Improvements in Type Writers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type Writers.
I, CHARLES SPIRO of 129-131 Crosby Street New York in the United States of
America, Gentleman, 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 has relation to means for aligning typewriting machines the
principal features of the invention being to provide a matrix of the type to be aligned
which matrix can be supplied to a machine temporarily. Matrices on a plate or bar
may be applied to the machine so as to partake of the movement of the platen and
be presented successively at the printing point and thereby serve to align the type of
the machine. Heretofore aligning devices have involved the principle of a guide
fixedly mounted on the machine at the printing point so that each type in approaching
the printing point is truly directed by said guide and when therein the type bar
bracket is secured so that thereafter when the guide is removed the bar will bring the
type to the printing point. Aligning devices embodying this principle of operation
affect the alignment through the medium of the body or shank of the type without
regard to the actual printing surface whereas in my invention the actual printing
surface is the part which is employed to determine the alignment of the type.
By reason of the usual arrangement of the type bars (whereby they all converge in
operation to the printing point) the printing surfaces of the various types are arranged
at various angles with relation to the longitudinal median line of the type bars upon
which they are mounted or by which they are carried. In this usual arrangement
the type on a central bar of a series is transposed with its vertical median line sub-
stantially agreeing with the median line of the bar which carries it while the type on
the bars at either side of the central bar are arranged angularly with relation to the
median line of the bar, those at one side at an opposite angle to those at the other
side. The necessity of this arrangement lies in the fact that each type must be so
arranged on the bar as to give a vertical true impression at the printing point. Aside
.from this requisite in the arrangement of each type on or in its bar, my invention in
several modifications includes in its uses and purposes the alignment of the types with
regard to the spaces between the impression thereof and also with regard to the
straightness of the printed line produced thereby.
The object of my invention therefore may be considered as being the provision of
type matrices and suitable mechanical devices for accomplishing the various align-
ments specified so that the labor which is employed may be, as to the degree of skill
required, ordinary in contradistinction to the higher grade of skill heretofore required
in alignment during the manufacture and alignment of machines.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following
description and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawing:
Fig. 1 is a plan of a platen and carriage frame of a typewriter the type bar bracket
plate being shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 2. is a plan and side elevation partly in section, of matrix bar.
Fig. 3. is a vertical transverse section of a carriage and platen of the typewriter
and of the matrix bar with the portion of a type bar and other devices in side
elevation.
Fig. 4. is a plan on an enlarged scale of a portion of the matrix bar.
Fig. 5. is a section on the line x. of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. is an enlarged perspective of a type.
Fig. 7. is a diametrical vertical section of a matrix disc, and,
Fig. 8 is a plan showing one manner of connecting the matrix disc to a machine.

page_text: Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.
A. represents the platen of a typewriting machine which is of the usual construction
and mounted in the carriage frame A. 1. in the usual manner. B. represents the type
bar and C. the type bar bracket which may be of any usual construction and mounted
upon any suitable base C. 1.
D. represents the type which is secured to the type bar B. in this instance by
inserting its shank D. 1. into a socket B. 1. formed by bending the end of the type
bar. Any suitable or well known mechanical connection of the type with the bar
may be employed.
E. represents what I have designated as a matrix plate which may be in bar, disk
or other form which is preferably connected with or mounted (by means of screws E. 1.
or otherwise) upon the carriage so as to partake of the step-by-step movement of the
carriage whereby different positions of the matrix bar or disk may be successively
brought to the printing point of the machine.
succession.
The matrix bar or disk is provided on one side (or it may be both sides) with
matrices of each type in the machine arranged in their natural or any other desired
As shown in the matrices E. 2. the capital and lower case letters follow
each other in their natural succession. Each matrix is preferably that of the printing
surface portion of the type or it may include in addition to said portion the body
of the type immediately adjacent to the printing surface portion as shown at E. 2X
Figs. 4 and 5.
"
I am aware that the term "printing surface" generally indicates that portion
of the type only on which ink is deposited and from which ink is transferred to the
paper or other material on which an impression of the type is made. By the term
"printing surface portion of a type I mean not only the printing surface proper
but the material of the type which projects from its body proper and which possesses
I include in the
a form approximately agreeing with that of the printing surface.
term "body "the portion from which the printing surface portion projects and this
body may be of uniform size or reduced to spindle form.
Referring to Fig. 6. the type D. has the printing surface portion D. 1. projecting
from the body D. 2. X which body terminates in the spindle D. 1. Now the peculiar
characteristic of my invention lies in the fact that the alignment of the type is
controlled by contact with its printing surface portion and if desired by said portion
and its body. In the first case the matrix bar is provided with matrices E. 2. con-
forming to the printing surface portion of the type only. In the other case the bar
is provided with a matrix E. 2. X. for the body D. 2. X. of the type. So far as the
employment of a matrix bar mounted on or capable of partaking of the step by step
movement of the carriage is concerned it may be adapted for the purpose in view by
being provided with matrices adapted to receive the body D. 2. X. only of the type.
In this case all of the types employed should have a uniform body and have their
printing surface portions disposed thereon in accordance with the requirements of
the case such as the relative position of the bar in the curved series of the machine
to which said type is secured. This form of matrix is illustrated at E. 3. Fig. 5.
and in the sectional portion of Fig. 2. Notwithstanding this apparent modification
in the form of the matrix my preferred form is a matrix which receives the printing
surface portion only of the type.
In Figs. 7. and 8. the matrices are illustrated as being formed in or on a disk and
on either or both surfaces thereof. This disk is mounted on a standard as F. and
retained thereon by a thumb nut F. X. and is provided with marginal teeth to mesh
with a rack bar E. 1. X. secured to the carriage by screws E. 1. so that the disk
shall partake of the step-by-step movement of the carriage and thus present successive
matrices at the printing point. Mechanical skill will suggest various arrangements
of mechanisms for giving the matrix bar or disk the required movement or said
movement may be given to it by hand. It is apparent also that the matrix for each
type may be formed on a separate piece and presented in any desired manner and by
any desired mechanism to the printing point but for apparent reasons I prefer to

