Improvements in Type Writers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
Improvements in Type Writers.
A communication from CHARLES SPIRO, of the City. County, and State of New York,
United States of America, gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 Higli Holborn in the Gounty of Middlesex,
M.L.M.E., 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:
n
This invention has relation to certain improvements in that form of type writer in
which the writing is visible' to the operator as the work progresses, and in which the
type bars are thrown downward into contact with the paper.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a central vertical transverse section of this type-writer.
Fig. 2 shows the paper carriage in full, the base of the machine being shown in
vertical section lengthwise of the carriage and the bar lock being removed.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the rear portion of this machine showing a portion of the
carriage broken away as also a portion of the spring shield.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the carriage of this machine with the spacing lever and
the pawl releasing mechanism removed; certain details of the line spacing and paper
holding mechanism being shown as hereinafter described.
Fig. 5 is a perspective of the letter spacing pawls.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the yielding pin and teeth which hold the feed mechanism for
the inking ribbons in place.
Fig. 7 is a centralvertical section of the bell and inner sleeve adapted to be usedas
a revolving knob for the platen roller.
Fig. 8 exhibits the details of the attachment of the upright. keys to the key
levers.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the fitting of the type bars into the brackets.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of said fitting showing the ball and socket
attachment of the type bars to their brackets.
Fig. 11 is a perspective of the bar lock and turning pin for the inking ribbon.
A is the base of the machine which is mounted upon legs B preferably provided
with feet of rubber to avoid scratching and noise. Running across this base from
right to left is the rear partition C. Projecting backward from this partition are the
pins C from which depend springs which are protected from dust by the rear
shield preferably fastened to the partition and curving backward. A pivot rod
extends from one side of the base to the other and underneath the same at D. The
key levers E are indented or cut out at this point to fit this rod as shown in figure 1.
These key levers are attached to the springs C² at the points C' and are thus held up
against the rib F and the rod D. The tension of these springs is constant and just
sufficient to keep the key levers always in place. Depending from the rib F are a
number of pins F' intended to guide the key levers during the rise and fall to which
they are subjected.
The keys proper are attached to the key levers as follows and as shown in
figure 8. Two grooves E are cut across the end of each key stem leaving a boss
more or less square in shape. A hole is cut through the key lever fitting this
boss and the latter is projected through this hole as shown in the left hand portion of
figure 8 at E. This boss is then rivetted over and the stem thus thoroughly secured
to the lever.
Standing upon the base is the bracket G one on each side of the same. To the top
of these brackets is secured the perforated curved platform G'around the edge of
which is secured the upwardprojecting shieldG intended to serve as a protection for

page_text: the type bars as well as an abutment for the same. On this platform are set two rows
of brackets G one behind the other as shown. Between these two rows is a row of
perforations G serving to admit of the passage of the depressing links G leading to
the type bars set in the rear row of brackets.
The type bars are set into these brackets as shown in figures 9 and 10. In these
figures G are upright extensions rising from the front ends of the brackets G. In
the inner face of these extensions are cut, ground or otherwise formed the curved
seats G preferably forming a segment of a sphere. Coincident with one of the
radii of the sphere and perpendicular to the two sides of the extension Gº are two
perforations G one of the same being screw threaded. Through these perforations
the bolt G extends and is screwed in with the tightness desired.
Mounted a trifle loosely upon this bolt is a pivot and situated between the two sides
of the bracket is a sleeve secured to or forming a part of the type bar H and shown
at G in the figure. This sleeve has its two sides ground or otherwise made to fit the
seats G in the side extensions. In the direction of the length of the type bar this
sleeve does not completelyfill the seats but a slight space is left as shownför tangential
movement of the sleeve on the scats. The object of this mode of mounting of the
type bars is to present a continuous bearing in any alignment of a type bar and to
allow for wear at the bearings. This seating prevents all twisting of the type out of
the true perpendicular to the paper at the printing point that is likely to occur, and
is indeed almost inevitable in the case of conical seatings as there is no chance for
side movement in the type bars and tangential movement in the conical sleeves thus
causing a side tilt of the types and a consequent irregularity of presentation of the
surfaces of the same to the paper and partial printing of the characters. When any
such wear occurs with this form of seat the spherical surfaces of the sleeve are free
to move evenly and in all directions over the seats in the bracket without such tilt
and thus this difliculty is avoided and uniformity of wear induced.
