Year: 1897

page_text: A communication by THE CENTURY MACHINE COMPANY, of 576 West Broadway,
New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in-
the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
& 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 pertains to that class of type-writing machines in which the type
are carried upon bars or levers arranged to swing upon pivots and to carry their
type or printing characters to a common point of impingement or impression; and,
the object is to improve and simplify the construction and to provide an
inexpensive machine having capacity for a large range of work.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the bed or base of the machine with the carriage bed,'
the means for shifting the latter back and forth, and the carriage moving.
mechanism, the carriage being omitted.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line
Figure 3 is a broken front view of the
mechanism.
in Figure 1.
carriage bed and carriage moving
Figure 4 is a side view of one of the key plates and its switches, the latter. being
shown detached.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the machine complete.
Figure 6 is a front view of the carriage.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are detail views which will be fully understood from the
following description.
Figure 10 shows, in side and front elevations, one of the type bars or levers and
the swinging standard or support on which it is pivoted, and
Figure 11 is a front view of a type bar or lever, its swinging standard or
support, and the key plate by which the type bar or lever is actuated.
Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the base of the machine, the same con-
sisting of a flat plate, preferably rounded at its front end (the end towards the
operator being referred to as the front) and provided on its under side with legs 2
which sustain it somewhat above its table or support. 3 designates the carriage
bed extending transversely across the machine near the rear thereof, and sustained
above the base by longitudinally extending rails 5, 5, which are mounted on the
teps of posts or standards 6.

page_text: The carriage bed comprises a flat plate or frame having formed in the upper
surface thereof a dove-tail groove or channel (see Figure 2) which receives, and
in which slides, the dove-tail base of the carriage 4.
The rails 5 are preferably made of angle bars (see Figure 3), one edge or flange
being set loosely into grooves or notches formed therefor in the tops of the posts 6,
and they are retained therein by cap pieces 7.
The carriage bed is attached to the rails and the latter are movable
longitudinally to permit the shifting back and forth of the carriage bed and
carriage, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, the shifting being effected by
a lever 8 mounted on a post 9 and connected with the carriage bed by a coupling
bar 10.
'
The outer end of the lever 8 which is provided with a handle 8ª whereby it is
cperated, is engaged by a notched plate 11 mounted or formed on a spring
standard 12 which rises from the base 1. The plate 11 has three notches for
holding the lever in any one of three positions, from which it will be understood that
the carriage bed is movable back and forth to and from three different positions.
The central position is indicated by full lines in Figure 1.
The machine, as illustrated in the drawings, has nine type levers or bars A, B, C,
D, E, F, G, H and I, though a greater or less number may be used, according to
the range of work for which the machine is intended or the number of characters
to be employed. These type bars or levers are pivoted to the upper ends of swing-
ing or vibrating standards or supports 13, which extend through openings or
slots 14 in the base 1 and are pivoted at their lower ends to brackets 15 secured to
the under side of the base.
The standards or supports 13 are arranged in the arc of a circle, the centre of
which coincides, approximately, with the centre of the base, and they are capable
of swinging or vibrating back and forth to a limited extent, their pivotal axes being
parallel to the carriage bed, so that the direction of movement is at right angles to
said bed, under the arrangement indicated in Figure 1. The standards or supports 13
may, however, have their pivot axis perpendicular to lines radiating from a
common centre, as indicated in Figure 5. The shape of the type bars or levers
will of course be varied according to the arrangement of the pivot axes of the
standards or supports 13 and the consequent planes or lines of movement of these
standards, being in all cases such that each type or character of every bar shall,
when the bar is thrown toward the platen, have a common printing point or centre
of impingement.