page_text: have the matrices formed in the series in or on
a bar, disk or other form.
one part or plate whether it be
It will now be seen that when manufacturing machines and for the purpose not
only of aligning the type and type bars thereof but also for the purpose of connecting
the types to the bars it is only necessary for the matrix plate, bar or disk mounted
upon or connected with the carriage of the machine to insert the printing surface
portion of the type into its proper matrix and to bring the free end of the proper
type bar (if desired by a depression of the proper key of the machine) over the type
to introduce the spindle D. i. of the type into the socket of the bar and to secure the
same by a drop of solder or other means. At the same time this is done the type bar
bracket C. may be secured to its proper base whereby the bar itself is aligned.
To facilitate this operation I have illustrated one of the many forms of a type
holding device which may be employed. In this instance and in the use of this and
other equivalent devices a standard F. is temporarily secured to the carriage and on
the standard is mounted an arm F. 1. Fig. 3. on which is arranged a type holding
clamp G. of any suitable form. In this instance the clamp consists of two blades
pivotally mounted on the arm F. 1. by a thumb screw C. 2. so that when the blades
embrace the spindle D. 1. of a type they may be securely held in position by tightening
the screw G. 2. Another means of supporting the type holding clamp is shown in
Fig. 1. which means involves the ink ribbon guide rod H. projecting from the bar
lock plates I. in the machine when these parts are present. The arm F. 1. in this
instance is perforated laterally to embrace the rod H. instead of vertically to embrace
the standard F. as shown in Fig. 3. and a binding screw F. 2. is employed to bind
the same in a desired position opposite the printing point of the machine.
It is apparent that when the matrix bar is used in machines which print upon the
under side of the platen said matrix plate can be mounted on the carriage to perform
its function and that the suitable type holding clamp can if desired be used in con-
nection therewith and I deem it proper to state that my invention comprehends any
ordinary adaptation of the same in the class of machines.
The distance apart at which the matrices E. 2. of the bar E. may be made is a
matter of judgment, but there is a material advantage in gaging that distance in
accordance with the distance that the carriage travels in each step-by-step movement.
Therefore I space the matrices apart equalling the distance the carriage travels at
each step. This distance may be from one tooth to another of the carriage and a rack
bar. In cases where the normal movement of the carriage is more than a single
tcoth of the rack bar then the matrices are spaced with regard to the movement
of the carriage independent of the number of teeth in the bar passed by the
escapement employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An aligner for the type of a typewriting machine consisting of a matrix of the
type to be aligned.
2. An aligner for the type of a typewriting machine consisting of a matrix of
the type to be aligned combined with the matrix supporting devices, substantially
as specified.
3. An aligner for the type of a typewriting machine consisting of a plate provided
with matrices of the type to be aligned, substantially as specified.
4. An aligner for the type of a typewriting machine consisting of a plate provided
with matrices of the several type to be aligned adapted for connection with the
carriage of the machine, substantially as specified.
5. An aligner bar for typewriting machines provided with matrices of the printing
portions of the type substantially as specified.
6. The combination with the carriage of a typewriting machine, of an aligner
for the type consisting of a bar provided with type matrices, substantially as
specified.

page_text: 7. The combination with the carriage of a typewriting machine, of an aligner for
the type consisting of a matrix bar mounted thereon and a type holding clamp,
substantially as specified.
8. The combination with the carriage of a typewriting machine of an aligner for
the type consisting of a matrix bar having type matrices arranged in a line thereon
and spaced in accordance with the step-by-step movement of the carriage, substantially
as specified.
9. A type holding clamp provided with a screw, pivoted for binding the edges of
the clamp in position to retain a type, in combination with an aligner consisting of
a bar provided with matrices of the type to be aligned, substantially as specified.
Dated this 11th day of September 1889.
CHARLES SPIRO.
By Huelser & Co.,
Attorneys.