Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, FRANK LAMBERT, of 83 Washington Street, in Brooklyn, Kings County,
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
The invention is a typewriter in which there is a single nutating disk-shaped
key upon which all the characters are marked. The key is connected with a type
ring. When the key is tilted a type on the surface of said type ring is brought
into the line of pressure over a platen. Bodily depression of the key brings the
type into contact with the printing surface, and the upper or back movement of
the key actuates releasing mechanism whereby the spring actuated paper carriage
is permitted or caused to move over a given space before the succeeding type is
imprinted.
In the drawings Figure.1 is a top view; Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing in
dotted lines the printing mechanism thrown rearward; Figure 3 is a vertical
section; Figure 4 is a similar vertical section showing the parts as disposed when
the print of a character is being made. In Figure 3 the paper carriage and
actuating gearing are shown in cross section; while in Figure 4 the same parts
are in end elevation.
Figure 5 is a top view with the nutating multiple key and also the paper
carriage removed.
.
Figure 6 is a top view of the base of the machine, with the printing mechanism
and paper-roller removed, but showing the barrel-spring actuating the paper
carriage, the rack on said carriage and the associated gearing.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the paper carriage.
Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line X X of Figure 7.
Figure 9 exhibits in enlarged detail the carriage rack and the pinions engaging
therewith.
Figure 10 shows the same as Figure 9 with a portion of the upper pinion broken
away to show the lower pinion.
Figure 11 is a vertical section through the pirions shown in Figure 10, and
Figure 11 a side view of said pinions; these figures representing the pawl in its
two positions.
Figure 12 shows in plan and Figure 13 in side elevation the device for raising
and lowering the stop pin so as to bring into operation any desired one of the
circles of type which are on the type ring.
Figure 14 is a bottom view of the type ring showing three concentric circles of
type.
Figure 15 is a plan view of the type shield.
Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the placing of the key and type ring.
Figure 17 shows the type ring recesses and tapered stop.
Figures 18 and 19 show in section, respectively, a convex and a concave press
button.
Similar numbers of reference indicate like parts.
Referring first to Figure 16:
1 is a disc which nutates upon its center at 2; and is not capable of rotation in
its own plane thereon.

page_text: 4 is a type ring having a convex outer surface coincident with the surface of the
hemisphere of which the center of nutation of the dise is the center and its axis
coincident with a radius thereof. On the convex surface of this ring are circles of
type, as indicated in Figure 14. The types correspondingly located in the said
circles also lie in one and the same great circle 3, 3 of the hemisphere. The type
ring 4 is rigidly supported by an arm 7 extending downward from the nutating
dise or key 1. The key 1 can be inclined on its center 2 in any direction; but
never in two directions simultaneously. Hence it is easy to assign for each
character to be printed a differently directed inclination of the key.
As the key I assumes an inclined position the type ring is also inclined to carry
a type on its convex surface (as the character in Figure 16) into the line of
pressure 5, in which line, as hereafter explained, the key support may be moved
bodily downward to bring the type into contact with the printing surface.
The function therefore of the nutating motion of the key 1 is to permit the
direction of angle of inclination of the key to be varied. There may be as many
determinate angles of inclination as there are different characters to be printed.
The key is set at one or another of these augles by pressing its edge downward in
the direction of the arrow 10; and in accordance with the character to be
imprinted, which is inscribed on or near a pressure point on the key surface. By
reason of this inclination given to the key 1, the type ring 4 becomes inclined in
like direction, and as a consequence the particular type on said ring which lies in
the same great circle as the pressure point (selected) on the key 1 becomes moved
into the line of pressure 5.
The function of the motion of displacement of the center of the key 1 in the
direction of the arrow 8 (and of the line 5) is then to bring the particular type,
which by the inclination of the dise as before described has been carried into the
line 5, and hence into proper position to print, into contact with the paper.
These two movements of the key 1 are in continuation and so may be produced
by one and the same pressure upon the key.
11 is a metal base to which is secured by screw 12 the hollow standard 13, the
upper end 14 of which is forked. On the base is a standard 15, the upper surface
of which is a block 16. of yielding material, forming the platen over which the
paper printed upon passes, and which receives the blow of the type.