At the side of each standard 13 is a vertically movable key-plate 16 provided
with guide rods 17, 18 which project through openings 17" 18" provided therefor
in the base 1, the said key-plates being normally held up by springs 19 coiled
around the guide rods 18. These key-plates are formed with vertical slots 20 and
with inclined slots 21, 22, extending outwardly and upwardly from the lower end
of the slot 20, the said slots 20, 21, 22, forming an opening V-shaped at the bottom
and divided into three branches at the top, as shown in Figure 4. The pivots 23
which connect the type levers A, B etcetera, with the standards or supports. 13,
project laterally into these openings and serve to limit the vertical movements of
the key-plates. They also serve as a means for vibrating the standards or supports,
as will be explained presently.
66
Each key-plate is provided with three finger keys or buttons 24, 25, 26, the
middle buttons 25, being rigidly mounted thereon, while the front and rear
buttons 24, 26, are mounted on separate plates 27, 28, which may be denominated
switch plates," and which are pivoted to the main plate at the
such relation to each other and to the slot, that their depending arms 27" 28" when
thereof in
top
in normal position extend down at the sides of the slot 20, overlying and closing
the slots 21, 22 as shown in Figure 2, in which position they are yieldingly held
by springs 29; 30.
When the key-plates are pressed down by pressure applied to the middle
buttons 25, the pins 23 remain in the slots 20 and the standards 13 remain

page_text: +
stationary in vertical position, but if either of the buttons 24, 26, be pressed down,
the switch plate on which it is mounted will first rock on its pivot to open the side
slot controlled thereby, after which the key-plate will be depressed, the pin .23
entering the open slot whereby the standard 13 and its type lever will be thrown
forward or backward, according as the front or the rear button is pressed.
1.
Each type bar or lever is provided with a laterally projecting pin 40 which
works in a horizontal slot 41 formed in the adjacent key-plate, whereby vertical
movements are imparted to the type bars or levers by the operation of the
key-plates.
Under the construction and arrangement shown each type bar or lever has on
its under side, towards the rear end, nine types marked respectively
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and i, which constitute three groups of three letters or characters
cach, the middle types of the respective groups being located to correspond to the
three positions to which the platen or impression cylinders 31 is adapted to be set
by shifting the carriage bed, as above explained, while the other types are spaced
to correspond with the forward and backward movements of the type bars or levers
under the operation of the switches 27" 28". Thus when the carriage bed stands
in its central position-indicated by full lines in Figure 1-the platen or
impression cylinder 31 is in position to receive the impact of any of the types d, e, f
constituting the middle group, according to which of the three buttons 24, 25, 26
is pressed, while in the rearward position-indicated by broken lines-it may
receive the impact of the three letters g, h, i, and in the forward position that' of
the letters a, b, c. The carriage bed, carriage, and platen then standing in either
of the three positions, the middle letter of the group corresponding to that position
is brought into action by pressing the middle button or finger key 25, and the
other two types of the group by pressing the buttons 24, 26. It will thus be seen
that each key-plate controls nine types, and that the machine with nine type levers,
cach carrying nine types, is adapted to print eighty-one different characters, giving
ample capacity for any necessary or desirable range of work.
The switch plates 27, 28 are notched in their outer edges (see Figures 2 and 4)
said notches embracing pins 32, 33 which project from the main key-plates 16,
and which limit the rocking movements of said plates.
Mounted on a stand 34 rising from the centre of the base 1, is a table 35 towards
which the type bars or levers A B &c., converge, as shown in Figure 5. This table
has three holes 36, 37, 38 arranged in a central line running from front to rear, for
the reception of guide pins 39 projecting from the under sides of the type bars or
levers, said openings corresponding to the three positions of said levers. These
guide pins and holes are for the purpose of producing perfect alignment of the
letters in writing. When the button 25 is pressed, the type bar or lever remains
in its normal position, that is, with respect to forward and backward movement and
the pin 39 enters the middle hole 37. If the button 24 be pressed the type bar
or lever will move forward towards the operator and the pin 39 will enter the
hole 36, while if the button 26 be pressed the type bar or lever will move backward
and the pin will enter the rear hole 38.
With ordinarily accurate construction these guiding and centering devices will
be unnecessary and may be dispensed with.
