Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
I, ALEXANDER MUNRO, of 71 Warlock Road, St. Peter's Park, London, W.,
Assistant Surveyor of Taxes, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The general objects of my invention are to improve the construction and to greatly
accelerate the speed of machines of the type writing class. A feature of my invention
is an inking pad, on which the types rest when not in action, used in conjunction with
type rods moved by arms, whereby the type is held at the same, or nearly the same,
angle of inclination, both when it rests on the inking pad and when it makes an
impression. There are other new features of importance, which, together with the
foregoing, are described hereafter with particular reference to the drawings annexed.
In the figures of the drawings the same letters are used to denote the same or corre-
sponding parts. The figures are not drawn to the same scale.
A is the top
Figure 1 is a sectional drawing. D, D, is a suitable framework.
cover and keyboard made of a sheet of metal, or of wood, or glass, or open wire netting.
It contains holes through which the type keys B, B, are moved. In its centre is a
circular opening. The lower end of the key B is attached by means of a pin joint F
to the short arm F G. The arm F G revolves on G, which is a pin joint, and is fixed
to the framework. From G there also rises an arm G E. The arm F G and the
arm GE are fixed together, and may be constructed in one piece. E is a pin joint
connecting the arm GE to the type rod C.. At the end of the type rod C is placed
the type, which on the right hand side of the figure is shown as resting on the inking
pad J. On the left hand side of the figure the type is shown as making an impression
on the paper on the cylinder L at the point K. The other end of the type rod is
supported by the arm IH, to which it is connected by the pin joint H. At 1 the
arm H revolves on the pin joint I which is fixed to the framework. These pin joints
are denoted on the drawings by small circles or semicircles. The mode of working is
as follows. When the key B is pressed by the finger it causes the arms FG and GE

page_text: to move through part of a circle. The type rod C is carried from the position shown
on the right hand side of the figure to the position shown on the left hand side of the
figure, where the type makes an impression at K on the paper on the cylinder L, and
the type rod is returned to its former position by the action of a spring (not shown on
drawings) attached to the arm G E or the arm I H.
The inking pad J is circular. It surrounds the opening shown in the framework.
Through this opening and the opening in the cover and key board A, the paper on the
cylinder L may be seen while being impressed on. The inking pad may be made to
screw or slip out on the under side. The cylinder L slides to each end of the shaft M,
The shaft Mis
but is prevented from rotating separately round it. It rotates with it.
supported on journals at 1, 1, in which it rotates.
The letter spacing is effected as follows. 0, 0, are levers moving on the pin joints
at P, P, as fulcrums. On the right hand side of figure 1 the lever is shown in its
raised position. On the left hand side it is shown as depressed by the depression of
the key B which rests on it. The end Q of the lever is thus moved upward with the
depression of each key, and the lever returns to its position as shown on the right hand
side of figure 1 by means of a spring (not shown on drawings) acting on it near the
point P. The link R is attached to the lever by the pin joint at Q. Figure 3* is an
enlargement of R as shown in figure 1. Figure 3 is drawn at right angles to figure 3º.
The link R lifts the link S, while the ratchet wheel N is prevented from rotating by
the ratchet U. On the pressure of the finger being removed from the key B, the links I
and S descend by the action of the suitable spring T, and the ratchet V bears down
the ratchet wheel N, which being fixed to the shaft M, the cylinder I is revolved with
the shaft. M and with the ratchet wheel N. The letter spacing motion thus takes
place in the intervals between the types making impressions. The spring Ț is fixed at
the bottom to the framework, and the links R and S are maintained in position by any
suitable means.
In figure 6 is shown a plan of the type rods ranged radially. All the types may be
made to come from the inking pad to one common centre, allowing one impression at
a time to be made; or two, three, or more sets of types may be used with each set
coming to a different centre, and allowing two, three, or more impressions to be made
simultaneously with the depression of two, three, or more keys. Each set may contain
the alphabet and other type symbols generally used, and one of the sets-alone-may
contain in addition the type symbols not generally or frequently used. Figure 6
represents a machine made to contain four sets of type, and to impress four letters or
type symbols at a time. When any one of the keys from a to b' is pressed, an
impression by the corresponding type is made at W on the cylinder. In like manner
the set of types from b¹ to d¹ each strike at X ; the set of types from a¹ to c¹ at Y;
and the set of types from c' to d² at Z. For the sake of clearness, four type rods only
are shown as belonging to each set.
