Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899--Accepted, 1st Sept., 1900
4
[Communicated from abroad by THE IMPERIAL WRITING MACHINE COMPANY,
LIMITED, a corporation duly organized and existing under the Companies'
Act of the Dominion of Canada, and having its principal office and place
of business at Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, and said Dominion.]
Improvements in Typewriting Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
Reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing:-
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my new typewriting machine.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation from front to rear thereof on line 2--2 of
Figure 3 showing in full side elevation the preferred arrangement of the type-
bar actuating mechanism; the mechanism for raising and lowering the ink-
ribbon; and the mechanism for actuating the escapement in this view being in
normal position of rest.
Figure is a top plan view of said machine.
Figure 4 is a view partly in section on a portion of line 2-2 of Figure 3
showing in side elevation parts of the key-action, escapement and ribbon lifting
mechanism in positions the opposite of the positions of corresponding parts
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a detail of the escapement mechanism; of the droprack and air-
cushioning stop mechanism; and of the ribbon raising and lowering mechanism.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of a portion of the paper carriage.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of that end of the paper carriage which is shown
in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a detail, in plan view of the escapement mechanism provided with
rocking cam and air cushioning device.
Figure 9 is a top-plan view of ribbon feed mechanism.
Figure 10 is a view partly in section on line 10-10 of Figure 9. Figures 11
and 12 show details.
The main object of my invention is to produce a typewriting machine which
s silent in its operation.
Generally speaking. the objectionable noise produced by typewriting machines
n operation is mainly due (1) to impact of a type against the paper; (2) to con-
ussion of parts of the escapement mechanism; (3) to concussion, in the carriage
hift mechanism, arising from contact of a moving part with a stop; (4) to
oncussion of the paper carriage (when moved from left to right) with a marginal
top (5) and to concussion, in many constructions, arising from the impact of
he impression keys or some connected part with its arresting mechanism, this
oncussion being independent of that produced by the impact of the type with
he platen..

page_text: In constructing my new machine, I overcome the objections referred to by
air-cushioning the moving-member and stop, and in some parts of the machine
which do not readily permit of the use of air cushions by mechanical arrange-
ments which embody important features of my invention.
My invention consists in the combinations hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the best mode
now known to me of applying that principle, A is a main frame and A" A³
stationary rods supported by upright extensions a a¹ of frame A. See Figure 1.
Carriage B slides endwise on rods A¹ A² and is movable vertically from one
impression position to another, there being preferably three impression positions
and three characters in a type-head. Carriage B is provided with a lengthwise
groove bin which the projection (preferably in the form of a roll) of the
double rocker arm 62 projects. The platen l' is shifted from its normal, in this
case the highest, impression position, to its other impression positions by means
of this double rocker-arm and connections with the shift-key S. The stop Mis
combined with the carriage to arrest it at an intermediate impression position.
In my present machine, each end of the rocker-arm 62 is provided with an air-
cushioning device, in accordance with the main feature of my present invention
Dash-pots 1 B2 are mounted opposite the end portions of the rocker-arm
which rods are loosely jointed, each rod carrying a piston b. These dash-pots are
provided with valves which are seated on the inner surfaces of the dash-pots
and are exposed on the outer side. When neither end of the rocker arm is
moved towards a dash-pot, the piston 64 moving towards the bottom of the
dash-pot compresses the air therein and an air-cushion is formed which prevents
the noise that has heretofore arisen from the concussion of the ends of the rocker-
to
arm with stops provided for arresting it. As the air is being compressed,
it forces the valve 6 snugly on its seat and prevents escape of air through the
valve opening. But when the piston moves away from the bottom of the dash-
pot, atmospheric pressure on the outer surface of the valve lifts the valve off
its seat and prevents in the dash-pot the formation of a vacuum which would
tend to prevent the desired quick action of the machine.
For the most effective results, it is necessary that the effective air-cushion
should be formed at different points in the dash-pot B corresponding to the
different shifted positions of the paper carriage. Aud as, in this form of my
machine, the carriage has two shifted positions, provision is made for forming
an air-cushion at two points in the dash-pot B in the down stroke of its piston;
and provision is made for forming an air-cushion in dash-pot B2 on the return of
the carriage to its normal position. The paper carriage is shown in its highest
position. When the swinging stop m on stop-carrier M is in the path of the
projection m¹ on the double rocker-arm 62, the carriage is arrested at its interme-
diate impression position; and when the stop m is moved out of the path of
projection m', the carriage is arrested at its lowest impression position.