The type bars or levers at either side of the middle lever are bent outward at the
points at which the guide pins 39 are located, so that when depressed their rear
ends, on which the types are arranged stand in a central position, to bring the
types thereon to the same line.
Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the angles formed by the front
and rear ends of the type bars or levers A B etcetera, gradually increase from either
side towards the middle, the middle lever being straight. This is necessary to
bring the rear ends of the several levers to a common line when they are depressed,
for it will be perceived that by reason of the convergence of the front ends the
angles, that is, the points at which the bars or levers are bent, will be at the
centre 37, when the levers are depressed, and that when the levers rise the angles of

page_text: the several levers will move upward and outward from the centre in radial curved
lines, the rear or type-carrying ends being thereby thrown apart, the varying
angularity causing divergence, as shown, which divergence of course increases the
higher they are raised.
It will now be understood from the foregoing description that the type bars or
levers as a whole have two separate movements, 1st a rising and falling movement,
produced by depressing and releasing the finger buttons 25; 2nd; a forward and
backward movement produced by the operation of the switches 27" 28" and that in
addition to these two movements the rear or type carrying ends of all except the
middle lever E have a fateral movement, from and towards a central line during
their rising and falling movements.
An arm 42 secured to the sides of the table 35 extends rearward above the
platen 31 and carries at its rear end a transversely extending plate 43 with a
notch 44 in its upper edge, which notch is in the central line of the machine and
receives the rear ends of the type levers when the latter are depressed. This is for
the purpose of securing accurate and uniform spacing.
At or near the mid-length of the carriage bed 3, at the front side thereof, is a
ledge 45 on which is adjustably secured the foot of a standard 46 which carries at
its upper end an inking roll 47 which stands in the path of the type levers and inks
the type before they reach the paper. The said roll is rotatably mounted on a
pintle projecting from a plate 48, which is pivoted to the standard 46 and is
vieldingly held in horizontal position by a spring 49.
At the front side of the carriage bed 3 is a depending lug 50 to which is pivoted
an elbow lever 51, the vertical arm of which carries a hook 52 pivotally mounted
thereon so as to be capable of swinging vertically. This hook engages a rack 53
on the base of the carriage 4 and forms a part of the feeding mechanism for
moving the carriage and feeding the paper laterally during the operation of the
machine. The hook is actuated by a spring 54 to move the carriage step by step.
The means for moying the hook in the opposite direction to engage a new tooth are
as follows:-
On the base 1 are lugs or short standards 55 to which are pivoted vertically
swinging arms 56, 56 having at their free ends sockets 57 united by a rod 58 which
overlies the forwardly bent end 59 of the horizontal arm of the elbow lever 51.
The sockets 57 receive and hold the ends of a bent rod or wire 60 which underlies
legs 61 formed on, or connected with, the key-plates 16, the arrangement being
such that when any key-plate is depressed its leg 6.1 presses down the bent rod or
wire 60, and the rod 58, the latter rocking the elbow lever 51 and moving the
hook 52 forward to engage a new tooth of the rack 53. The key-plate being then
released it is thrown up by its spring 19, whereupon the spring 54 actuates the
hook to move the carriage.
The carriage bed 3 has at its front side a vertical arm or standard 62 which has
an angular notch 63 in the side or edge towards which the hook 52 moves when
actuated by the spring 54 to move the carriage and on the opposite side or edge
it is rounded as shown in Figure 3. The hook 52 has an offset or shoulder 64 on
the side facing the standard 62, the arrangement being such that just before the
hook reaches the limit of its forward movement, the shoulder strikes the standard
and then under the continued forward movement rides up thereon and throws the
hooked end out of engagement with the rack 53, leaving the carriage free to be
moved back by hand. The movement of the hook under the influence of the
actuating spring 54 is limited by a pin 65 which enters the notch 63. The notch
is deep enough to prevent the hook from being thrown up out of operative position,
and its edges are inclined to permit the necessary play as the shoulder 64 rides up
on the standard 62, and to permit the hook to be drawn down by a spring 66 into
positive engagement with the rack 53.