The type bars lie back normally against the back of the shield G² against a
point H provided with padding in order to obviate all noise on the return of the
types to their normal position. This padding extends in a strip around the whole
length of the row of types and the type bars in both rows of brackets lie against the
same.
Forward of the sleeve G in each type bar there is provided a perforation H2
in which is fastened the end of the link G for depressing the bars. The other end of
the link is hooked into a screw eye H which is screwed into a nut H* seated in the
key lever.
In front of the type bar platform there is a bracket I mounted on the top of the
base. On the top of this bracket there projects a bar lock of the character shown in
figure I, over the printing point. This consists of a plate l'having a concave semi-
circular front edge along which is placed a row of upward extending teeth 12 just far
enough apart to admit of the interposition of one of the type bars for the purpose of
locking said bar and guiding the same to the exact printing point. A turning
pin projects sidewise from an arm Iª projecting at one end of the plate I' this
pin has a notch in it for the purpose of marking the printing point for the informa-
tion of the operator and serves for the support of the inking ribbon as hereinafter
described.
This plate is fastened to the top of the bracket I by means of a perforation I* and is
further held from rotation thereon by means of the pins I" which are adapted to enter
holes provided therefor in the top of said brackets.
Projecting downward through the body of the bracket is a swivel bar at the
bottom of which is a throwing piece 1. Let into the depression in the base of the
bracket is a yielding pin 1' in the same plane with the throwing piece 1. Behind
this pin and at the bottom of the recess is a spring I which tends to keep said pin
constantly in contact with the edge of the throwing piece. This edge is provided
with two notches I and the end of the pin is shaped to enter these latter as shown in
the figure. On the two ears of the throwing piece there are upright pins [12 for the
same purpose as those on the throwing piece on the device that will be further

page_text: described. By turning the handle on the top of the swivel bar 17 the throwing
piece may be thrown from one side to the other and the notches 111 on one or the
other side of the same bo brought into engagement with the pin I' to hold the throwing
picce firmly in position.
On the sides of the bracket I are pivotted the spools K carrying the inking ribbon
which extends from the one around and over the turning pin 13 and back to the other
spool.
Under the whole length of the key lever space there extends a bail L which is
preferably connected by three arms with the pivot bar or rock shaft L' (Figure 1).
Rigidly attached to this pivot bar and extending upward are the two stems L and M
the former being pivotted to the inking ribbon feed pawl L" and the latter being the
carriage feed pawl siem. I performs the function of turning the inking ribbon
spools alternately according as to whether the swivel bar is turned in one direction
or the other and the pins 12 brought into contact with the back of one or the other
side of the double feed pawl L. This pawl stem being pivotted between the two
spools and said spools being provided with ratchet wheels when the stem is turned in
onc direction by the abutment of the pin 112 it is brought into contact with one of the
spool ratchets and when turned in the other direction with the other ratchet. Now
when the bail L is depressed with the depression of one of the key levers the stem L²
is thrown upward and with it the pawl stem and pawl L³. This last being in contact
with the teeth of the ratchet causes the spool to make a portion of a revolution and
the springs L' which are situated just behind the edges of the pawl engage with the
teeth of the spools and prevent their return against the feed.
