Improvements in or relating to Typewriters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Typewriters.
A communication from JAMES ANGUS WATSON, of 903, R Street, N.W.,
Washington, in the District of Columbia, United States of America, Civil
Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to ribbon feeding devices for typewriters and it consists in
mechanism for feeding the ribbon automatically both lengthwise and widthwise so
as to use its entire surface as it passes once through the machine.
The object of the invention is to produce ribbon feeding devices which will feed
the ribbon lengthwise and also cause it to travel widthwise over the printing point
so as to present practically its entire surface to the printing point while it passes
from one spool to the other, and to accomplish these movements with the simplest
possible mechanism. These results are attained by mounting the spools in supports
or frames which rotate bodily while at the same time maintaining the axes of the
spools constantly parallel to each other, and by providing connections between the
spool supports to maintain them in a constant relation to each other so that while
they revolve there will be no strain upon the ribbon which is wound partially upon
each of the spools. Having imparted a similar rotary motion to both of the spools
in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the ribbon and in circles having a
radius equal to about one-half of the width of the ribbon, it will he evident that
the intermediate ribbon which stretches across the printing point will also have a
rotary notion and that the type will strike successively upon the circumference of
a circle which is embraced within the width of the ribbon. Means are also
provided for shifting the ribbon lengthwise at the completion of each revolution of
the spool supports a sufficient distance so that the type will not strike exactly in
the same places during the succeeding revolution.
The movements above outlined would cause the printing point to travel
relatively to the ribbon in a series of overlapping circles which circles would
cross each other near the margin of the ribbon and thus the ribbon would be used
more near the margin than in the middle. When it is desirable to overcome this
objection additional mechanism is introduced to cause the spools, and ribbon to
rotate faster when the margins are passing the printing point than when the middle
portion is passing, and the rotary movement of the ribbon is so graduated and
varied that its entire surface will be used practically to the same extent.
Means
are also provided for reversing the movement of the spools so that the ribbon will
wind from either one onto the other.
As above stated the ribbon spools are mounted in supports or frames which are
rotated bodily in a plane parallel with the plane of the ribbon at the printing point,
the axes of the spools being maintained parallel to each other at all times. My
correspondent finds that the best means for accomplishing this object is to connect
both spool supports to a bar running around the rear of the machine from one spool
to the other. The bar, which preferably curved in the form of the arc of a
circle, is supported upon three cranks, one crank at the rear of the machine and the
other cranks under the spool supports. These three cranks being out of line it is
impossible for them to get on a "dead centre" and hence if one of them is rotated
the other two will follow, the three always remaining parallel.
To move the ribbon lengthwise ratchet or cog-wheels are placed upon the ribbon

page_text: shafts and pawls are attached to the frame of the machine in position to engage the
ratchet wheels at one point at their rotation as they revolve in the plane parallel to
the ribbon. The pawls are movable into and out of the paths of the ratchet wheels
so that the ribbon may be caused to travel in either direction. By thus feeding
the ribbon lengthwise at one point of each rotation of the spools the type will
strike upon a succession of circles.
Instead of feeding the ribbon lengthwise once during each rotation of the spool
supports it may be given a continuous lengthwise movement which will cause the
type to strike in a continuous overlapping spiral line. This is accomplished by
mounting bevel gears upon the spool shafts and upon the crank pins of the cranks
which are under the spool shafts. The spool shafts are made to slide longitudinally
so that the bevel gears may be engaged and disengaged from each other. When
the gears of one spool are engaged and those of the other spool disengaged the
ribbon will be wound slowly upon the former spool while at the same time both
spools and the ribbon rotate bodily together.
My correspondent uses elliptical gears or an elliptical ratchet-wheel to drive the
shaft which rotates the cranks. This is for the purpose of causing the ribbon
to rotate more rapidly when its margin is passing the printing point than it does
when its middle portion is passing the printing point. By this means
correspondent is enabled to use the ribbon equally at all points. This invention is
adapted for use in most forms of typewriters and the various parts of the machine
which have omitted to describe may be of ordinary or suitable construction.
my
The main feature of the invention is rotating the ribbon and spools simultaneously
in a common plane. The cranks and the spool supports may be connected in
various ways but the curved bar described is preferred.