66 designates the paper guide for supporting the paper and for directing it
around, and holding it to the cylindrical platen 31. This guide comprises a thin
sheet of metal secured upon the carriage, the rear edge extending out to support

page_text: the paper and the front edge bent or curved up around the front side of the platen
to guide the paper and hold it close to the platen.
67 designates a curved rail extending around the front of the machine and
supported above the base 1 by posts or standards 68°. The guide pins 17 pass
through this rail which thus serves to steady and hold the key-plates 16 in proper
position.
68 is the spacing key sustained on vertically movable rods 69 extending through
guide plates 70, 71, mounted on the rail 67 and on the base 1, the said key
being held up normally by springs 72. The two rods 69 are connected by a
socketed cross bar 73 adjustably secured thereon by set screws 74. Projecting
rearwardly from this cross bar 73 is an arm 75 the end of which overlies the rod 60,
so that when the key 68 is pressed down, the hood 52 is operated to move the
carriage, as above explained.
To assist in holding the key-plates 16 in proper position and to guide them in
their vertical movements, two guide pins 76 are provided for each plate, these being
set in the base 1 at opposite sides of the legs 61, the latter working between said
pins.
Figure 2 shows the middle key-plate and the middle type lever, these being
suaight and standing and working in planes parallel to a vertical plane extending
centrally through the machine from front to rear.
Referring again to Figure 5 it will be seen that the three finger keys or buttons
of each key-plate are arranged in a straight line or row, and that all the lines or
rows are parallel to each other. The smooth and proper working of the machines
requires that those parts of the key-plates which contain the horizontal slots 41
wherein the pins 40 work shall lie close alongside of the type levers so as to avoid
any tendency to twist the latter in depressing them. Since it is impracticable to
twist or bend the key-plates to the required shape to meet the conditions referred
to, it is proposed to construct the plates used in connection with the bent type
levers either as shown in Figure 7 or Figure 9. As shown in Figure 7 the upper
part of the plate which carries the finger keys or buttons 24, 25, 26 is of the same
size and shape as the middle plate shown in Figures 2 and 4, but the part con-
taining the slot 41 and carrying the leg 61 is extended towards the rear; then by
cutting in horizontally above the slot 41, it is practicable to bend said extended
portion so that it will lie close alongside of the type lever, as shown in plan view
in Figure 8.
As shown in Figure 9, the leg 61 and the portion containing the slot 41 are
formed of a separate piece which is bent to the required shape and then riveted or
ctherwise firmly secured to the main plate 16.
The above description of the key-plates of course implies their formation of sheet
metal; obviously they may be cast or forged in any shape required.
In the drawings the type bars are represented, and in the specification they are
described as arranged to swing downward to the printing point, and this is the
preferred arrangement, but it is not meant to restrict the claims to such arrange-
ment. So too, the type bars are represented as pivotally attached to a separate
supporting member, a vertically arranged standard or support pivoted at its lower
end to the main frame of the machine being the form of support indicated; but
it is obvious that any support permitting the compound movement described would
answer the same purpose and might be substituted without at all departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. So too, any projection extending from the
movable standard or support into the slot of the actuating slide would be the
equivalent of the pivot pin or axle of the type bar similarly extended. In these
and many other particulars the embodiment of the invention may be varied, as
will be understood by skilled mechanicians. This is believed to be the first
instance of a machine in which a type bar bearing a plurality of type both moves
longitudinally and swings about a pivot or axis, under the control of several finger
keys or buttons which serve both to produce, and to determine the character and
extent of movement of the type bar. The invention is to be distinguished from all

page_text: :
that class of machines in which a type wheel, segment, or sector is moved in two
cnections to bring the required type to the printing point, the printing being then
effected by a hammer or striker... It is also to be clearly distinguished from all
the class of machines in which the key-board is bodily moved toward and from, the
platen or paper support. In other words, the present invention involves the
swinging movement, or the longitudinal and swinging movement of each type bar
independently of every other type bar of the series, so that the labour placed upon
the finger key is merely that necessary to move a single bar, and so also that the
simple movement of a single key, performs either or both operations of swinging
the type bar or of moving it longitudinally, and swinging it to cause the proper
type to strike at the printing point. So far as known, no one has heretofore con-
ceived or suggested the idea of thus moving one and the same type bar both
longitudinally and about a pivotal axis by a plurality of keys each effecting. the
requisite movement of the bar and determining precisely what that movement
shall be.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
"
1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type lever provided with a
plurality of type or printing characters; a movable support to which said type
lever is pivoted; and a plurality of finger keys or buttons each adapted to act upon
said lever and to move the same longitudinally, and also to swing it about its
pivot whereby said lever is caused to print different characters through actuation
of the different finger keys or buttons.