Referring now to the dash-pot B', and keeping in mind the fact that an effective
air cushion is to be formed, when the projection m¹ engages the stop m, to
minimize the noise of the contact thereon, it is to be noted that the wall of
the dash-pot has an orifice 66 which is covered by the piston 64 when the carriage
is at its intermediate position, (see, for the position of the piston 64 Figure 2)
the inward movement of the piston compressing the air and forming an air-
cushion which is effective at the moment the parts m and m³ contact. When an
air-cushion is to be formed for the lowest possible impression position of the
carriage, it is necessary that an air-cushion should not be formed at the
intermediate position, and I accordingly combine with the movable stop
mechanism. a valve 6 which is conveniently formed and operated as follows:
Dash-pots B¹ being formed with an orifice 68, (See Figure 2), the valve 67
(preferably in the form of a collar surrounding the dash-pot) is formed with an
orifice, (See Figure 1) when the stop m is moved out of the path of pro-
jection m, the valve 67 being connected by a link to the stop-carrier M,

page_text: stop m is moved out of the path of the projection m', by moving stop-carrier M
to the right (viewing the machine from the rear as shown in Figure 1) and the
collar or valve is thereby pulled around on the dash-pot B' to bring orifice 69
in line with orifice 68.. Consequently, as the piston 64 moves inwardly to make
5 the lowest air-cushion, imprisonment of the air is prevented by the open orifices be
and then by the coincident open orifices 68 and 69. But when the piston has
passed these coincident orifices 68, 69, the air is confined between the opposed walls
of the piston and the dash-pot thereby forming an air-cushion for the lowest
impression position of the carriage.
Referring now to dash-pot 12, wherein an air-cushion is formed to prevent noise
on the return of the paper-carriage to its normal or highest position, the orifice bu
near the lower end of this dash-pot prevents the imprisonment of air and conse-
quently the formation of an air-cushion therein until the piston 64 of this dash-pot
reaches the position which it takes when the carriage is reaching its highest
position. Then the piston + covers the orifice 6" and an air-cushion is formed.
Piston-rod of this dash-pot B2 is a loose fit in the top guide plate 612 of this
dash-pot and consequently an air-cushion is not formed between the upper or
back side of the piston and the top of the dash-pot B2 when the piston of dash-
pot B is moved down and the piston of dash-pot B2 given a coincident upward
movement.
But I do not wish to be understood to mean that a valve is in all cases
necessary in my air-cushioning devices.
In the present form of my invention, a rocker-arm 62 (See Figure 1) is journalled
on a projection a from frame A and the rocker-shaft A3, which forms part
of the connection of the rocker-arm 2 with the shift key S, is connected
with the rocker-arm. 2 by means of a link 613 attached at one end to an arm 14
on rocker-shaft A' and at the other end with the rocker-arm 62. This con-
struction enables me to mount the rocker A3 lower down in the machine than
heretofore, and to thereby more conveniently get it out of the way of the other
operating mechanism of the machine.
Heretofore much noise has been made by the concussion of the paper-carriage.
with the stop heretofore at the right-hand or return end of the carriage. In my
new machine, I provide carriage B with a suitable piston 615 at its return end
and mount a dash-pot 616 in line with this piston so that when the carriage is
returned an air-cushioning stop is formed, rendering the return noiseless. This
dash-pot (See Figures 1, 3 and 11) is also preferably provided with a valve 617
opened by the outward atmospheric pressure, to prevent the formation of a
vacuum in the dash-pot 616 on the return movement of the piston. In its present
form, the piston 15 is a centrally bored block or sleeve sliding on rod A2 and
forms part of the escapement rack-support and guide for the arm 618 of the
arriage B.