Figure 6 shows the plan of the lever O, which is made of wire or other suitable
material. A lever may be attached to any or to each set of type. In figure 6 levers
are shown attached to two out of the four sets of type. The other two sets are
supposed to be supplied with levers. When the keys are pressed, they press on the
levers at the points m, m, which are depressed at oue end and raised at the other end
Qor Qis directly attached to the link R as already described. Q¹ is attached to
the link R by means of a suitable set of levers or chains (not shown on drawings) by
which the link R₁ is raised by the elevation of Q. In like manner the lever (not
shown on drawings) attached to the set of keys c¹ to d¹ elevates the link R, and the
lever attached to the set of keys 'to d' elevates the link R³. The link R is
elevated directly by the hand by means (not shown on drawings) of a suitable key
attached to it. This key is shown in figure 2 as R. Figure 2 is a plan of the top
cover and key board A showing the keys B, B, arranged in circles thereon. Each
key is separately pressed, and moves one type rod, to the end of which is fixed one type
or symbol. The keys R, K¹, R', R³, and R', are keys for effecting the letter spacing.
R has been described in the preceding. The keys R, R1, R2, and R³, are attached
by suitable means (not shown on drawings) to the links R, R', R³, and R³

page_text: respectively, which latter are represented in figures 3 and 6. These links may
therefore be raised by either of two ways, firstly by the spacing keys R, R¹, R², It³
shown on figure 2, and secondly by pressing any one of the type keys B. The
links R, R, R, R³, and R4, in figure 3 are so arranged by the lengths of the arms of
the lovers O, O, by the positions of the fulcrumns P, P, or otherwise, that they rise
definite distances representing letter spaces. Thus, if a letter space be one eighth of
an inch, by their action the cylinder L will be revolved distances of three, one, four,
two, and five eighths of an inch respectively. Any one of these links may be raised
and the cylinder L will be revolved without the other links being disturbed in any
way. Each link also (with the exception of link R) being capable of being raised
as already stated either by any type key of the set to which it is attached, or by the
spacing key to which it is attached, may be made so as to rise without disturbing both
the lever and the spacing key. This may be effected among other ways by making
the link S (figure 3) wide enough to hold two links R, one for the spacing key, and
one for the set of type keys, both these links being capable of being raised the same
distance, and being in substitution for the one link R shown on figure 3: the other
links R', R2, and R³ may likewise be made in pairs.
The following are instances of movements and their results. When any one of the
type keys is pressed in the set a¹ to 6', the corresponding link R' elevates the link S
to a distance representing one letter space, and the cylinder L is revolved one letter
space. When any one of the type keys c¹ to d' is pressed the corresponding link R2
elevates the link S to a distanco representing four letter spaces, and the cylinder Lis
revolved four letter spaces.
When one key out of each of the four sets of type is
pressed, four impressions are made simultaneously at W, X, Y, and Z, and the same
result as to letter spacing follows, viz. -the cylinder L is revolved four letter spaces.
When the same four type keys and also the spacing key R of figure 2 are pressed,
the same four impressions are made, but the cylinder L revolves five letter spaces. It
will thus be seen by the machine shown on figure 6 that one type impression can be
made, or two, three, or four impressions simultaneously, and the cylinder L is
revolved accordingly. If a word of three letters is to be impressed, one of each set of
types striking on W, X, and Y are pressed and also the spacing key R². The result,
will be that the word of three letters is impressed, a blank letter space left after the
word, and the cylinder L is revolved four letter spaces leaving the paper ready for
the next impression. If it is desired to write a letter, a comma, a blank letter space,
a letter, and a blank letter space simultaneously, the keys to be pressed are, a key of
the set striking on W, a key of the set striking on X (for the comma), a key of
the set striking on Z, and the spacing key R as shown in figure 2. Other similar
results may be obtained from combinations of letter impressions and of blank letter
spaces.