2. The combination in a type-writing machine, of a platen or paper support; a
series of type levers each provided with a plurality of printing characters; a series
of independently movable supports to each of which is pivoted one of the type
levers; and a series of finger keys arranged in groups of two or more, those of each
group being adapted and arranged to act upon one and the same type lever, to move
the same longitudinally varying distances, and to swing the same about its pivotal
support; whereby each printing character of every type lever is carried to and
caused to make an impression at a common printing point.
3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen or paper support
capable of movement at right angles to the length of the line of printing;
a type lever provided with a plurality of printing characters arranged in groups of
two or more; a movable support to which said type lever is pivoted; and a
plurality of finger keys each adapted to act upon said type lever and to move the
same longitudinally, and also to swing it about its pivot; whereby said type lever
is caused to move longitudinally varying distances, and to swing toward the platen
or paper support to bring one or another printing character of a given group to
the printing point, and whereby the platen is brought into position to receive the
impact of characters of different groups.
4. In combination with a longitudinally movable type bar bearing a plurality
of printing characters and having a pivotal axis at or near one end; a key-plate
adapted and arranged both to move said bar longitudinally and to swing it about
its pivotal axis; and a plurality of finger keys caried by said plate and adapted
each to control the movements of the bar..
5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a longitudinally movable type
lever provided with a plurality of printing characters and having a pivotal axis at
or near one end; a key plate connected with said type lever and serving to swing
it about its pivotal axis; a series of divergent guides in one of said parts adapted
to receive a projection from the other of said parts; and a switch carried by the
key-plate and serving to determine into which of the guides the projection shall
. enter; whereby the position of the pivotal axis of the type lever at the moment of
printing is determined.
6. In combination with a longitudinally movable type lever provided with a

page_text: plurality of printing characters and with a pivot pin or axle at or near one end;
a key-plate adapted to press against the type lever and to swing it about its pivot
pin; a plurality of divergent slots in said key-plate each adapted to receive the
pivot pin of the type bar; a finger key applied directly to the key-plate and
serving to move the same in line with one of its slots; and a separate finger key
movably supported upon said key plate and carrying a switch or gate to direct the
pivot pin into a different slot of the key-plate.
7. In combination with the main frame of a type-writing machine, a platen or
paper support; a standard pivotally supported in the main frame and adapted to
swing toward and from the platen; a type lever pivotally supported upon said
standard and provided with a plurality of printing characters; a key plate movable
in a plane parallel with that in which the type lever swings and having a loose,
connection with said type lever; a plurality of divergent slots or ways in said'
key-plate; a projection extending from the swinging standard into or through the
key-plate at the point of convergence of the slots; and a plurality of finger keys.
carried by said plate and serving to direct said projection into one or another of
the slots according as one or another finger key is pressed, substantially as and for
the purpose 'set forth.
8. In combination with a swinging type lever bearing a plurality of printing.
characters; a movable member to which said type lever is pivoted, provided with a
lateral projection; a key-plate having a slot in alignment with said projection and
other slots divergent therefrom; a finger key carried by said plate and serving to
move the same in alignment with the first mentioned slot; and separate finger keys
bearing gates or switches each adapted to close the first mentioned slot and to
direct the projection of the movable member into one or another of the divergent
slots.