It will be understood that all the details requisite for carrying out this invention
cannot be set forth in this Provisional Specification, these are reserved for their
proper place in the Complete Specification. Modifications in the parts described
may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.
Dated this 28th day of June 1892.
ALFRED J. BOULT,
Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Typewriters.
A communication from JAMES ANGUS WATSON, of 903, R Street, N.W.,
Washington, in the District of Columbia, United States of America, Civil
Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to ribbon feeding devices for typewriters and it consists
in mechanism for feeding the ribbon automatically both lengthwise and widthwise
so as to use its entire surface as it passes once through the machine.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view, the parts illustrating this invention being shown in
full lines and a portion of the frame of a typewriter in dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 1, showing the improvements in
elevation.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the spool and spool-support shown on the left
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a view of a different form of driving mechanisın.
Fig. 5 is a plau view of mechanism embodying another form of this invention,
part of the frame of a typewriter being shown in dotted outline.

page_text: Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same including so much of a typewriter frame as is
necessary to support the mechanism.
น
Figs. 7 and 8 are front end views of the spool-supports and spools and
Fig. 9 is a view of one of the spool-supports, looking from the middle of the
machine.
I
The object of this invention is to produce ribbon-feeding devices which will
feed the ribbon lengthwise, and also cause it to travel widthwise over the printing-
point, so as to present practically its entire surface to the printing-point while it passes
from one spool to the other and to accomplish these movements with the simplest
possible mechanism. I attain these results by mounting the spools in supports or
frames which rotate bodily, while at the same time maintaining the axes of the
spools constantly parallel to each other, and by providing connections between the
spool-supports to maintain them in a constant relation to each other, so that while
they revolve there will be no strain upon the ribbon, which is wound partially upon
each of the spools. Having imparted a similar rotary motion to both of the spools
in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the ribbon and in circles having
a radius equal to about one-half of the width of the ribbon, it will be evident that
the intermediate ribbon, which stretches across the printing-point, will also have a
rotary motion, and that the type will strike successively upon the circumference
of a circle which is embraced within the width of the ribbon. In one form of this
invention I provide means for shifting the ribbon lengthwise at the completion of
each revolution of the spool-supports a sufficient distance so that the type will not
strike exactly in the same places during the succeeding revolution. The move-
ments above outlined would cause the printing-point to travel relatively to the
ribbon in a series of overlapping circles, which circles would cross each other near
the margin of the ribbon, and thus the ribbon would be used more near the margin
than in the middle. When it is desirable to overcome this objection, 1 introduce
additional mechanism to cause the spools and ribbon to rotate faster when the
margins are passing the printing-point than when the middle portion is passing, and
I so graduate and vary the rotary movement of the ribbon that its entire surface
will be used practically to the same extent. In another form of my invention the
ribbon is moved lengthwise each time the spool-supports are moved, thereby
causing the printing-point to travel relatively to the ribbon in a continuous over-
lapping spiral line, such as is indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. I also provide
means for reversing the movement of the spools, so that the ribbon will wind from
either one onto the other.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, 1 indicates the spools, which
are mounted in spool-supports 2, consisting of U-shaped pieces having openings in
their upper ends to form bearings for the spool-shafts 3. To keep the spool-
supports in a constant relation to each other with the spool-shafts parallel, I
preferably connect both supports to a frame, consisting of a bar 4, extending
around the rear of the machine and bent at its ends into U-shaped portions 5, the
arms of which portions embrace the spool-supports. The spool-supports 2 are
perforated to receive the crank-pins 6 of idle-cranks 7, which revolve about shafts 8,
set in the frame. Upon a driving-shaft 9, arranged vertically in a frame 10 at the
rear of the machine, is a crank 11, having a crank-pin 12, which passes through a
perforation in the middle portion of the bar 4 of the connecting-frame. The
cranks 7 and 11 have exactly the same throw, and as they are situated out of line
when one of the cranks is turned the others follow, always remaining parallel to
each other, and thus imparting a simultaneous rotation to the frame, the spools,
and the ribbon.