Key is a disc of light material such as thin metal or hard rubber. The
light hollow arm 7 carries a ring 7*, which is slit and has a clamping screw 4*.
This ring receives the type ring 4. When the screw 4 is loosened, the type
ring 4 may be rotated in the ring 7, or one type ring may be removed and
another one, bearing, for example, different type, substituted; being adjusted in
place by the registering marks 90, 91, Figure 5.
The type ring 4. here shown has the concentric circles of raised type on its
convex side. Its inner surface is correspondingly concave and stepped with as
many steps as there are circles of type on the outer surface. Thus Figures 14
and 17 show three circles of type and three corresponding steps 17, 18, 19. The
peripherical wall of each step has semi-conical recesses 20. As each step
corresponds to a circle of type on the type ring, so the number and position of
the recesses in the peripherical wall of each step correspond to the number and
position of the individual type comprising the circle. The key 1 and type ring
stand at an angle of about 30° to the plane of the base 11. They are preferably
proportioned and balanced so that they will tend to take this position at right
angles to the line of pressure 5 by gravity. The strength of the spring 29, which
returns the key 1 to normal position after tilting, may then be. reduced to a
minimum, when the resistance offered to the touch of the operator will be reduced
and the working speed of the machine increased.
21 is a hollow cylindrical stem carrying ball 22 and held in the inclined split
sleeve 23. In key 1 is a central socket 24 in which ball 22 fits. In socket 24 is
an opening through which passes rod 25, passing through ball 22 and having
threaded extremity 26 and collar 27. On rod 25 is a head 28 within the

page_text: cylinder 21, and between said head and the shoulder within said cylinder is a
spiral spring 29.
Above the socket 24 is an inverted cup 30 having a head 31. The collar 27 is
received centrally in this cup, which is secured upon the end 26 of rod 25. The
edge of the cup 30 has a rubber flange 30* to give broader bearing surface.
The operation of the aforesaid parts is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The spring 29
forces cup 30 against the surface of key 1, so maintaining it in a plane at right
angles to the central rod 25. When the key 1 is tilted by the operator as shown,
then the part of said key on the opposite side of the ball from that at which the
pressure is applied rises and lifts cup 30. The spiral spring 29 is then compressed
(Figure 4). When the pressure is relaxed, spring 29 forces cup 30 downward
upon key 1 and returns said key to normal position.
Stem 21 is longitudinally adjustable in sleeve 23 and also may be rotated in said
sleeve when the screw 23* is loosened. By the longitudinal adjustment of the
stem the extent of movement of the pressing device may be regulated. By
rotating said stem, key 1 and type ring 4 carried thereby may be placed to adjust
the types with respect to the carriage center.
Rotation of the key 1 in its own plane is prevented as follows: Projecting
from the ball 22 is a rigid pin 32 entering slot 33 in socket 24. Slot 33 is
sufficiently long to allow the socket to play upon the pin when the key 1 is
tilted as shown in Figure 4, but its width is only sufficient to allow the pin to
enter it freely. Hence any turning tendency of the key 1 is prevented by the
sides of slot 33 bearing upon said pin.
Sleeve 23 is connected by arm 34 to a second sleeve 35. In sleeve 35 is a
pin 36 having a conical lower extremity. The center of nutation of the key, the
pin 36 and the platen are all in the radial line of pressure 5. The end of
the pin 36 enters the space 9 within the type ring, consequently the peripherical
inner wall of said ring will strike said pin when the ring is displaced sufficiently
by the tilting of key 1. The pin then acts as a fixed stop to prevent any further
inclination of the key; and the recess 20 in the inner wall of the type ring which
directly corresponds to the type set in position comes upon and receives the pin.
The end of the pin thus enters and closely fits the recess. In this way possible
lateral motion of the type ring is prevented, and the type is rigidly held in proper
adjustment until the key 1 is released and the parts are brought back to normal
position, shown in Figure 3.
I will now describe the mechanism whereby a continuation of the pressing
impulse upon the key causes the type thus set to imprint itself upon the paper.