The stem M carries the carriage feed pawls and is best shown in figure 5. This
stem is cut out as shown at M' and above the cut there is provided the main swinging
pawl M carrying the bevelled tooth M" and turning upon the pivot M. The side
of this pawl is cut out as shown for the reception of the secondary swinging pawl M
turning upon the pivot M and carrying the tooth M bevelled in the same direction as
the tooth M. On the back of the pawl M2 there is placed the friction pin Ms which
may be replaced by a small roller if desired and which plays within a space cut out of
the end and top of the pawl stem. The spring wire M' is wound around the
pivot M and tends to hold the secondary pawl in the open position shown in the
figure. The spring M1 is wound around the pivot M' and has its end attached to
the pin Miending to hold the main pawl M2 upright in the position shown in
the figure. On the bottom of the main pawl M there are two depending points M
which are adapted to be brought into contact with the pin M" when the pawl M² is
swung on its pivot.
Under the carriage O and running the whole length thereof, is the rack bar O'
having depending teeth bevelled to allow of the motion backward of the carriage but
having vertical faces so placed as to arrest the forward motion of the carriage by
engagement with the teeth on the pawls of the feed mechanism. This is plainly
shown in figures 1 and 2. There is a projection on the front face of the partition C
through which is inserted a screw F on the end of which is inserted a spiral
spring P having its other end fastened to the bail L through the medium of which
the tension of said spring is transmitted to the key levers and they are held up against
the rib F with an adjustable pressure. It is the tension of this one spring that
holds the inking ribbon pawl down and which holds the carriage feed pawls in the
position shown in figure 1 that is to say with the secondary pawl tooth in contact
with the rack on the carriage. Now when the keys or the spacing levers are
depressed this spring is extended, and the carriage feed stem is tilted in such a
position as to throw the main pawl tooth into engagement with the teeth of the rack.
This movement frees the secondary tooth and the spring M³ causes the secondary pawl
to tilt forward a distance equal to the space between two teeth of the rack as
shown in figure 2. On the release of the levers the spring P2 comes into action
the bail is lifted and the stem tilted back again into the position shown in figure 1. At
this time the secondarypawl toothbeing caught by thenext tooth in the rack the carriage
is allowed to move forward a distance of one tooth by means hereinafter described and

page_text: the secondary tooth is brought back into its upright position upon the main pawl body.
By means of the screws M in the body of the main pawl the secondary pawl may be
readily adjusted in its throw to the teeth of the rack bar and thus expensive labor in
fitting the parts is avoided.
The carriage is provided with back cars Q' which slide upon a back rod Q held in
brackets at the two ends of the machine the forward portion of said carriage being
supported by a wheel which runs on the base Q.
By
At the two ends of the carriage and under the platen are pivotted two arms N held
up by a spiral spring n shown in figure 2. Extending from one of these arms to
the other is a wire bail resting upon the friction pin M of the main pawl. On one
end of the carriage there is pivotted a bell crank N2, on the short horizontal arin
of which, is attached a spring N, which projects over one of the arms N.
pressing the handle N towards the platen, the spring N is depressed and with it
the arm N and the bail N'. This causes the depression of the pin M, and the side
tilting of the main pawl, M2, thus throwing the teeth upon both pawls out of
gear with the rack, and allowing the carriage to be moved either way without
obstruction.
The motive power which actuates this machine in its feed is a spring drum
seen in figure 2 ai R. This drum is mounted upon a pivot which projects down-
ward through the base of the machine and around which there is wound a spiral
spring R to keep the drum up and off of the base. At the bottom of the pivot
is a disc R' having notches Rat various points in its periphery intended to engage
with a pin R projecting from the under side of the base of the machine. This is
for the purpose of tightening the spring within the drum which is accomplished as
follows.
When it is desired to tighten the spring said drum is depressed against the action
of the spring R and the disc notch thrown out of engagement with the pin R. The
drum in this position is turned through the required arc, and then allowed to rise
again in such a position as to allow of the engagement of the pin with a new notch.
Wound upon this drum is the cord R which is attached to the machine at R" and by
which the spring within the drum draws the carriage.