The line spacing is effected as follows. In figure 1 the cylinder L-slides on the
shaft M from end to end, but is prevented from rotating on it by the thin bar of metal
a which is fastened to the shaft M. Figure 7 shows a view of one end of the
cylinder L. The other end of the cylinder towards N is plain, and the shaft M
slides through a hole in the centre of it. In figure 7 the end of the
cylinder is shown as having two holes, through one of which passes the shaft M
with annexed bar of metal a, and through the other passes the thin bar of
metal b. The edges of these bars are notched as shown in figure 1. Into the
notches is made to act the ratchets h and i, which have j and k as fulcrums and pin
joints. When the ratchet heads of h and i are pressed together, the cylinder L is free
to slide either way from end to end of the shaft M. When the shaft M rotates on its
journals at 1, 1, it carries round with it the cylinder L. The thin bar of metal a
extends about half the length of the shaft M. The thin bar. of metal b extends a
similar length. At the end (always contained within the cylinder L) of the bar b
towards N in figure 1 it assumes the shape of a plain pin (not shown on drawings)
which passes freely through a hole in a sliort fixed arm attached to the shaft M, and
is supported thereby. Instead of this arrangement the end of towards N may be

page_text: supported by any other method which would allow of its having a short movement
back and forward in the direction of its length. The other end of the bar of metal b
makes a turn at right angles until it roaches the centre of the shaft M through a hole
in the side of the shaft, which is here made hollow. When it reaches the centre of
the shaft it turns again at right angles and proceeds through the hollow shaft until it
emerges at f, where it is attached by the pin joint to the lever or handle e.
handle e is attached by means of a pin joint d to the arm c. The arm c is fixed to, or
is a continuation of, the end of the shaft M.
The
With the exception of the pin joints PP, in figure 6, which is a top view or plan,
and in which the direction of the movements of the levers 0, 0, is perpendicular to
the surface of the paper, all the other pin joints represented on the drawings
(including those at P, P, in figure 1) are shown as at right angles to the pin or axlo,
and the direction of the inovements of the levers or arms is in the plane of the surface
of the paper and allows of no other direction.
The thin bar of metal b is supported towards its end in the direction of N as already
described. At its other end it fixed by the pin joint f to the handle e. When the
handle e is pressed close to the arın c, the bar bis moved inwards the length of a
notch, or notches, or line space, and carries the cylinder L with it. The ratchet i
acting on the bar a prevents the cylinder L returning. The handle e is therefore
pressed in for each line space, and the action of a spring (not shown on drawings)
returns it to the position shown on figure 1. If it is desired to slide the cylinder L
to any position on the shaft M, the ratchet heads of h and i are pressed, and it is free
to move on being pushed either way.
The handle has also other functions to perform. From its position may be
gathered the situation of the paper on the cylinder L, seeing that the cylinder I, the
shaft M, the bars a and b, the arm C, and the handle e, all revolve as one part on the
journals at,l. The handle e is therefore used as an index to show the part of
the line being impressed on, and the framework 1 immediately opposite it is
graduated in a circle accordingly. In the graduated circle is placed a pin g.
When
tho handle is kept pressed in, and when the cylinder L is caused to revolve by
turning the handle, the revolution is brought to a stop by the handle e striking
against the pin g. If now the handle e is allowed to spring to the position shown in
figure 1, it will again be free to revolve together with the cylinder L, etc. By these
means, the act of pressing in the handle advances the paper on the cylinder a line
space, and the revolution of the handle to the pin causes the paper to stand ready to
receive the first impression of the new line. The handle may be turned in either
direction, and will revolve the cylinder accordingly. In order that the revolution
may be as quick and smooth as possible, the ratchets V and U in figure 3 may by
any suitable means be caused when desired both to recede from the ratchet wheel N
when the handle is being turned; or the ratchet wheel N instead of being fixed to
the shaft M may, by means of an inner ratchet wheel within the wheel N, be made
capable of remaining still while the shaft M is allowed to revolve in one direction.