Pivoted between fork arms 14 of standard 13 is a shaft 37 which carries three
pairs of forks 38, 39, 40. Between forks 38 is pivoted a shaft 41. Integral with
this shaft are arms 42 between which the sleeve 23 is pivoted. Between forks 39
is pivoted a shaft 43 having integral arms 44, between which is pivoted sleeve 35.
Between forks 40 is pivoted plate 45, Figure 15, which extends over the
platen 15 and has an opening 46, which comes below the type which is in printing
position. Said plate serves to prevent any imprint from type other thau from the
particular type which is set in place over the opening 46.
The parts supported by shaft 37 are prevented from falling forward by journaled
cross bar 92, having an eccentric middle part against which forks 40 rest. By
tuining said bar forks 40, and hence the parts supported by shaft 37, may be
bodily elevated or depressed.
Extending rearward from the pivot of arms 42 is a curved arm 48. Connected
to this arm 48 and to cross bar 49 is a spiral spring 49 which holds sleeves 23
and 35, and hence key 1, in highest or normal position and restores the parts
to said position when they are released after having been pushed down.
In order to effect uniform printing it is necessary that the pressure required and
applied to depress the key and type ring in the direction of line 5 shall always be
uniform and not variable, depending upon the difference of radius at which it is
exerted on. key 1. The device for this purpose is as follows:
That is to say

page_text: (a) the sleeves 23 and 35 rigidly connected, (b) the forks 38 and 39 rigidly
connected, (e) the pivoted arms 42, (d) the pivoted arms 44. These parts form a
jointed rectangle. This rectangle is interposed like a balance arm between key 1
and spring 49. Therefore, we have the conditions of the well-known Roberval
balance, wherein equal weights suspended from the arms or equal pressures
applied thereto will always balance each other wherever may be the points of
suspension or of application of pressure. Thus while the point of application of
the spring 49 on one side of the balance is invariable, the point of application
But the effect of difference
of the pressure to the surface of the key is variable.
in leverage due to this variability becomes neutralized by the interposition of the
Roberval rectangle; and hence the key may be depressed by uniform pressure
regardless of the point on its surface to which said pressure may be applied.
The object of providing multiple type circles on the type ring 4 is to increase
the number of characters which the machine will print without increasing either
the diameter of the type ring, and consequently the angle of inclination of the
key 1, and the number of determined pressure points on the key. Thus in
Figure 14 the inuer circle is of small letters, the middle circle of capitals, and
the outer circle of numerals, punctuation marks, etc.
The key is therefore adjustable to any one of three different angles of inclina-
tion at will; so that when placed at the maximum angle the type of the outer
circle will come into the line of pressure 5, and when placed at the minimum
angle the type of the inner circle will come into said line, and when placed at the
intermediate angle the type of the middle circle will come into that line.
The angle of inclination of the key is determined, as already explained, by the
contact of the inner walls of the type ring with the stop pin 36. But inside
the type ring are the three steps 17, 18, 19. When the stop pin 36 is placed so as
to enter a recess in the wall of the lower step 17, as at 36*, the key I is then
moved over the minimum angle of inclination; and when placed so as to enter a
recess in the upper step 19, as at 36**, the key is moved over the maximum angle
of inclination. This is illustrated in Figure 17.
The means of raising and lowering the stop pin 36 in order to adjust it into as
many different positions as there are type circles on the ring is as follows:
Upon the arm 34, connecting sleeves 23 and 35, is a fixed pin 50. Upon the
upper end of the pin 36 is secured a collar 50 having a cam edge, Figures 12
and 13, containing three recesses 51, 52 and 53 adapted to receive the pin 50.
Thus in Figures 12 and 13 the pin 50 is in recess 52. Between collar 50* and
sleeve 35 is a spiral spring 54 surrounding pin 36. By lever 55 the pin 36 may
be rotated to bring the cam under the fixed pin 50. The effect is to move the
pin 36 longitudinally; so that if originally in recess 51 it will assume lower
positions when it enters recesses 52 and 53.
