Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., . 1891-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HUDSON, of 28, Henrietta Street, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to improvements in type-writing machines, and consists
principally in the arrangement of the type bars, .e., the bars which carry the types
on, or at, their respective ends.
Hitherto it has been customary to make the bars radiate in some plane, horizontal
or otherwise, from a given centre. The bars were therefore of a uniform length.
According to the present invention, the bars are of different lengths, and they
are arranged so that their respective fulcra are in a straight line. The bars stand
normally in, or nearly in, the vertical plane. Those in the centre of the line are the
shortest, and the others increase in length right and left in proportion to their
distance from the centre of the line. Each type strikes as heretofore at one point.
The type bars are operated through a key mechanism. of a suitable type. I
profer to make use of a lever or push rod and link device with suitable. returning
springs for each member of the said mechanism.
The paper carriage consists of a roller covered with rubber.or equivalent.elastic
material and a plain roller of the same length as the former. It is fixed close to
the first mentioned roller and is provided with elastic rings distributed along its
length at determinate distances. The function of this ring-device is to convey the
paper to be printed on into the most favourable position for effecting the same.
The said rings are kept in position by being made to pass over suitable rollers
placed so as to guide and convey the paper in the proper direction.
The paper carriage is moved in either direction by a spring device to which a
chain is attached, its other end being fast to the opposite end of the carriage. The
carriage carries a rack on its side with the teeth of which a pair of pawls engage.
One of these pawls is loose and the other one permanent. When a key is pressed
the loose pawl is released and the permanent one takes its place. The pawls are
worked up and down between the ratchet by means of four or more spiral.springs,
fitted respectively one at each side of the machine and two near the centre. They
are attached to the top of the plate or bed, covering the end part of the machine,
the other ends of the springs being secured to a lever or bar running under the
reeds. When the keys are pressed against the reeds, the reeds press the said lever
or bar.; this brings the pawls down releasing the loose one, the permanent, one
taking its place. When the reeds. are released, these springs bring the pawls..into
their former position. The object of the pawls and ratchet is for the purpose of
causing the carriage to travel so as to present a fresh surface for each type to strike
upon..
When the reeds or spacing bar is struck, the carriage travels forward the. extent
of each tooth in the ratchet.
The horizontal spacing being governed by a suitable ratchet wheel fixed upon the
end of the spindle which passes through the main rubber roller, and is. worked from
the right-hand side of the machine. A suitable lever and catch arrangement is
provided for this purpose.
The types are inked by means of a ribbon passing over rollers, and which are
actuated by the reeds or spacing board.
Dated this 93rd day of Jul– 1901
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the.Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE HUDSON, of No. 28 Henrietta Street, Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, Commercial Traveller, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in type-writing machines, and consists
principally in the arrangement of the type bars, i.e. the bars which carry the types
on, or at, their respective ends.
Hitherto it has been customary to make the bars radiate in some plane,
horizontal or otherwise, from a given centre. The bars were therefore of a uniform
length.
According to the present invention, the bars are of different lengths, and they
are arranged so that their respective fulcra are in a straight line. The bars stand
normally in, or nearly in the vertical plane. Those in the centre of the line are
the shortest and the others increase in length right and left in proportion to
their distance from the centre of the line. Each type strike as heretofore at
one point.
The type bars are operated through a key mechanism of a suitable type. I prefer
to make use of a lever or push rod and link device with suitable returning springs
for each member of the said mechanism.
The paper carriage consists of a roller covered with rubber or equivalent elastic
material and. a plain roller of the same length as the former. It is fixed close to
the first mentioned roller and is provided with elastic rings distributed along its
length at determinate distances. The function of this ring device is to convey the
paper to be printed on into the most favourable position for effecting the same.
The said rings are kept in position by being made to pass over suitable rollers
placed so as to guide and convey the paper in the proper direction.
The paper carriage is moved in either direction by a spring device to which a
chain is attached, its other end being fast to the opposite end of the carriage. The
carriage carries a rack on its side with the teeth of which a pair of pawls engage.
One of these pawls is loose and the other one permanent. When a key is pressed
the loose pawl is released and the permanent one takes its place. The pawls are
worked up and down between the ratchet by means of four or more spiral springs,
fitted respectively one at each side of the machine and two near the centre.
They are attached to the top of the plate or bed, covering the end part of the
machine, the other ends of the springs being secured to a lever or bar running under
the reeds. When the keys are pressed against the reeds, the reeds press the said
lever or bar; this brings the pawls down releasing the loose one and the permanent
one taking its place. When the reeds are released, these springs bring the pawls
into their former position. The object of the pawls and ratchet is for the purpose
of causing the carriage to travel so as to present a fresh surface for each type to
strike upon.
When the reeds or spacing bar is struck the carriage travels forward the extent
of each tooth in the ratchet.
The horizontal spacing being governed by a suitable ratchet wheel fixed upon
the end of the spindle which passes through the main rubber roller, and is worked
from the right hand side of the machine. A suitable lever and catch arrangement
is provided for this purpose.
The types are inked by means of a ribbon passing over rollers, and which are
actuated by the reeds or spacing board.
In order that my invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood I will now describe them in detail
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of
this Specification.

page_text: ACTION WICH parts of the frame broken away to shew the reeds
and their connections.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a rear sectional elevation taken on the line A B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a front sectional elevation taken on the line CD of Fig. 1.
EE are the type bars, with typographical letters attached.
F is a bar or bridge running across the machine and to which all the type bars
are pivotted.
G. G. G. are the keys or reeds to which the type bars are connected by means of
connecting links with adjusting screws as shewn at H so that when a key is struck
the type bar descends and makes an impression on the paper which passes over the
roller I.
J is the spacing board attached to the keys K K and upon this being struck
with the finger the dogs or pawls L L are released and the carriage with the
rack M is allowed to advance to the left, by being pulled along by a suitable spring
arrangement.
N is a lever which when depressed causes the roller I to revolve by disengaging
a catch O from the ratchet wheel P which ratchet wheel is fixed to the axle of the
roller I thus causing the latter to rotate and giving the necessary horizontal spacing
width between the lines of writing as required.
Qis a bell which caused to ring by means of an arm of an adjustable block Q',
as it and the frame approach the end of the line.
R is the ink ribbon, which is wound and unwound over the rollers S S by the
keys being struck.
These rollers rotate in opposite directions. The apparatus for revolving the
rollers and also the lever which puts them in and out of gear is shewn in
Fig. 1 at T, which is so constructed as to enable them to be reversed when
required, thus allowing the ink ribbon to be wound from one to the other.
The ink ribbon is actuated as follows: by striking any or either of the keys
which causes the frame U to descend and with it the rod T which has a pawl on its
upper end engaging with a ratchet, fixed on the axles of the rollers S S thus
causing it to rotate. The dogs L also descend at the same time for operating the
travelling movement of the roller frame. V is a lever for releasing the dogs from
the rack M.
W is a lever which is actuated by pressing the button key X and is for the
purpose of communicating motion to the sliding frame V, and which draws the main
roller and the frame V nearer to the bridge F, thus allowing a second row of type
letters to strike on the paper. Y' is a spiral spring which forces the carriage back
to its original position. The frame Y is mounted and fixed to a frame Y*, which
slides on the horizontal rods e which extend from one side to the other and are fixed
in standards or bearings on the outside frame YZ thus allowing the roller to be
placed in any of the positions, hereinbefore described, when being operated upon.
Each of the type bars E E is fitted with two or more letters of different
character.
ZZ are spiral springs attached to each of the keys G for bringing them back to
their original position after being struck.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.