In figures 1 and 7 the bar instead of being placed on the opposite side of the
shaft to the bar a may be placed beside it, and the one ratchet
suffice for both bars.
may be made to
In order to obviate the danger of two keys of one set of types being pressed at
the same time, and the two types coming into collision, say at the impressing
point Zon figure 6, a very flexible cord or chain 7, 7, is fixed to the points n and p,
and guided between the rollers or guiding pins at r, r, t, and u.
The ends of the
type rods C, C, are affixed to the cord or chain at 3, s. From to and from
p to u, the cord or chain is very clastic and easily admits of a certain distention,
say three inches at each end. This elasticity admits of one type rod and type
moving from the inking pad J to the impressing point Z, a distance of say three
inches, but does not admit of two types moving at the same time to the point Z. A
modification is shown at figure 8, where to lessen the friction a small and flexible
connecting cord or chain intervenes between the end of the type rod C and the

page_text: cord or chain q.
This necessitates a much smaller length of the cord or chain 7
being pulled in a loop through the rollers or guiding pins r, r.
Figure 4 shows the method of attaching the key B to the arm GE as already
described. Figure 5 shows another method. To the bottom of the key B is fixed
at to a flexible cord or chain which is rolled round a small roller to which the
arm GE is fixed. When the key B is pressed, the cord unwinds on the roller, and
the arm GE is caused instantly to revolve. The attachment may be to the arm I H
in lieu of the armi G E.
Figure 9 shows a method by which two inking pads may be used. Different forms
of the type rods shown on figure 10 may be used for machines with one inking pad,
or for machines with two or inore inking pads.
Figure 11 shows a machine constructed with the type rods placed vertically instead
of horizontally. The levers O, O, may also be used with modifications from figure 1.
A machine may also be constructed with both vertical and horizontal type rods.
Figure 10 shows different forms of type rods. The same principle is observed in
each of the type resting on an inking pad and of passing on to the paper at about the
same angle of inclination. The dotted lines show the movements of the type and of
the arm. Type rod (a) is that shown and described in figure 1. The second arm
may be shorter, longer, or of the same length as the fore arm called GE in figure 1.
The motion from the type key may be conveyed to either arm. In type rod (b) the
second arm is dispensed with, and a hole or slit is substituted, through which the type
rod passes. In type rod (c) the second arm is fixed above the type rod. In type
rod (d) the point of attachment of the fore arm to the framework is in advance of the
inking pad. Instead of support by a second arm as shown, the end of the type rod
may be as in (b) or (c). Type rod (e) is vertical, and the arms GE and IH are
attached to the framework at G and I. Instead of the top end being supported as
shown, it may be supported as in (a), (b) or (c). Type rod () is also vertical, and
the point of attachment of the arm to the framework is in advance of the inking pad
as in (d). The top end of the type rod is supported as in (e). In type rod (g) the
arm is placed behind the hole or slit through which the type rod passes. The point
of attachment of the arm to the framework is above the type rod at G. Type rod (h)
is type rod () arranged vertically instead of horizontally. In figure 10 (i) the
principle of these type rods is more clearly shown. Instead of arms, two whole
circles of equal radius are shown. The dotted circle shows where the type
describes an equal circle. The inking pad may be placed in any suitable
part of such dotted circle, and the point of impression on the paper in any other
suitable part. The two circles (or arms) may be connected together by geared teeth,
or bands, or other means, so that the revolution of the one revolves the other.
When the one arm or circle is of larger radius than the other, the type moves
through an irregular arc or a circular sweep. Figure 10 (j) is the preceding
arranged vertically instead of horizontally.
Instead of the type rods being either vertical or horizontal they may be placed at
any angle.