Therefore, the operator turns the lever 55, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 12,
to place the pin 36 in that one of its three positions which causes the angle of
inclination of key to be limited to bring the characters of the desired type
circle into the line of pressure 5. As the cam 50* bears against the upper end of
pin 36 in all positions the pin cannot be displaced and any pussible flexion of the
type ring is prevented.
The paper to be printed on is to be secured to and wound upon roller 56. In
the roller is a longitudinal slot 57. At right angles to slot 57 is another longi-
tudinal slot 58. Sliding in slot 8 is a metal bar 59. The roller is eat away at
one or both ends of slot 58 as shown at 60, Figure 7, so as to allow access to the
turned ends 61 of bar 59.
In bar 59 is a short inclined slot 62 (dotted lines, Figure 7), through which slot
passes a fixed pin 63. The edge of the paper is inserted in slot 57 so as to lie
between the substance of the roller and one edge of bar 59. Then bar 59 is
moved longitudinally. In doing so the inclined slot 62 moves over a single
central fixed pin 63. Therefore, the bar 59 is also moved laterally, piuching the
paper with equal pressure on both sides of center pin 63 between the edge of the

page_text: bar and the substance of the roller. To release the paper the bar 59 is moved
longitudinally in the opposite direction.
The roller 56 is journaled in standards 64 on plate 65; said plate and standards
thus forming the paper carriage. Plate 65 slides longitudinally in ways 66 on
base 11 and is retained in place of pin 66. Upon one edge of said plate are
rack teeth. Within the base 11 is a spring barrel 67, Figures 3, 6 and 7, which
when wound up drives gear wheel 68' in the direction of the arrow 69, Figure 6.
Gear wheel 68 engages with pinion 70 on shaft 71 which also carries pinion 72,
and pinion 72 engages with the rack on plate 65. Consequently the effect of the
barrel spring 67 is to rotate gear wheel 68 in the direction of arrow 69, Figure 6.
Then gear wheel 68 rotates pinions 70 and 72 in the direction of the arrow 73 in
Figure 6 and pinion 72, acting upon the rack teeth of place 65, tends to move that
plate in the direction shown by the arrow 74 of Figure 6. Hence, there is a
constant force acting upon plate 65. It is therefore necessary to provide
mechanism which will permit this motion of the plate to be only of limited
extent and to occur once for every type impression or for every unit of spacing
interval. Fixed in base 11 is a pin 75 (Figures 6 and 11), on which pin are
loosely mounted gears 76 and 77. Gear 76 has an upward protruding pin 78,
which enters freely the curved slot 79 in gear 77. Said slot is of such length
and in such relative position to the teeth of both gears 76 and 77 that when pin 78
rests at either end of said slot the teeth of said gears 76 and 77 are in exact align-
ment (Figures 9 and 10). In a recess in the under side of gear 77 is a light spiral
spring 80 (Figures 9, 10 and 11), which keeps the gears 76 and 77 and their pin
and slot in relative position as represented in Figure 10.
Gear 77 engages with the rack teeth on plate 65. Engaging with gear 77 is a
spring pawl 82, Figure 6, which is secured upon the vertical sliding rod 83 in the
standard 13. When the rod 83 is raised it carries the pawl 82 out of engagement
with gear 76 and into engagement with gear 77.
The tendency of gear 72 to force the carriage plate 65 to the left, as shown in
Figure 6, is met by the engagement with said teeth of the gear 77, which gear is
prevented from rotating by raised pawl 82, Figure 11.
Now let pawl 82 be lowered into engagement with gear 76, then gear 77 will be
rotated by the pull of the plate 65 and spring 80 wound up. But the extent of
its rotation will be limited by the movement of the slot 79 on pin 78 of gear 76;
which gear 76, as shown in Figures 9 and 11, is now held from rotation by the
pawl 82.
Hence the plate 65 and paper will move only over a limited distance regulated
by the length of the slot 79; sufficient to give proper space between two adjacent
imprinted characters.
Now assume rod 83 to be raised to bring pawl 82 once more in engagement
with gear 77; this gear will then be held as in the beginning by the pawl 82. But
gear 76 now being freed from the pawl will be caused by the action of the spring 80
to move in the direction of arrow 81 in Figure 10, and thus will be brought back
to its original position.
