Year: 1887

page_text: For ordinary use the rotating of the rollers by means of the thumb nuts f and g
will answer every desired purpose. But as my invention consists in the utilization of
a travelling strip or ribbon of paper or other equivalent material, I, in some cases
provide motive power which may be a coiled spring, or which may he pneumatic, or
which may be hydrolic, or which may be electrical, or which may be any other
suitable motive power actuating and driving any suitable wheels, shafting, levers or
other transmitting mechanism. I will now proceed to describe a few suitable methods
of transmitting the motive power, but I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not
confine myself to the methods hereinafter described. On reference to sheet 1 figure 2
it will be observed that I provide a spring box h actuated by a spring. The spring is
secured to the arbor j. The arbor j is formed with a square end taking into a recess k.
A driving wheel is provided taking into a transmitting wheel m. The transmitting
wheel is secured to the shaft n. The two pulleys are also secured. to the shaft n. The
driving gear is shown out of action. The operator wishing to put it in action would
draw out the square part of the arbor from its bearing k by means of the knob o.
The driving wheel would then be geared into the transmitting wheel m. and thus
rotate the shaft n together with the pulleys attached thereto. Elastic bands p and q
are provided, connected to the top roller b and the bottom roller c; to convey motion
to the top roller the withdrawn arbor would be pressed downwards by means of the
knob o and thus liberate the elastic band and consequently transmit the rotating
motion from the shaft n to the roller 6 by means of the elastic band p. As this is the
ordinary motion required in carrying the paper upwards it would be used con-
tinuously with few exceptions the exceptions being when it became necessary to refer
to the manuscript on the top, roller b. In such cases the withdrawn arbor would be
pressed upwards by means of the knob o, thus releasing the elastic band p and
tightening the elastic band 7, thereby transmitting power from the shaft m to the
bottom roller c. A second method of operating the top and bottom rollers is
illustrated on sheet 2; spring boxes and are provided near the top and bottom
rollers. An oscillating shaft is provided for the purpose of throwing the top or
bottom rolls in gear. Figure 5 represents the top rolls in gear, the transmitting
wheel t gearing into the roller wheel u; But although the power is represented ready
to rotate, the roller a the roller is stationary being secured in position by means of
the paul v.
The paul takes into the driving wheel t as clearly represented at w
figure 7 the paul is kept in position by means of the spring a figure 7. The operator
wishing to revolve the top roller would press the pedal y thus radiating the lever on
its axial pin a a raising the back end of the lever which contains the shank end of
the paul the paul would be thereby radiated on its axle pin bb. and so withdraw
the point cc of the paul & from between the teeth of the driving wheel. When the
operator wishes to set in motion the bottom rollers he would radiate the bar s on its
axle pin d d. and thus slide the driving wheel ee into the bottom roller wheel ff.
thereby conveying motion to the bottom roller f f the action of the lever s radiating
on its axial pin in the manner described would slide the driving wheel t out of gear
with the wheel of the top roller u; the driving wheel ee then being in contact with
the driving wheel of the bottom roller ff would remain stationary until the pedal 99
was pressed by the operator to release the paul in the manner herein before described
in reference to the top roller.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another method of conveying motive power to the top
and bottom rollers. A crown wheel h h is provided, gearing into a pinion jj. The
pinion jj is secured to a shaft kk. The shaft k k carries a pulley 11; a pulley m m is
secured to the top roller. A band nn connects the pulley to the pulley m m thus
it will be apparent that the crown wheel hh gearing into the pinion jj revolves the
shaft kk and thus conveys motion to the pulley ll the motion being transmitted by
means of the band n n to the pulley m m provided on the end of the roller b. The
motive power would be used or retained by means of the friction discs o o. p p. The
friction disc o o. would be secured to the shaft k k and would revolve with the shaft..
The friction disc p p would run loose on the shaft. The lever rod g¹g would, by the
action of the spring r press the surface of the fixed friction disc o o against the

page_text: moving disc pp & thus prevent the shaft k k from revolving. The operator having filled
his sheet near to the bottom a a could by simply pressing the knob ss release the
friction disc p p and thus allow the shaft kk to revolve and move the ribbon of paper
the desired distance.
In addition to the rollers herein before described and illustrated carrying the
ribbon of paper I, in some cases immediately above and parallel thereto provide a
roller or rollers covered with blotting paper or other substitute for blotting
paper. These blotting rollers would be free to revolve at the same speed as the
travelling ribbon of paper. Blotting may also be done by attaching a ribbon of
blotting paper of the length and width of the writing paper, lying parallel with the
writing paper but on the opposite side thereof. The paper may be renewed on the
rollers by slipping the rollers out of the frame; then changing the paper and slipping
the rollers back again into the frame. Provision for so doing is shown on the
drawings, but I do not confine myself to one particular method of shipping the
rollers. The circle of paper may be revolved by friction which can be obtained by
passing the paper between two rollers geared to bear upon each other. By circulating
the ribbon of paper around two intermediate rollers, the paper can be written upon on
both sides, the frame of the machine being shaped and adapted to suit the additional
rollers provided for blotting and circulating. The machine may be made pocket size,
or it may be made to be fixed to a desk, table, or on any convenient site. Large
machines can be worked by a pedal attachment, in which case a moter would not be
necessary or of utility.
Having now particularly 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 utilization of a ribbon or strip of paper in combination with a writing surface,
one end of the ribbon or strip of paper being wound on a roller or rollers near the
top of the writing surface, the other end of the ribbon being wound on a roller or
rollers provided on the bottom edge of the writing surface for the purpose of
facilitating the labors of reporters and simplifying the present system of Shorthand
Note Books.
2nd. The methods of automatically working the spindles and rollers as illustrated
and described.
3rd. The utilization of motive power for the purpose of moving a ribbon or strip of
paper across a writing surface.
Dated this 17th dov of November 1887
THOMAS CLIFFORD.