If the driving-shaft 9 were given uniform rotary movement, the ribbon would be
used more near the margin than at the middle portion. To obviate this difficulty,
I use mechanism which will give the driving-shaft a slow movement when the
middle of the ribbon is at the printing-point and which will gradually increase the
rapidity of the movement as the margin of the ribbon approaches the printing-
point, and then gradually decrease the rapidity of the movement as the margin

page_text: recedes from the printing-point. In this way all portions of the ribbon may be
used to the same extent. The simplest form of mechanism for this purpose consists
of an elliptical ratchet-wheel 13, fixed upon the shaft 9 and operated by a broad
pawl 14, attached to a vibrating arm 15. The arm 15 extends upward from a rock-
shaft 16, which is rocked by the universal bar 17, underlying the key-levers, which
is connected to the rock-shaft by arms 18. The universal bar is commonly used in
type-writers for operating the carriage-feed mechanism, and it need not therefore
be more fully described herein. The arm 15 may be extended upward to operate
the escapement of the carriage-feed, if desired. It will be evident that when the
pawl is operating upon the teeth of the ratchet nearest to the driving-shaft the
shaft will rotate fastest, and that the rapidity of rotation will gradually decrease
until the pawl reaches the teeth which are farthest away from the shaft. The
ribbon 19 passes over guides 20, which, as shown, are formed of wires suitably bent
and attached to the connecting-frame of the spool-supports. Springs 21, held in
place by adjustable screws 22, retain the ribbon-shafts in their bearings and produce
any desired tension in the ribbon.
In order to feed the ribbon lengthwise once during each rotation, I attach to the
frame of the machine detents 23 and to each of the spool-shafts a ratchet-wheel-24.
As shown, the detents 23 consist of right-angled plates of spring metal rigidly
connected at one end to the main frame and normally out of contact with the
ratch-wheels, as shown on the left of Eig. 2. The detents may be pressed down
into the paths of the ratchet-wheels by means of thumb-screws 25, the one on the
right of Fig. 2 being shown so pressed down. A section of the ribbon 19 is shown
in Fig. 1, and on it dotted lines 26 indicate some of the successive circles of ribbon
which have been presented to the printing-point 27. As shown, the ribbon is
travelling in the direction of the arrow.
The operation of the devices above described is as follows: Each time a key-lever
is operated the universal bar is depressed, the rock-shaft vibrated, and the ratchet-
wheel and driving-shaft 9 moved slightly by means of the pawl 14. As the driving-
crank 11 is rotated the idle-cranks 7 are carried around simultaneously, all three
cranks continuing parallel to each other, so that the spool-supports receive a
simultaneous rotation. The pawl 23 on the right being held down by a set-screw
and the one on the left being up, as shown, when the spool reaches the pawl, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ratch-wheel 24 (which in this instance constitutes onc
end of the spool) will be engaged by the pawl, and as the spool-supports rotate the
spool on the right will be turned, winding up a portion of the ribbon in the direction
of the arrow. The spools and ribbon will then be carried through a complete circle
before the ribbon is again fed forward longitudinally, the speed of the rotation of
the spool-supports varying, as hereinbefore described.
In Fig. 4 I have shown another form of mechanism by which the variable rotation
of the spool-supports may be attained.. The pawl 28 rotates a circular ratchet-
wheel 29, and upon the same shaft with the ratchet-wheel is an elliptical gear 30,
which meshes with a second elliptical gear 31. From the second gear movement is
communicated to the driving-shaft by a pair of bevelled gears 32.
Referring to 5 to 9 of the drawings, 41 indicates the ribbon, a small portion only
being shown, and 42 indicates the spools. Each of the spools is mounted in a
spool-support consisting of a piece of sheet metal shaped and bent to form a base 43
and uprights 44, the uprights being provided with bearings for the spool-shafts.
Ribbon-guides 45 are also constructed of sheet metal and are preferably made
integral with the base. The spool-supports are both securely fastened to a curved
connecting-rod 46, and the supports and their connecting-rod are carried by two
idle-cranks 47 and 47 and a driving-crank 48, all of said cranks being of the same
size and having the same throw. The crank 48 is mounted upon the end of a
'driving-shaft 49, upon which is a ratchet-wheel 50. The ratchet-wheel is preferably
elliptical and is operated by a pawl 51 upon an arm 52 of a rock-shaft 53. The
rock-shaft may be vibrated in any convenient way, such as by being connected to a
universal bar under the key-levers.