In machines where only one set of types is used and where one impression only is
made at a time, two or more lovers O may be used, and letter spacing in two or
more sizes can be effected. Thus, a machine can be made which uses four levers O,
and which may give six sizes of letter spacing. The first lever and the first spacing
key revolves the ratchet wheel N one notch or the space of siınall letters like I. The
second lever and the second spacing key revolves the ratchet wheel N two notches
or the space of medium letters like N. The third lever and the third spacing key
revolves the ratchet wheel N three notches or the space of large letters like W. The
fourth and fifth spacing keys revolve the ratchet wheel N four and five notches
respectively, and produce correspondingly large letter spaces. The fourth lever and
the sixth spacing key revolves the ratchet wheel N six notches and produces a letter
space correspondingly large. Types like I, N, and W, respectively are grouped
together according to size, and are attached to the first three levers. To the fourth
lever are attached such types as S, D, N, etc., as are frequently final. The latter types

page_text: are in addition to the ordinary types for these letters. When the keys of these
final types are pressed there results a blank space after the type impression which
saves the time and trouble of separately pressing a key to produce the blank space
between each word.
If a flat surface is desired in lieu of the cylinder L on which to place the paper,
the ends of the cylinder L may be made of wheels with geared teeth which are to fit
into geared rods on the underside of a quadrangular plate. The plate may be
suitably supported on rollers at the corners. The geared teeth will communicate to
it the letter spacing motion, and it should be so attached to the cylinder L that it
will slide along with it for the line spacing motion.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1888.

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MUNRO, of 71 Warlock Road, St. Peter's Park, London W.,
Assistant Surveyor of Taxes, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
:-
The general objects of my invention are to improve the construction and to
accelerate the speed of machines of the type writing class. A feature of my invention
is an inking pad, on which the types rest when not in action, used in conjunction
with type rods moved by arms, whereby the types are held at the same, or nearly
the saune, angle of inclination, both when they rest on the inking pad and when they
make impressions. There are other new features of importance, which, together
with the foregoing, are described hereafter with particular reference to the Figures 1, 4,
5, 7 & 11 of the drawings left with the Provisional Specification, and to these figures
only.
In the figures the same letters are used to denote the same or corresponding parts.
The figures are not drawn to the same scale.
is the top cover
It contains holes
circular opening.
Figure 1 is a sectional drawing, D D is a suitable framework, A
and keyboard made of a sheet of metal or other suitable material.
through which the type keys B, B, are moved. In iis centre is a
The lower end of the key B is attached by means of a pin joint F to the short
arm FG. The arm F G revolves on G, which is a pin joint and is fixed to the
framework. From G there also rises an arm G E. The arm F G and the arm G E
are fixed together, and may be constructed in one piece. E is a pin joint connecting
the arm GE to the type rod C. At the end of the type rod is placed the type,
which on the right hand side of the figure is shown as resting on the inking pad J.
On the left hand side of the figure the type is shown as making an impression on the
paper on the cylinder L at the point K. The other end of the type rod is supported
by the arm IH to which it is connected by the pin joint H. At I the arm 1 H
evolves on the pin joint I which is fixed to the framework. These pin joints are
lenoted on the drawings by small circles or semicircles. The mode of working is
s follows. When the key B is pressed by the finger it causes the arms F G and GE
o move through part of a circle. The type rod is carried from the position
hown on the right hand side of the figure to the position shown on the left hand
ide of the figure, where the type makes an impression at K on the paper on the
ylinder L. and the type rod is returned to its former position by the action of a
oring (not shown on drawings) attached to the arm GE or to the arm I H. The
king pad J is circular. It surrounds the opening shown on the framework.
hrough this opening and the opening in the cover and keyboard A the paper on
e cylinder L may be seen while being impressed on. The inking pad may be

page_text: made to screw or slip out on the under side. The cylinder L slides to each end of
the shaft M, but is prevented from separately rotating round it. It rotates with it.
The shaft M is supported on journals at 1, 1, in which it rotates.