From the lengthwise grooved bar of the carriage, arms 18 and 19 project
nd are connected near their outer ends by the cross-bar 20
The cross-bar 2 connects the piston sleeve 15 and sleeve 22 (See Figures
6 and 7) and both sleeves slide on rod A2, the arms 618 and 619 being formed
ith grooves 30 in which enter and slide vertically the tongues 631 on the rear
des of the piston sleeve 65 and connected sleeve 622 Sleeves 15 and 22 with
he tie-rod or cross-bar 21 constitute a yoke, and in the sleeve or end pieces of
e yoke there is journalled a shaft carrying pinions 2 which mesh with
cks on the arm 18 and 19. See Figures 6, 7 and 2. This construction is
ot new in my present machine, but is described to more clearly set forth the
peration of my new platen. The platen P (See Figures 1 and 2) in this, my
ew machine, is wholly new in principle and embodies a very important feature
my present invention. Referring to the embodiment of this feature of my
vention now shown, platen P is a block which projects in front of the feed-
lls R R (See Figures 2 and 7) and over which the paper is fed for impression.
aten P has no movement towards the ends of the paper-carriage, but is movable

page_text: in a vertical path together with the paper-carriage to keep it always
in position to receive impression. The platen is loose on cross-rod 20 (see
Figures 1, 2 and 3) and is formed with a vertical guide-piece / mounted in
vertical ways ¹ formed in a block mounted fast on rod A'. It is desirable
in practice to suit different thicknesses of paper and in manifolding to give a
slight adjustment to the platen from and towards the type-bars, and I accordingly
mounted a truss 23 on frame A opposite block p² and interpose an adjusting
screw p between the truss and the block. Turning the screw in one direction
springs the bar or rod A¹ slightly inwards and thereby slightly moves the platen
nearer to contact position of the type-heads; and turning the screw in the opposite
direction allows the bar or rod to spring back to its normal position. This
adjustment is not essential and is always very slight. But it is an advantage
readily obtained. The great advantage of my new platen is that I obviate the use
of a feed-roll for that purpose. When a feed or other roll is used as a platen,
it speedily, becomes unequally worn and impairs that uniformity of impression
which is a recognized desideratum. My new platen on the contrary has but one
work surface and that is always in the same operative relation to the types.
Another advantage due to my new platen is that I am enabled to use very much
smaller feed-rolls. than heretofore and this cheapens and lightens the paper-
carriage.
i
The line-space mechanism of my new machine embodies other features of my
invention. See Figures 7, 6, 1 and 2. Feed-roll R journalled in arms 18 and i
is provided with a toothed segment r, loosely mounted on the shaft of the roll.
A rack is mounted in a guide. The rack has a slot within which there
projects a stud from arm 19. The rack-bar is preferably provided with a
piston working in a dash-pot 6 mounted on arm 9 so that an air-cushion is
formed for the rack-bar when brought to its normal position. The shaft or
roll R is provided with a ratchet fast thereon and toothed segment r carries a
pawl which meshes with the ratchet. The line space lever Rhas a tooth
that enters a recess 10 in rack-bar r and when lever R2 is moved inwardly, the
rack-bar is moved downwardly and as the rack-bar is in engagement with
pinion, this pinion is rocked to bring pawl against a tooth of ratchet i fast
on the shaft or journal of feed roll R which is thereby rotated to feed the paper
between itself and roll R', up over platen P, the upper end of the paper being
turned backwards. A spring 12 is used to keep pawl in working position
relatively to the ratchet 7. An auxiliary line-space lever R³ (See Figure 1)
is provided at the other end of the carriage so that the carriage may be con-
veniently returned. Lever R³ is pivoted to an ear of arm 618 and is connected
to lever R2 by a tie-rod so that movement given to either one of the levers is
communicated to the other lever. Escapement rack R (See Figures 5 and 8)
is provided with lugs 14 (See Figures 5 and 3) near its ends and these lugs are
pivoted in portions of sleeves 15 and 722 which slide on rod A². Rack R is so
mounted that it falls downwardly into the path of escapement R³, Figures 5 and S
of its own weight. One arm of a double rocker lever 17, Figures 3 and 5, which is
pivoted on piston sleeve 15 enters a notch in an end portion of the rack R. The
other arm of this lever 17 is formed with an upturned ever18. Lever R2 is pro-
vided with a projection 1, Figure 1, which is straddled by the slotted push rod R³
the farther end of which lies in the eye 18 and has a shoulder 20 adapted to
engage an adjacent portion of lever 17. A push on rod R5, when its shoulder is
in position to engage the lever r7 rocks lever 17 and rack R is thereby rocked on'
its pivots and out of the path of the escapement. A spring (not shown) returns
the push rod or drop rack trip to its normal position.