A firm projection S rises from the top of the base just behind the pawl stem and
through the same there is an adjusting screw S' which may be screwed farther from
or nearer to the pawls. Against this screw the pawl is made to abut when the carriage
is brought to a stand by the resistance of the tooth on the secondary pawl. By this
means all the jar of the sudden stoppage of the carriage is taken off of the pawls and
is transmitted directly to the body of the machine a circumstance conducive to the
increased life of the machine and which prevents much of the noise incident to the
use of a type writer. By the adjustment of the screw the abutment may be brought
to such a position as to bring the tecil in a vertical posture at the moment of
abutment. This adjustment is useful where there is a new rack to be used with a
different spacing of the teeth. It also prevents diminution of speed arising through
treinor of the machine.
The platen is pivotted in the ordinary manner between two brackets at the
extremities of the carriage and the axle of the same is carried out at both ends as
shown in figure 2.
On one end there is a bell 'T' attached to this axle in a manner best understood by
inspection of figure 7 where the bell is shown in section. As will be seen there is an
inward projecting sleeve T adapted to fit tightly over the end of the axle of the roller
and in which there is a notch cut out as at T, for the purpose of engaging with a pin
on the side of the axle. By this means the bell serves the double purpose of a knob
for the more convenient turning of the axle and a bell for warning the operator when
he has come near the end of a line. This warning is accomplished by means of a little
gravity hammer t pivoited to the body of the carriage at within the bell almost and
provided with a depending point pivotted thereto so that it will only operate to lift
the bell hammer on the forward movement and will allow the point to pass the peg
hereinafter described on the back movement without sounding the hell.

page_text: At the other end of the roller figure 4, there is a wheel mounted on the axle of the
platen and having round teeth as shown at 14. Within this wheel or between it and
the platen is a pawl carried pivotted also to the end of said platen axle as at T5 and
this piece carries a pawl T8 pivotted thereto and held against the teeth of the wheel T+
by the spring T on a link T depending from said pawl carrier.
Pivotted at the extremity of the carriage is a bell crank lever having a point at one
end T which fits in between two of the teeth on the wheel T and being turned at T
in a longitudinal direction.
Pivotted to the bell crank T at a point part way between the pivot of the same, and
the end nearest the platen, is a stop-piece T which is adapted to be turned up as
shown or down so as to strike the bottom of the carriage before the bell crank has
made a full turn. This piece is so placed as to abut. on the piece T" and throw the
end T10 into mesh, or rather keep it firmly in this position, and prevent displacement
of the platen by momentum. A small spring T over the end of the bell crank
arm T tends to throw the point of said lever into mesh with the same. Now when
the end of a line has been reached, and it is desired to return to the beginning again,
and commence a new line, the operator has merely to push against the lever To and
the carriage will not only be pushed back to the end of its travel but the roller will be
turned through a greater or less arc according to whether the piece T is turned up
or down for on pressing the lever T toward the platen the link T is drawn down-
ward and the piece T revolved with the pawl upon it, until the wheel is turned
through the required distance. At this moment the piece T12 or the end of the bell
crank itself, comes in contact with the end T" and the point T" is forced against the
teeth of the wheel thus stopping positively all further movement and preventing the
possibility of any bad effects from the inertia of the parts in carrying the roller
foo far.
Two brackets U extend upward and backward from the carriage behind the platen
and into notches in the ends of said brackets, are fitted the ends of the axle of a roller
for holding the rubber bands that carry the paper, as shown at U in figures 3 & 4.
A standard U in front of the roller has bearings carrying two more rollers U
and U. and around all three of these rollers there are two or more rubber or other
flexible bands which press tightly against the platen and keep the paper securely in
place. By the use of the bands in this manner, I am enabled to assemble and feed as
many as twelve or fifteen sheets of paper at a time, for multiple work, without the
least danger of any of them slipping.
