Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, BURNHAM Coos STICKNEY, of No. 151 Jefferson Avenue, in the City of
Elizabeth, County of Union and State of New Jersey, in the United States of
America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates more particularly to that class of type-writing machines in
which there is employed, in connection with the type-mechanism, the paper-carriage,
and its escapement or feed-mechanism, a tripping means or detaching device
arranged at some point between the finger-piece or key and the type, by which
both the type and feed mechanisms are released after the initial depression of the
finger-piece or key, so that both may return to their normal positions independently
and in advance of the finger-piece or key, or while the finger-piece or key is
depressed or held down, whereby another finger-piece or key may be actuated
without waiting for the removal of the finger first employed and the return of the
previously depressed finger-piece or key.
My invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of devices
hereinafter more fully described aud particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a type-writing machine embodying
my present improvements; and
"Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken at the line Z Z of Figure 1, looking in the
direction of the arrow, but omitting the several springs shown at Figure 1.
In both views the same parts will be found designated by the same numerals of
reference.
1 designates the framework of the machine, 2 the top-plate or type ring, 3 the
type-bars, and 4 the usual power-driven paper-carriage, connected by a strap 5 to
the usual spring-drum 6. The paper-carriage is provided with a feed rack 7, with
which co-operates a spacing-dog 8 and a detaining-dog 9, mounted upon a trunnion
or rocker 10, which is held by a bracket 11 and actuated by a link 12 connected at
its lower end to an arm 13, which is secured to transverse rock-shaft 14, mounted
in the base of the machine at 15, and provided on each side with forwardly
extending arms 16, the front ends of which are united by a universal-bar 17,
extending transversely of the machine parallel with said rock-shaft 14.
The escapement or spacing mechanism may be of any usual or suitable construction.
A spring 18 is provided to return the universal-bar of the spacing mechanism to
normal position after releasement, as will presently appear.
Key-levers 19, extending lengthwise of the machine, are pivoted at their rear
ends to a transverse fulcrum-rod 20, and provided at their front ends with heads or
keys 21. At a point between its key and fulcrum each key-lever 19 is connected
by a pivotal link 22 to the other end of one of a radial series of type-bar-operating
levers 23, which are pivoted between their ends to fulcrum-posts 24, which are
secured to a common support or ring 24, attached by arms to the framework of
the machine. To the inner end of each type-bar operating lever 23 is pivoted a
vertical trip 25, extending to the upper end of the type-bar 3.
To each key-lever 19 is also pivoted at 26 a trip 27, extending downwardly tọ
and in engaging position, with the universal-bar 17.

page_text: In operation, when a key-lever 19 is depressed, the link 22 pivoted thereto pulls
down the outer end of the type-bar-operating lever 28, thus vibrating the inner
and thereof upwardly and causing the trip 25 to ascend and operate the type-bar.
During the depression of the key-lever 19 the downwardly-extending trip 27
contacts with the universal-bar 17, depressing it and its supporting-arms 16,
rocking the shaft 14, vibrating the arm 13 upwardly, and through the link 12
actuating the feed-dogs. Through the feed-mechanism described or any other
suitable feed-mechanism, the carriage is fed the necessary letter-space distances as
the impressions are made.
At a predetermined time the type-bar 3 is released from the control of the type-
bar operating lever 23, and the universal-bar 17 and its connected feed-mechanism
are released from the control of the key-lever, both the type-bar and the universal-
bar and feed mechanism returning to their normal positions independently and in
advance of the release of the finger-key from pressure, all as will now be more
specifically described.
Each of said vertical trips 25 is provided at ita lower enl with an inwardly-
extending radial horizontal arm 28. A ring 29, attached by arms to the framework
of the machine, is arranged in the path of these arms 28, and acts as an abutment,
to contact with said arms during their upward motion and vibrate the trips 25
about their pivots 30. Each type-bar 3 is provided between its pivot and the type
with a lateral projection or pin 31, and each trip 25 is provided with a lug 32
standing normally beneath and in engaging position with said lateral projection 31.
During the first part of the ascending movement of the trip the lug 32 engages
with the pin 31 to vibrate the type-bar from its normal position of rest nearly to
the dotted line position shown at Fig. 1. Then when the arm 28 strikes the
abutment, the trip is caused to vibrate independently about its pivot and release
the type-bar. During this motion the lug 32 is swung inwardly and away from
the projection 31, thus releasing the type-bar from the control of the type-bar-
operating lever 23 and the key-lever 19. This separation occurs at a point when
the type is in proximity to the platen but just before the imprint is made. After
this release, the type-bar continues to the platen to make the impression, as
indicated by the dotted lines, and then drops by gravity to its normal position, in
advance and independently of the return to normal position of the lever 23, link 22
and key-lever 19.
Each of the trips 27 depending from the key-levers 19 is also provided with a
horizontal contact-arm 33; and a straight horizontal tripping-bar or abutment 34
extends transversely of the machine beneath the arms 33 and in the path thereof,
and during the descent of the lever and its trip the arm 33 contacts with the bar 34,
causing the trip 27 to vibrate rearwardly about its pivot 26, thus releasing the
universal-bar 17 from control of the key-lever 19, whereupon the universal-bar and
the feed-mechanism resume their normal positions in advance and independently of
the return of the key-lever 19 to normal position, and about simultaneously with the
return of the type-bar.
The position of the parts just after said releasing or tripping actions take place
is shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1: which view also illustrates by full lines how
the parts may return to their normal positions while the key-lever is held down in
the dotted line position shown. The type-bar and the feed-mechanism having
resumed their normal positions, other key-lovers may be manipulated without
relieving the first one from pressure.
Upon relieving the key-lever 19 from pressure, it and the type-bar-operating
lever 23 will resume their normal positions under the action of spring 35. During
this return movement, the upper end of trip 25, under the action of its returning-
spring 36, moves outwardly and rides along the pin 31 projecting from the type-bar,
until the upper edge of the nose or lug 32 drops or passes below said projection,
when the said spring 36 throws it outwardly beneath said pin, until the upper end
or shoulder 37 of the trip comes to a bearing against the said pin or projection 31.
During the just described return of the key-lever 19 to its normal position, the

