Word Counting Contrivance for Typewriting Machines (Counting Numbers as Words).
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Word Counting Contrivance for Typewriting Machines (Counting
Numbers as Words).
I, EDWARD MCHUGH, of 50, Lower Sackville Street, in the City of Dublin,
Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:--
I use a small galvanic battery with several distinct circuits all of which are open
or broken while the type-writing machine is at rest but each of which is closed
temporarily at a particular stage of the operation of type writing by a particular
movement of a certain part of the type writing machine.
This is effected by arranging among the parts of the machine suitable contact-
makers. One circuit is closed by the depression of any key used to type a vowel or
a number. The consonant-keys or some of them may be also used in conjunction
with the vowel-keys for this purpose.
The object is to ensure that the current will be in this circuit at least once
during the typing of a word or number. A small electro magnet with soft iron
core is placed in this circuit. For convenience of reference I shall call this circuit
the type-circuit and this magnet the type-magnet.
Opposite the type-magnet is another magnet which I shall call the counter-
magnet and between the magnets a small armature of soft iron oscillates upon a
pivot. The armature is attached to the escapement of a clockwork apparatus so
that the to and fro motions of the armature are counted by the escapement and
their number indicated on a dial or the like. The counter-magnet is connected
with the battery by a group of distinct circuits all open while the type-writing
machine is at rest but each closed by certain selected motions of certain selected
parts to wit. One circuit is closed by the depression of the space key so that when-
ever it is used the current passes into the counter-magnet, a second is closed by
the depression of the lever used to release the paper carriage where, a large space
on the same line is to be produced otherwise than by the space-key but in lieu of
or in addition to this movement the peculiar movement of any other part peculiarly
incident to the production of a large space may be used; a third circuit of the
counter-magnet is. closed by the motion of the paper roller or the paper carriage
or other associated part moving in a peculiar manner after each line where another
is to be begun. This circuit I shall hereafter refer to as the line-to-line circuit. The
object of the several circuits of the counter-magnet is to ensure that the current
will be received by it at least once between every two consecutive words.
Let the operator now fix the paper in the machine preparatory to commencing
his work. While doing so he will probably close one of the circuits of the counter-
magnet and so secure that the armature will assume the extreme position nearest
the counter-magnet. If however the fixing of the paper does. not. involve such a
commotion of the parts as will close.one of the circuits of the counter-magnet the
operator must see that the armature is in the position referred to at the
commencement of the work. The operator now proceeds to type the first word.

page_text: =
When he reaches the first vowel he inevitably closes the type circuit and thereupon
the type-magnet becomes magnetised and draws over the armature to the extreme
position nearest itself. This allows the escapement wheel to go one and thereupon
the indicator moves one. While the word is being completed nothing further
happens (unless in the case of words broken at the end of a line and continued on
the next presently to be referred to.) After the word has been completed the
operator before commencing the next word inevitably closes one of the circuits of
the counter magnet whereupon the armature springs back to its original position
there to remain until disturbed by the typing of the second word which commences
a repetition of the process. It will now be obvious that the armature springs to
and fro for every word typed.
Moreover it will be obvious that it will not do so more than once for each word
except in the case of words broken at the end of a line and continued on the next.
Such words would clearly be counted twice if no provision were made to cure this
defect. The defect is however cured by making use of the hyphen-key, which is
the last part moved at the end of a line where such line ends with a portion of a
broken word. The hyphen-key closes a special circuit connected with a special
magnet whose function is to attract whenever magnetised an armature whose
motion towards this magnet destroys for the time being the line-to-line circuit
above referred to. Thus the movements made in going from line to line will be
ineffectual to close the line-to-line circuit when a motion of the hyphen-key
immediately precedes. The armature however whose motion towards the hyphen
key magnet destroyed the line-to-line circuit is made to resume its position and
thereby to restore the line-to-line circuit by another electro magnet whose circuit is
closed by exactly the same motions as those closing the type-circuit. Thus it will
be seen that the line-to-line circuit will be ready for use after every line the last
word of which is a completed word but it will be as it were out of gear when the
last thing done on the line has been the typing of a hyphen.