I will now describe how the printing and spacing mechanisms are caused to
operate in proper relation so that the pressure on the key after setting the type in
position and causing it to print shall also cause suitable movement of the paper.
Rod 83 carries the pawl 82. Spiral spring 85 normally keeps the rod in its
lowest position, and so maintains engagement between pawl 82 and pinion 76,
while it also serves to return the rod to its lowest or normal position, after said
rod has been lifted and released.
On the upper end of rod 83 is a head 86 engaged by arm 48. Whenever key 1
is moved downward in the line of pressure 5 to cause an imprint of the type, the
rear end of arm 48 rises (dotted lines, Figure 4), lifting rod 83 and pawl 82 out of
engagement with gear 76 and into engagemeut with gear 77, thus permitting
gear 76 to move forward as before described. The arm 48 then returns to its
normal position. The rod 83 and pawl 82 are carried down by the action of

page_text: spring 85. The pawl 82 then disengages from gear 77 and engages with gear 76,
EO allowing plate 65 (driven by pinion 72) to rotate gear 77 the proper amount
required for spacing, as above specified. All of the parts then resume their
normal positions. In order to cause spacing without printing, as where blanks
are left between words and sentences, the operator has only to press upon the
flat central plate 31, which surmounts cap 30, which causes only a downward
motion of the key.
When it is desired to permit the spring barrel to carry the paper carriage over
a comparatively great distance, rod 83 is slightly rotated by means of lever 86.
The spiral spring 85, when the lever 86 is released, then operates as a torsion
spring to carry the pawl back into engagement and hold it there.
In the arm 48 is an adjustable screw stop 87, which bears against rubber plug 87*
in shaft 37. By adjusting this stop the timing of the spacing with the printing
motion may be effected.
To adjust the roller in its carriage so as to move the paper onward a given
distance to receive a new line of printing, a hand device may be employed con-
sisting of a disc 88 on the roller journal having indentations at regular distances
apart on its face, and a bent fixed spring 89, the extremity of which enters any
one of said indentations, so as to hold the roller as placed.
It is important that the fingers should readily and rapidly find the pressure
points on the key and thus be prevented from striking the key at other places on
its surface. To this end I differentiate the pressure points from the rest of the
key surface by making them convex or concave. I may make them convexities or
concavities in the material of the key; or I may secure separate pieces so con-
formed to the key in any suitable way. Thus in Figure 18 I show convex buttons
and in Figure 19 concave buttons, which may be seated in the key and if desired
be of different material.
The characters marked on the key may be inscribed directly on the convexities
or concavities or in proximity thereto.
The printing mechanism may be moved rearward on pivot shaft 37, Figure 2, in
order to expose the under surface of the type ring, to permit of cleansing of the
type or any other desired purpose.
For the purpose of causing the type to produce an imprint on the paper, I here
show a piece of carbon paper 47 supported between type and paper. In place of
this I may use any suitable form-inking device, or a carbon ribbon actuated as in
type-writers generally.
Having now fully 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. A typewriter having a nutating key and a type ring connected thereto,
provided with two or more rows of type, constructed and arranged so that a
tilting of the key over a certain angle shall bring the type of one row into
position to be acted upon by a pressing device, and the tilting of the key in the
same direction over a different angle shall bring another row of type into similar
position.
2. A typewriter having a nutating key actuating
a type ring constructed
substantially as set forth, in combination with an adjustable stop for arresting
and supporting said type ring at different angles of inclination.
3. A typewriter having a nutating key with pressure points thereon, in com-
bination with mechanism as set forth for equalizing the effect of pressures exerted
by the operator on said points.
4. The nutating key provided with mechanism acting upon said key at its
central support, and operating to return said key to normal position after tilting.
5. The nutating.key provided with three or more pressure points, designated by
variations in or on the key surface.

page_text: 6. The construction and arrangement of the type ring 4 having two or more.
rows of type and internal recesses substantially as specified.
7. A typewriter having a key nutating on a central support, and a paper
carriage the feed movement of which is controlled by the depression of said key-
and support.
Dated this 15th day of October 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.