page_text: Upon each of the spool-shafts is a bevel gear 54, which may form one end of the
spool, if desired, and upon the upper ends of the crank-pins of two of the cranks
are pinions 55, adapted to mesh with the gears 54. The spool-shafts 56 are movable
lengthwise in their bearings to a sufficient extent to engage and disengage the
gears 54 with the pinions, and for the purpose of holding them either in or out of
mesh with the pinions I provide grooves 57 in the spool-shafts and springs 58, arranged
to press into the grooves and prevent the shafts from shifting lengthwise, excepting
when they are moved purposely. As shown, there is a groove 57 upon each end of
cach shaft and a spring upon each bearing, the spring upon one bearing being
adapted to lock the gear in mesh with the pinion and the spring upon the opposite.
bearing being adapted to lock it out of engagement therewith. The crank 47 and
pinion 55 at one side of the type-writer are in the rear of the spool and the crank.
and pinion upon the opposite side of the type-writer are in front of the spool. In
order to drive the ribbon in the direction of the arrow, the spools are both pushed
toward the rear of the machine, as shown in Fig. 5.
When it is desired to change.
the direction of the ribbon, both spools are drawn toward the front of the machine,
which has the effect of disengaging one spool from its pinion and engaging the
other.
In operation the driving-crank and the idle-cranks rotate simultaneously and the..
spools and spool-supports are rotated bodily in a plane parallel with the plane of
the ribbon. At the same time the spool which is in gear with one of the pinions 55
is rotated upon its axis, and the ribbon thus moved lengthwise. The effect of these
movements is that the printing-point P travels relatively to the ribbon in a
continuous overlapping spiral, as indicated by the dotted line upon the ribbon in
Fig. 5.
Where the loops of the spiral cross near the margins of the ribbon, the.
ribbon would be used more than at other points if the rotary movement of the
cranks were uniform. To correct this is the function of the elliptical ratchet-
wheel 50. The ratchet-wheel 50 causes the ribbon to travel faster when its margin
is opposite the printing-point than during other parts of its rotation, and in this
way all parts of the ribbon are used substantially to the same extent.
Having, now particularly described &..ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as cominunicated to me by my foreign correspondent, & in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation to each other, and means for imparting rotation to said supports in a plane
substantially parallel with the plane of the ribbon.
2. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon, and spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation to each other, and means for imparting a variable rotary movement to
said supports in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the ribbon, whereby
the margin of the ribbon is made to travel over the printing-point more rapidly
than the middle portion.
3. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation to each other, means for rotating said supports, and elliptical gearing,
substantially as described, for varying the speed of the supports during cach
rotation.
4. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and ribbon-spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation to each other, cranks upon which said supports are carried, and means for
rotating the cranks simultaneously, substantially as described.
5. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation, means for imparting rotation to said supports in a plane substantially
parallel with the plane of the ribbon, ratchet-wheels connected with the spools, and

page_text: detents attached to fixed supports and movable into and out of engagement with
the ratchet-wheels, substantially as described.
6. In a type-writer ribbon-feeding mechanism, the combination, with a rock-shaft
and an arm and pawl carried thereby, of elliptical gearing operated by the pawl for
imparting a suitable movement to the ribbon, substantially as described.
7. In a type-writer ribbon-feeding mechanism, the combination, with a rock-
shaft and a broad pawl carried thereby, of a revoluble shaft and an elliptical
ratchet-wheel fixed upon the shaft, said pawl being arranged to engage the teeth of
the ratchet-wheel, whereby a variable movement is given to the shaft substantially
as described.
8. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation to each other, cranks for imparting a rotary movement to the spool-
supports, and connections between the cranks and the spools for rotating the latter
as the cranks revolve, substantially as described.
9. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and spools, of spool-
supports, connections between said supports for maintaining the spools in a constant
relation to each other, cranks for imparting a rotary movement to the spool-
supports, and gears upon the crank-pins and spool-shafts for rotating the spools
when the cranks are rotated, thereby imparting a spiral movement to the ribbon,
substantially as described.
10. In a type-writer, the combination, with the ribbon and ribbon-spools, of
spool-supports, spool-shafts mounted in said supports, cranks for imparting rotary
movement to said supports, gears mounted upon the crank-pins, and gears mounted
upon the spool-shafts, said shafts having a longitudinal movement in their bearings
to permit the gears to be engaged or disengaged, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.