1005
Word Counting Contrivance for Typewriting Machines (Counting
Numbers as Words).
J, EDWARD MCHUGH, of 50, Lower Sackville Street, Dublin, Ireland, Solicitor,
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 has reference to new or improved means for automatically
counting the words typed by typewriting machines in a convenient, accurate, and
efficient manner.
The counting of words typed by these machines is obviously desirable in the
ordinary course of commercial work, especially in legal work where accuracy is
necessary. in estimating the number of folios contained in briefs, conveyances,
leases and such like documents.
Hitherto various attempts have been made to attain this end by mechanical
contrivances of various kinds.
Some of these formed an integral part of the typewriter, while others
consisted of detached apparatus coupled to the typewriter, by various mechanical
means.
All such attempts however have failed in practice owing to the difficulties of

page_text: communicating the movements of a vast group of parts (such as go to make up a
Such methods were also
typewriter) by mechanical means to a counting device.
found expensive, and inaccurate, and calculated to interfere with the ordinary
working of the machine, and moreover the detached devices were found to be
unsuitable for use in combination with the various types of machines in the
market.
My invention does not attain the object in view by mechanical means, but
proposes the application of electricity which will be found as hereinafter described
to be especially, and peculiarly adapted as an unfailing means of communication
between a typewriting machine of any of the well known kinds, and a counting
device of any suitable design.
The various movable parts of a typewriter are naturally adapted to the work of
automatically making electrical contacts, and the advantage of an electrical
method of counting words will be strikingly demonstrated by the action of my
invention.
In accomplishing the work, only a few spring contacts are introduced to the
machine and these are wholly invisible to the operator, and in no way
interfere with the mechanism.
My invention may also be readily used in connection with different types of
machines, such as the Remington, the Yost, the Williams, the Barlock, the
Densmore and such like.
!
With the aid of the accompanying drawings, I will explain the principle and
action of my invention.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the counting device which I choose for descriptive
purposes merely, since it is obvious that any convenient électrical counting device
may be used with equal results.
Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. 1 with the dial plate removed to shew the mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a diagram hereinafter described, and
Fig. 4 is a diagram shewing a skeleton typewriter, and plan of the counting
device with electrical connections as hereinafter more fully referred to.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the views.
A and A¹ are two electro magnets of soft iron, B is an ordinary soft iron
armature attached at right angles to the oscillating lever C which latter is pivoted
at D between a bracket D' and the dial plate.
This armature actuates the ratchet wheel E by means of two pawls b, 5¹ whereby
each oscillation of the armature drives the wheel one tooth; that is to say when the
armature is attracted to magnet A, pawl b engages, and as it is attracted to
magnet Ai, pawl 61 engages.
At each revolution a stud c on the face of the wheel E comes in contact with the
crank lever d pivoted at d¹ and carrying a freely pivoted pawl e.
At each revolution of the wheel E the lever d is raised by the stud and
actuating the pawl e drives the wheel F forward one tooth, thus recording a unit.
A spring e holds the wheel F while pawl e recedes over its teeth.
Thus we have here a simple electrical contrivance which will indicate the number
of complete oscillations of the armature and as the wheel E is provided with
144 teeth it is obvious that 72 movements will cause one revolution, which in turn
will move the wheel F one tooth, thus indicating one folio of 72 words.
The electrical communication between this counting device and the typewriter
will be best explained by referring to the diagram, Fig. 4.
It is understood that in all typewriting machines the principle of action is the
same—that is, all or nearly all the movable keys and levers operate a universal
part, and advantage is taken of this principle to establish the electrical
communication necessary for the purpose of my invention..
Of course there are certain special movements, peculiar to all typewriters which
must be especially provided for, and which shall be referred to later on.
:
For the purpose of illustration I will assume my invention to be worked in
$

page_text: connection with a "Remington" machine although, with but slight modifications
it will be found equally suitable and applicable to all typewriters.