The line spacing is effected as follows. In figure 1 the cylinder L slides on the
shaft M from end to end, but is prevented from rotating on it by the thin bar of
metal .a,. which is fastened to the shaft M. Figure 7 shows a view of one end of the
cylinder L. The other end of the cylinder towards N is plain, and the shaft M slides
through a hole in the centre of it. In figure 7 the end of the cylinder is shown as
having two holes, through one of which passes the shaft M with annexed bar of
metal a, and through the other hole passes the thin bar of metal b. The edges of these
bars are notched as shown in figure 1. Into the notches is made to act the ratchets h
and i, which have j and k as fulcrums-and pin joints. When the ratchet heads of
and are pressed together the cylinder L is free to slide either way from end to end
of the shaft M. When the shaft M rotates on its journals at 1, l, it carries round
with it the cylinder L. The thin bar of metal a extends about half the length of the
shaft M. The thin bar of metal 6 extends a similar length. The end (always
contained within the cylinder L) of the bar 6 towards N in figure 1 assumes the
shape of a plain pin (not shown on drawings) which passes freely through a hole in a
short fixed arm attached to the shaft M, and is supported thereby. Instead of
this arrangement the end of the bar b towards N may be supported by any
other method which would allow of its having a short movement back & forward
in the direction of its length. The other end of the bar of metal b makes
turn at right angles until it reaches the centre of the shaft M through a hole
in the side of the shaft, which is here made hollow. When it reaches the
centre of the shaft it turns again at right angles and proceeds through the hollow
shaft until it emerges at f, where it is attached by the pin joint to the lever or
handle e. The handle e is attached by means of a pin joint d to the arm c.
The arm c
is fixed to, or is a continuation of, the end of the shaft M. The thin bar of metal bis
supported towards its end in the direction of N as already described. At its other
end it is fixed by the pin joint f to the handle e. When the handle e is pressed close
to the arm c, the bar is moved inwards the length of a notch or line space, and
carries the cylinder L with it. The ratchet i acting on the bar a prevents the
cylinder L returning. The handle e is therefore pressed in for each line space, and
the action of a spring (not shown on drawings) returns it to the position shown on
figure 1. If it is desired to slide the cylinder L to any position on the shaft M the
ratchet heads of hand i are pressed, and it is free to move on being pushed either
way. The handle e has also other functions to perform. From its position may be
gathered the situation of the paper on the cylinder L, seeing that the cylinder L, the
shaft M, the bars a and b, the arm c, and the handle e all revolve as one part on the
journals at 1, 1. The handle e is therefore used as an index to show the part of
the line being impressed on, and the framework D immediately opposite it is graduated
in a circle accordingly. In the graduated circle is placed a pin g. When the handle e
is kept pressed in, and when the cylinder I is caused to revolve by turning the handle,
the revolution is brought to a stop by the handle e striking against the pin g.
If now
the handle e is allowed to spring to the position shown on figure 1 it will again be
free to revolve together with the cylinder L. By these means the act of pressing in
the handle advances the paper on the cylinder a line space, and the revolution of the
handle to the pin g causes the paper to stand ready to receive the first impression of
the new line.
Figure 4 shows the method of attaching the key B to the arm G E as already
described. Figure 5 shows another method: to the bottom of the key B is fixed at wo
a flexible cord or chain which is rolled round a small roller to which the arm G E is
fixed. When the key B is pressed, the cord unwinds on the roller and the arm G E
is caused to revolve. The attachment may he to the arm I H in lieu of the arm G E.
Figure 11 shows a machine constructed with the type rods placed vertically instead
of horizontally.

page_text: Having now particulary 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
1st. The type rods moved by arms as already described whereby the types are held
at the same, or nearly the same, angle of inclination, both when they rest on the inking
pad and when they make impressions.
2nd. The handle e, used in conjunction with the pin g, the arm c, and the notched
hars a and b, whereby the handle e effects the line spacing, serves as an index to show
the part of the line being impressed upon, and serves as a handle to turn the
cylinder L to any required extent.
Dated this Nineteenth day of February 1889.