A paper scale is provided which is pivotied at the ends of the carriage by means of
the side arms Vand at one end of the carriage the pivot extends through the bracket
and has fastened to it at the outer end a holding piece provided with. two notches
as shown in figure 4 while a spring fastened to the outside of said bracket is pro-
vided with a point which fits into said notches and holds the piece in either position
desired.
Now by taking the handle and thrusting the same backward the paper scale may
be thrust away from the platen and the paper carried over the same and under the.
scale. When the paper is so adjusted the scale is again brought forward and the paper
held secure by the action of the point of the spring against the piece V.
Underneath the platen and in the path of the point of the bell hammer is a row of
holes W, into which a peg W' is adapted to be fitted. Parallel with these holes W
there is placed a graduated scale which is preferably made to correspond with the
graduations on the paper scale V. This scale has lines pointing to the various holes
in the row W and by placing the peg Winto a hole opposite any one of these lines
the point of the hammer may at any point be brought into contact therewith, and the
bell be made to ring at any time during the travel of the carriage. This is a con-
venient feature for those persons who may wish to employ paper of various widths.
Just back of and under the back rod of the carriage there is a strip attachment or
ferrule adapted to be screwed or otherwise attached to the machine and which is
perforated as shown for the reception of a peg similar to that used under the roller.

page_text: This strip X has numbers placed thereon opposite the various holes and which corre-
spond with the numbers upon the scale above the platen. The peg is so proportioned
as to project into the path of the boss Q' and stop the movement of the carriage at any
desired point of the backward travel and thus secure any width of margin desired.
I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details shown as these
may be varied by mechanical skill.
One of the main advantages of this construction is that all twist of the platen is
obviated and the line of writing kept straight by the arrangement of the rack directly
under the line of writing and the consequent transmission of all the shock of the stop
after each letter to the carriage in the proper line.
The reason of another detail of construction is as follows. Nº connects with the
release bail through a spring instead of by rigid mechanism in order that the push
may be carried to the side of the carriage without bending and racking the connecting
arm through inexact adjustment of the levers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the 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 writer a platen carrying a ratchet wheel and a positive detent adapted
to be in mesh with said wheel in combination with a pawl normally in engagement
with said wheel and a bell crank lever attached to said pawl and moving through a
path intersecting a portion of said detent substantially as described.
2. In combination with the platen of a type writer a rear band roller and two front
band rollers all of said rollers having bands of clastic material running on them
substantially as described.
3. In combination with the toothed ribbon spools of a type writer and the double
pawl for actuating the same, a throwing piece having two notches cut therein and a
yielding pin adapted to engage with said notches substantially as described.
4. In combination with the platen of a type writer having a projecting axle a bell
knob having an inwardly projecting sleeve having a notch cut therein and a pin on
said axle adapted to be inserted into said notch substantially as described.
5. In combination with the key and spacing levers of a type writer a bail extending
beneath the same an adjusting screw projecting through a portion of the base and a
spring attached to said screw and to said bail substantially as described.
6. In a type writer a carriage feed pawl acting as described to arrest the motion of
said carriage at intervals, in combination with a screw projecting into the path of the
longitudinal motion of said pawl and acting as an abutment therefor substantially as
described.
7. In a type writer a carriage adapted to be drawn across the base thereof, in
combination with a spring drum mounted on a sliding vertical spindle having a slotted
disc at its under end a cord attached to said drum and to said carriage and a pin on
the under side of the base adapted to engage with the slots in said disc substantially
as described.
8. In combination with the platen and brackets therefor of a type writer, a paper
scale pivotted to said brackets and extending through one of the same, a notched piece
on the end of one of said pivots and a spring having a point adapted to engage with
the notches on said notched piece substantially as described.
9. In a type writer a feed pawl stem having pawls pivotted thereto and bearing a
friction pin on one side of said pivot in combination with a bail on the carriage of said
type writer adapted to be depressed against said pin substantially as described.