In the "Remington" we find all the letter keys, as also the space: key,
operate one universal part, and this universal part in turn operates other
mechanism for the ordinary work of the machine.
4
I find the most convenient part with which to make the chief electrical contact
is that known as the "rocking lever," which controls the escapement mechanism.
In close proximity to this lever which is, represented in the diagram (Fig. 4)
at X, I fix (on the frame of the machine).a pair of insulated spring contacts 1 and 2,
one of which is connected to the counting device and the other by a conductor
which completes the circuit as indicated by the barbed arrows.
This circuit I call for convenience the "type" circuit and the magnet in its path
I call the "type" magnet.
So far, it is obvious that on striking anyone of the letter keys, the movement of
the "rocking lever" will press the contact springs together and thereby complete
the circuit, whereupon the armature being attracted by the type magnet A, will
move the ratchet wheel E. by means of the pawl b....
In the typing of a word although the circuit is made, and broken each time a
letter.. key is depressed, this makes no..effect on the recording dial since the
armature is held in a position,wherein it is. not capable of acting on the ratchet
wheel, the attraction (for each letter) being in one direction; immediately however
it is attracted to the opposite magnet, the pawl b' engages and drives the wheel
forward one tooth.
The second magnet A' which is designated, for convenience the " space "magnet
is in the circuit indicated by the unbarbed arrows and is operated by the space key,
as also by the "line space" lever, and the "carriage release" lever.
Describing this circuit it must be understood that since the space key operates
the same rocking lever as the letter keys, provision must be made to break the
type circuit when the space key, is operated.
For this purpose spring contacts 3 and 4 are introduced in the space circuit.
The tongue between these contacts: is as shewn in the diagram in contact with
spring 4.when the space key is at rest, but immediately the latter is depressed the
tongue makes contact with the opposite spring thus, breaking the type circuit and
establishing the space circuit whereby the space magnet A is actuated and the
armature attracted thereto.
"
**
Thus when the space key. is depressed..the current cannot get into the
type magnet" notwithstanding that the space key, actuates the rocking lever X..
It may here be mentioned that in the Yost" machine there is a special moving
part for the letter keys alone, so that the electrical connection between the counting
device and this type of machine is simplified;. inasmuch as it is not necessary to
provide for breaking the type circuit when the space key is struck.
So far as the letter keys and the space key are concerned the electrical
connections are now complete and it will be perceived that the work of counting is
extremely simple.
Provision must however be made for, the movements of the "Platen" carriage
whereby spacing is sometimes effected, and also for the usual operation of spacing
between the lines, with the "line space". lever.
This is accomplished by arranging for the inclusion of these movements in the
space circuit which is effected by fixing spring contacts 5 and 6 on the carriage
bar which are acted upon by a lug 7 attached to the carriage rack whereby the
operation of the "line space." lever, or "carriage release" (acting on the carriage
rack) will press these springs together and complete the space circuit.
Thus whenever the "space key" the "line spacer
" or the " carriage release"
is used the same effect is produced, that is, the space circuit is actuated, and the
armature attracted to the magnet A'...
I
It is clear therefore that whenever the operator completes a word, he must
produce (1) either an ordinary short space, or (2) a long space, or (3) a space

page_text: between the lines, and any of these operations will, in causing the armature to
embrace the space magnet act on the ratchet wheel E and thus record the typing
of a word.
A little consideration will now show that the armature will oscillate once to
and fro for every word typed no matter how many letters there are in the word,
or how many spacing movements there are between words.
It will also be clear that it will oscillate no oftener than there are words typed,
no matter how complicated the work is, with one exception namely, when a
broken word comes at the end of a line. It will be obvious that if the operator
breaks a word at the end of a line and continues it on the next the armature will.
oscillate once for each bit of the broken word, there being a magnetisation of the
space magnet in going from line to line.
The simplest way of counteracting this defect is to avoid the breaking of words
at the end of a line, when counting words.