page_text: lower active end of the trip 27 thereon, under the action of its returning-spring 38,
rides along the rear side of the universal-bar 17, and as it rises above the universal-
bar it snaps forwardly into normal position, its lug 39 resting against a pin or
projection 40 on said lever.
Pads 41 are provided to arrest the motion of the key-levers 19 after said
releasing action has taken place.
As shown at Fig. 2, the type-bar operating levers 23 are radially arranged, their
inner ends terminating in a circle and bearing a series of trips extending to the
type-bars, and their outer ends being each connected by a link 22 to a key-lever 1.9.
The links 22 are pivoted to the key-levers 19 at varying distances from the
key-lever fulcrum-rod 20, hence as the motion of the key-levers is uniform the
motion of the links varies; and to compensate for such unequal motion of the links,
they are attached to the type-bar operating levers 23 at varying distances from
their fulcrums, in order to give all the inner ends of the said levers 23 a uniform
motion, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 1.
The spring 35 serves to return to normal position the key-lever 19, the link 22
and the type-bar operating lever 23, the trip 25 moving downwardly under the
action of said spring 35, and outwardly under the action of spring 36 to re-engage
the type-bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a circularly arranged series
of type-bars and a horizontally arranged series of key-levers, of a series of type-bar
operating levers, each of which is directly connected to one of the key-levers; a
circularly arranged series of trips, each of which is pivoted to a type-bar operating
lever and extends therefrom directly to its associated type-bar to actuate the same;
and positively acting means for operating the trips to release the type-bars; the
construction and arrangement being such that cach trip vibrates the type-bar from
its normal position towards and nearly to the platen and is then forcibly disengaged
from the type-bar before the imprint is made, and the construction and arrangement
being also such that upon returning to normal position the trip positively re-engages
the type-bar to the type-bar operating lever, substantially as set forth.
2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a circular series of type-bare
of a series of levers arranged below the type-bars, a circular series of vertically
arranged trips directly connecting the levers to the type-bars, and a ring common
to all of the trips for intercepting them and releasing the type-bars during the
printing stroke, substantially as set forth.
3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a swinging type-bar having a
lateral pin or projection, a type-bar operating lever, a vertically-arranged trip
pivoted thereto and provided at its upper end with a lug and with a shoulder to
engage said pin or projection on the type-bar and at its lower end with an arm,
and an abutment in the path of said arm, substantially as set forth.
4. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-bar, a spring-actuated
type-bar operating lever, a trip pivoted to said lever and having a lug to engage &
lateral projection on a type-bar, and having also an arm, as 28, an abutment for
contacting with said arm, and a separate spring adapted to independently vibrato
said trip about its own pivot during the return stroke and thereby cause it to
automatically re-engage with the previously returned type-bar, substantially as set
forth.
5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a type-bar and the universal-
bar of the carriage-spacing mechanism, of a key-actuated lever, a tripping means
between said lever and said type-bar, and an independent tripping means between
said lever and said universal-bar, substantially as set forth.
6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of type-bars, a series of
type-bar operating levers connected to a series of key-levers, a letter-spacing

page_text: mechanism including a universal-bar, a series of trips between the type-bar
operating levers and the type-bars, and a series of trips between the key-levers and
the universal-bar, substantially as set forth.
7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-bar, a key-lever, a
universal-bar, a type-bar operating lever, a pivoted independently-spring-pressed
trip on said lever, an abutment therefor, a second pivoted independently-spring-
pressed trip on said key-lever to actuate the universal-bar, and an abutment
arranged in the path of said trip, substantially as set forth.
8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a circular series of swinging
type-bars; a series of radially-arranged type-bar operating levers below the series
of type-bars; a circular series of vertically and radially arranged trips pivoted at
their lower ends to said type-bar operating levers and directly engaging the
type-bars at their upper ends; a series of key-levers arranged below the type-bar-
operating levers; and a series of vertical links directly uniting said key-levers and
said type-bar operating levers, substantially as set forth.
9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a circular series of type-bars
a series of type-bar operating levers terminating in a circle below the type-bars and
directly connected to a series of horizontally arranged key-levers; a circular series
of vertically arranged trips pivoted at their lower ends to the operating levers and
directly engaging the type-bars at their upper ends; means for disengaging said
tripe from the type-bars; and means for re-engaging said trips with the type-bars,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1897.