10. In combination with the carriage of a type writer a feed pawl stem, pawls
pivotied thereto, and bearing a friction pin on one side of said pivot, arms pivotted to
the sides of said carriage and one of said arms bearing a spring holding it off said
friction pin a bail attached to the ends of said arms and extending across said carriage
and means substantially as described for depressing said arms so as to bring said bail
in contact with said friction pin.

page_text: 11. In a type writer having a paper carriage provided with an under toothed rack
a pawl stem, a main pawl pivotted thereto and carrying a secondary pawl pivoited to
the main pawl, both pawls bearing teeth having their acting faces in different planes,
in combination with a pivot bar attached to the bottom of said stem, a bail extending
across the type writer, a lever connecting said bail with said pivot bar and key levers
extending across said bail at right angles to the same substantially as described.
12. In a type writer having a carriage provided with an under toothed rack, an
oscillating pawl stem, a main pawl pivotted therein carrying a secondary pawl pivoited
to it, a spring attached to said main pawl a second spring attached to said secondary
pawl and a tooth on each pawl the acting faces of said teeth being in different planes
substantially as described.
13. In a type writer having a carriage provided with an under toothed rack, an
Oscillating pawl stem, a main pawl pivotted thereto, carrying a secondary pawl
pivotted to it, a tooth upon said secondary pawl for normal contact with the teeth of
said rack a tooth upon said main pawl for occasional contact with said teeth and a
spring attached to said pawls for the purpose of tilting said secondary pawl forward as
described the teeth upon said pawls being always in different planes substantially as
described.
14. In a type writer a bracket for type bars, having curved seats cnt convex within
the thickness of the sides of said bracket, in combination with a type bar provided
with a sleeve having concave faces fitting said curved faces on the brackets
substantially as described.
15. In a type writer a bracket for type bars having curved seats cut within the
thickness of the sides of said bracket and said sides perforated through the centres of
said seats, in combination with a type bar provided with a perforated sleeve having
concave faces fitting said curved faces on the bracket and a bolt adaptied to pass
through said perforations in the bracket and sleeve substantially as described.
16. In a type writer a bracket for type bars having convex spherical seats cut
within the thickness of the sides of said bracket and said sides perforated through the
centres of said seats, in combination with a type bar provided with a perforated sleeve
having concave spherical faces smaller in the direction of the length of the type bar
than the seats in the bracket and fitting said seats, and a bolt adapted to be passed
through said perforations in the bracket and sleeve substantially as described.
17. In a type writer having a platen, a row of holes under said platen and a peg
adapted to be inserted in said holes, in combination with a bell and a bell hammer
having a trip moving with said carriage over and along said row of holes so as to
come in contact with said peg substantially as described.
18. In a type writer a feed pawl consisting of a stem bearing a main pawl pivotted
thereto and having a secondary pawl pivotted to said main pawl substantially as
described.
19. In a type writer a feed pawl consisting of a stem bearing a main pawl pivotted
thereto having a secondary pawl pivotted to said main pawl and a spring on said main
pawl for holding it as described in an upright position.
20. In a type writer a feed pawl consisting of a stem a main pawl pivotied thereto
and a secondary pawl pivotted to said main pawl said main pawl provided with a
spring for keeping it in an upright position and said secondary pawl provided with
a spring as described for keeping it in a tilted position substantially as described.
21. In a type writer a feed pawl consisting of a stem a main pawl pivotted thereto
a secondary pawl pivoticd to said main pawl and screws projecting through said main
pawl for adjusting the tilt of said secondary pawl thercon substantially as described.
22. In combination with the type bars of a type writing machine a row of pins
having spaces between them or the equivalent of the same being a rib having slots at
intervals the spaces and type bars being relatively placed so that two or more bars are
locked by one and the same slot in the rib or space between the pins substantially as
described.
23. The combination with the type bars of a type writing machine of a locking

page_text: plate arranged near the printing point and provided with a row of pins having spaces
between them or their equivalent slotted rib arranged concentric with the printing
point and adapted to receive the type bars in said spaces or slots substantially as
described.
1
1
1000