Should however this expedient be inconvenient, advantage may be taken of the
principle that when a word is broken at the end of a line the last thing typed is a
hyphen. The hyphen key therefore may be made to close a circuit connected
with a special magnet whose function it is to temporarily destroy the space
circuit.
By such an arrangement the movement made in going from line to line will be
ineffectual to close the space circuit when a motion of the hyphen key immediately
precedes. The armature however whose motion towards the hyphen key magnet
destroyed the space circuit is made to resume its position and thereby to restore
the space circuit by another magnet whose circuit is closed by exactly the same
motions as those closing the type circuit.
Thus it will be seen that the space circuit will be ready for use after every
line, the last word of which is a completed word, but it will be, as it were, out of
gear, or broken when the last thing done on the line has been the using of
a hyphen.
Now
In the typing of words it will be observed that the type magnet is magnetised
several times successively for each letter contained in each respective word.
the magnetisation for the first letter is all that is required for the purpose
of this invention, so that the effect of typing the subsequent letters of the
same word, simply wastes the battery. Similarly if there are several
spacing movements between the words there is a corresponding waste of the
battery.
To prevent this waste of energy I propose to make the armature of the counting
device act as an automatic switch in a manner illustrated by diagram Fig. 3. Here
two contact studs 8 and 9 are introduced, the one to the left being in the type
circuit and the one to the right being in the space circuit. As shewn in the
diagram the armature is attracted to the type magnet A and is in contact with
stud 8 in which position the circuit of this magnet is broken, but immediately
the space circuit is actuated, the space magnet A¹ attracts the armature which
making contact with the stud 9 breaks the space circuit.
Thus it will be seen that it is only the typing of the first letter of a word, or the
first of a series of spacing movements that will affect either magnet.
This action will be readily understood, and needs no elaboration. It is
merely intended to economise the battery and has nothing to do with the operation
of word counting.
In the working of my invention it will be observed that every letter key makes a
contact for the type magnet. Now this does not matter in the case of stops,
brackets, and such like because they are always typed in immediate connection
with words. But in the case of the underscore key, it might happen that an
underscore might be counted as a word. Any such key however may be
subtracted by the method of short circuit i.e. making any key to be subtracted close
a short circuit for the battery.

page_text: However, I recommend that the use of the underscore be avoided altogether
when using my invention, or some allowance made therefor.
Another point is with regard to the hyphen key. On the Remington and-other
high class machines the hyphen key also types some other character. If such a
character ended a line it might prevent a word being counted by operating the
hyphen key correcting device. To prevent this the upper case key may be made
to act so that when it is in the position proper for the typing of a hyphen and then
only, the hyphen key circuit will be complete. Or the hyphen may be combined
on the same type with a character which never can occur at the end of a line, for
instance, the first bracket of a parenthesis.
These minor points however must be considered in connection with the work the
counting device is to perform.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the special methods whereby the
electrical connections are established between a typewriter and a counting device
as herein described, as these may be altered or modified to suit different types of
machines.
Neither do I confine myself to the particular construction of counting device
herein described as any suitable electrical counting contrivance may be
used."
"The device, herein' shewn' is somewhat crude in' construction, being, designed
rather for simplicity, and to facilitate the description of my invention.
What I do claim however as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent, is :-
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First. The use and application in combination with..typewriting machines of
electro-magnets, electrical connections and registering mechanism actuated thereby,.
adapted to register or count words, all arranged and operating substantially, as
herein set forth...
Second. The combination with a typewriter, of an armature B,. two electro..
magnets A,,A,.for.oppositely, moving the same, connected registering mechanism
operated by said armature and electrical connections from one magnet to the type
keys, and from the other magnet to the spacing lever, arranged as shown so that
the type keys will move the armature in one direction and the spacing key will
move it in the other and thus register the first letter in each word, and thereby the
total number of words, substantially as set forth.s
Third. The improved method of automatically counting words typed by type-
writing machines by means of electrical communication between a separato
counting device and the typewriter substantially, as herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of Wok 1000
3. P
Redhill Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Malcomson & Co., Ltd.-1898-
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