The eye 18 is large enough to permit the shouldered end-portion of the rod R³
to move freely and to be lifted so as to carry its shoulder out of engagement with
the lever This shouldered end of rod R projects beyond eye 18 and is
upturned to ride up over dash-pot 16 (which serves as an abutment) so that the
shoulder is carried out of engagement with the lever when the paper-carriage is

page_text: to the extreme right of the machine and the rack-bar allowed to drop back
into the path of the escapement.
Escapement tooth R* is pivoted on a block 22, on the rocker-bar 23, journalled
in uprights. This rocker-bar 22 has arms 25, 23 from which links 26, 725
5 extend to and support the universal bar 27 upon which impression keys K rest.
An abutment 28 on block 22 keeps the escapement tooth R* from displacement
and the block is provided with a tooth 29 which rocks into engagement with teeth
of the rack R when escapement tooth R* is rocked out of engagement with the
teeth of the rack. Block also supports an oscillating cam which is in constant
engagement with a side of the laterally oscillating. escapement tooth R* and this
cam is connected with a piston rod carrying a piston playing in dash-
pot 33
When the escapement tooth R** is in engagement with rack R*, tooth 720
is out of engagement with the rack as shown in Figure 2, and in engagement
in Figure 4. In Figure 8, which is a top plan view, the escapement tooth R** is
shown out of engagement with the rack and tooth in engagement with the rack.
In this position, piston is in its extreme position away from the bottom of the
dash-pot As shaft is rocked to carry tooth 29 out of engagement with
and escapement tooth R* into engagement with, rack R4, the paper carriage is
pulled along to the left by its actuating mechanism, and as the rack is carried
to the left with the paper-carriage, the oscillating escapement tooth R5* is swung
to the left against the cam thereby forcing the piston towards the bottom of
its dash-pot and forming an air-cushion. When escapement tooth R* is rocked
out of engagement with the rack and tooth 29 rocked into engagement therewith.
the compressed air in the dash-pot expands and as
escapement tooth Ra* is now free to move, it is pressed back against its abut-
the laterally oscillating
ment into the position to enter the next space between teeth of the rack
R4, by the expansion of air against piston
.
Block 22, which is in effect a part of rocker-shaft 23 is connected by arm. 734
and a link attached to the arm with a spring which is secured to any
suitable part of frame A. Whenever the universal bar 27 is depressed by
depression of an impression key K or by depression of the spacing frame. K
(see Figure 3) members of which also rest on the universal bar, shaft 2 is
rocked throwing escapement tooth R* upwardly against the tension of spring
which serves to rock the escapement tooth back into engagement with the rack
when the key or spacing frame is released.
Movably secured upon a type-bar plates is a series of type-bars s each carrying
plurality of type, the number thereof (in this case three) being limited only by
the number of different vertical positions assumed by the carriage B. These.
ype-bars s radiate from the platen P, and their endwise movement from and to
he platen P is controlled by guides . The source of this movement is the
mpression keys K, to which the type-bars s are connected by toggle and cam
onnections. The toggle has one member pivoted to type-bars, and the
ther member to an ear forming part of an adjustable block 2 movably secured
a shelf T.
This second member has a cam slot sand in it plays a cam-pin mounted on
n extension 10 of one member of a second toggle joint, said members being
ivoted to an ear integral with the adjustable block 2, while the other member
a link having a pivot on the impression key K. Depression of the
pression key K draws links downwardly; the cam slot and cam-pin s
row the member of toggle forward bringing the link 2 of the foggle in line
ith the type bar s connected thereto. That the type bar head, at the end of the
rward movement towards the platen P, may, with the others, have uniformity
impression, I provide an adjustable block 2, and clamp it upon shelf T by means
a clamping screw #passing through a slot in the block 2 and entering shelf T
ich is provided with a set screw which engages the butt end of block. By
sening clamping screw, the block is readily moved into any desired position
its shelf T and secured in the desired position by the clamping screw t and

page_text: set screw (³, whereby tlie range of movement of the type-bar is adjusted and
controlled.
