freely when the rod i is moved in this direction and allows
the rack to pass. Should it be necessary to erase a mistake, a small clip, such as
is usually called a tie-clip is fixed to the edge of the dial plate so as to mark the point at
which the index finger had arrived and the paper roller will be revolved by the
knob e until the letter to be erased is almost immediately underneath rod i
when it can be easily dealt with. The roller is then turned again till the index
finger returns to the point indicated by the clip. If the letter to be erased is not
the last letter printed, the clip will be used to indicate where the operator left off in
the line and the printing over of the erased space will be effected by counting how
many letters and spaces it is from the beginning of the line or from the point where
the operator left off and turning the knob till the index finger points to the number
thus ascertained, then printing. It will be seen that in using a carriage constructed
according to this invention, each word will come into sight of the operator almost as
soon as it has been printed.
The gearing at the right of Fig. 1 is enclosed in a suitable casing or frame.
To prepare the Remington pattern typewriter for receiving the carriage, its
carriage, dogs, main frame and parts subsidiary to these are removed. The im-
proved carriage is however applicable to almost any pattern machine, only slight
constructional alterations being necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A paper carriage for typewriting machines, embodying a frame mounted on

page_text: wheels and adapted to be traversed at right angles to the front of the machine, a
removeable cylinder mounted in the frame, a rod also mounted in the frame and
connected by gearing with the cylinder, a rack on the rod, spring mechanism
adapted to be wound by the rack, an escapement controlling the spring mechanism
and actuated at each depression of the universal bar, a stop fixed to the escape-
ment wheel, striking mechanism actuated by a special key, lever mechanism for
line spacing, and an index dial, the whole constructed and operating substantially
as described.
2. In a paper carriage for typewriting machines, the letter spacing mechanism,
comprising a helical driving spring, wound through gearing by rack and pinion
mechanism, a rod operated by the spring through suitable gearing, an escapement
wheel mounted on the rod, gear wheels connecting the rod with the paper cylinder,
and lever mechanism controlling the escapement from the universal bar of the type-
writer keys substantially as described.
3. In a paper carriage for typewriting machines, the line spacing mechanism
comprising an adjustable tappet, and a lever actuated by the tappet, and operating
on the teeth of a rack to traverse the carriage in the manner described.
4. In a paper carriage for typewriting machines, the line changing mechanism
comprising the striking or release mechanism with special key for operating same,
and a stop or one tooth wheel fixed to the escapement wheel, with means for forcing
the escapement into the path of the stop substantially as described.
5. In a paper carriage for typewriting machines, a guide for ensuring perfect
alignment, consisting of a collar supported round the rack and having an internal
flange, taking between the teeth of the rack substantially as described.
6. The improved typewriter paper carriage, arranged and constructed sub-
stantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 17th day of November 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.