9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a paper support; a movable
member adapted to support a type lever; a type lever pivotally connected with
said member and provided with a plurality of printing characters; a key-plate
having a loose connection with and serving to swing said type lever, and serving
also to lock the movable member or to move the same toward or from the platen;
and a plurality of finger keys carried by said plate and arranged to determine the
lecking or the movement of the member supporting the type lever according as one.
or another is pressed, substantially as set forth.
10. In a type-writing machine, a type lever capable of longitudinal and of
swinging movement; a key-plate loosely connected with said type lever and
adapted to effect both the longitudinal and the swinging movement or to produce
the swinging movement alone; a plurality of finger keys carried by said key-plate;
and intermediate devices between the finger keys and the type lever, whereby the
movements of said lever are determined and are made either simple or compound
as one or another finger key is pressed.
11. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type lever having a pivot
pin at or near one end; a key-plate provided with a plurality of divergent slots
each adapted to receive the pivot pin of the type lever, and to hold the same
against movement or to move it forward or backward; and a loose connection
between said key-plate and type lever at a point to one side of its pivot axis,
whereby said key-plate is adapted both to swing the type lever about its pivot
and to move the same longitudinally or to hold the same against longitudinal
movement, substantially as set forth.
12. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a longitudinally movable
type lever provided with a pivot at or near one end, and with a plurality of printing
characters at or near its other end; a key-plate having a loose connection with
the type lever and capable of movement in a plane substantially parallel with that
in which the type lever moves; a finger key carried by said plate and serving to
move the same; guides carried by the key-plate and adapted to receive the pivot
pin of the type bar; switches carried by said plate and serving to direct the pivot
rin into one or another of said guides; and finger keys also carried by said

page_text: key-plate and adapted when pressed to actuate said switches and also to move
the key-plate and type lever, substantially as set forth.
13. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type lever provided with a
plurality of printing characters and adapted both to move longitudinally and to
swing about an axis; a key-plate adapted both to move the type lever
longitudinally and to swing it about its axis or merely to swing it; and a plurality
of keys each serving to move the key-plate and to cause or prevent a longitudinal
movement of the type lever.
14. In a type-writer, the combination of a pivoted standard provided with a
lateral projection; a type lever having its fulcrum in the free or swinging end of
said standard; a key-plate having a plurality of finger keys; and switches con-
trolled by said finger keys and adapted to be thrown to one or the other side of the
projection of the standard to cause said standard to be moved forward or backward.
15. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a main frame and a paper
support of standards 13 pivotally connected at their lower ends with the main
frame; type levers E provided with a plurality of printing characters and
pivotally connected with the upper ends of said standards; sliding plates 16 pro-
vided with slots 20, 21 and 22; projection 23 extending from the standard 13 into.
the key-plate at the convergence of said slots; rigid key 25 for actuating said
key-plate and pivoted keys 24 and 26 provided with switch arms 27 and 28°
respectively, all substantially as shown and described.
16. In combination with the bail or universal bar of a type-writing machine;
a series of swinging type levers each provided with a plurality of printing.
characters; movable supports to which said type levers are pivoted; a series of
key-plates each provided with an arm to bear upon the universal bar or bail and
with a plurality of slots to receive a projection upon the type lever support; and
a plurality of finger keys carried by each of said plates and serving both to depress
the same and to determine into which of the several slots the projection shall pass..
17. In combination with a longitudinally swinging type lever E provided with
plurality of printing characters and with a projection 23; a key-plate 16 pro-
vided with slots 20, 21 and 22; rigid finger key or button 25 carried by said
key-plate; switch levers 27 and 28 pivotally attached to the key-plate and provided
with switch arms 27 and 28" and with buttons 24 and 26; and springs 29 and 30
attached to the switch arms and serving to hold them normally clear of the slot 20.
Dated this 5th day of July 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.