In my present machine, see Figure 2, each key-lever K rests on a rocking
cam journalled on a cross-rod and held in place against its key by a
spring one end of which is conveniently attached to the lever arm 3 of the cam
and the other end to a cross-bar kt. Cross-rod and cross-bar are conveniently
mounted in opposite sides of frame A. When a key-lever is depressed, the
rocker-cam supports it during its downward motion and at the end of the down-
ward motion silently arrests the key-lever without any concussion whatever.
This is a very important feature of my invention, and is one of the most
important factors in the production of my present silent typewriting machines.
The ink-ribbon I is supported between the platen and type-heads by swinging
guides hinged to levers which are hinged at conveniently to the underside
of the type-head supporting plate. These levers rest preferably on flanged
guide rolls journalled in rocker-arms it, one for each lever i from rocker-shaft 123.
Ribbon I is wound from one spool I by means of a pawl engaging the ratchet?"
of a spool. Pawl is attached to a swinging lever 17, fulcrumed at 8, and connected
by link with rocker-arm Pawl is loosely jointed to the actuating. lever
so as to be swung into working position with either spool I. The pawl is
supported by and slides down the inclines 10, 11, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
It will be obvious to all skilled in the art that my machine may be widely
varied in many respects without departure from my invention.
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 typewriting machine, the combination of a feed-rack, an escapement
device comprising a rolling-cam, a piston and dash-pot, the piston being connected
to a rolling cam.
2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a vertically adjustable, end-
wise moving paper carriage; a stop-carrier; a double rocker-lever; a pair of
piston-rods and pistons and co-operating dash-pots, one piston rod, piston and
dash-pot being provided for each arm of said double-rocker-lever.
3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a feed-roll with a pinion
loose on the roll; a sliding rack; a ratchet fast on the feed roll; a pawl on said
pinion and a line space lever engaging said rack.
4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a feed roll with a pinion loose
on the roll; a sliding rack; a ratchet fast on the feed roll; a pawl on said
pinion a line space lever engaging said rack; a piston on the rack and a dash-
pot for the piston.
5. In a typewriting machine. the combination of a paper carriage; a toothed
rack extending endwise thereof; a rocking-block carrying a plurality of escape-
ment teeth, one of which is pivoted on the block and carrying also a rocking
cam which engages the pivoted escapement tooth; and means for actuating the
cam.
6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a paper-carriage; a toothed
rack extending endwise thereof; a rocking-block carrying a plurality of escape-
ment teeth one of which is pivoted on the block; a rocking cam mounted on
said block; and a device for silently operating the rocking cam and pivoted
escapement tooth, said device comprising as complementary members a piston
and dash-pot, one of which is connected with the rocking-cam.
7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of type-carriers:
a plurality of impression-key-levers connected with said type-carriers; a
universal bar in the path of said key-levers; and a plurality of rolling cams one
for each key-lever.
8. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of an endwise recipro
cating and vertically adjustable paper carriage; a double-rocker-arm connected

page_text: therewith; a piston and dash-pot, one of which is carried by an arm of the double-
rocker-arm; a movable stop mechanism; and a valve connected therewith; said
dash-pot having an orifice controlled by said valve.
9. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a loosely mounted
escapement rack with a double-rocker-lever, an arm of which is connected witli
said rack; and a push-rod engaging with said double-rocker-lever, and extending
crosswise the machine.
10. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a loosely mounted
escapement rack with a double-rock-lever, an arm of which is connected with
said rack; a push-rod engaging with said double-rocker-lever; and an abutment;
said push-rod having a projecting end which rides on said abutment when the
paper carriage is at an end of the machine.
as
11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an endwise movable and
vertically adjustable paper-carriage with a series of endwise movable type-bars,
each carrying a plurality of types; a series of impression-keys and of toggle-
connections for the impression-keys and
supports, substantially
type-bars; silently operating
set forth, for the impression keys; a silently
operating stop device substantially such as
paper carriage when it is returned; silently operating stop devices, substantially
described for arresting the
as described, for both the upward and downward movement of the paper-car-
riage; and an intermittent feed mechanism for the paper carriage comprising a
rack and escapement with silently actuating devices therefor said devices being
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of Aumust 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.