Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, FRIEDRICH SOENNECKEN, manufacturer of Poppelsdorf at Bonn on the Rhine in
the province of the Rhine, German Empire do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
My improvements in writing machines herein after described, consist in constructing
the machine in such a manner, that whilst a clear and sure print is secured the
apparatus on account of its simplicity is cheap and durable.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawings
in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the machine with the lower front part in section
along line a ẞ in fig. 2 for the sake of greater clearness.
Fig. 2 shows a plan of the machine.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 4 a cross section along the line y 8 in fig. 2, showing the machine in the act
of printing a letter.
The construction of the machine is as follows:
To the frame a a is hinged the frame 6 b. This frame has attached to its under
side the plate 6' which has a hole c in its middle just large enough to admit one letter
of the type; to the top side of this plate b¹ is fixed the ink pad p shown in dotted
lines fig. 3, to which pad the whole of the letters on the type blocks are pressed in
printing each letter herein after more fully described (figs. 2 and 4). The rod c¹ is
fixed in this frame at the points c² c² and extends along the whole length of the same.
On this rod the type block e e is hinged and horizontally moveable by means of the
two wire hinges or hooks ff. These hooks ff, as will be seen from the drawing
fig. 4, do not hold the type block direct on to the rod c¹ but extend some distance
behind the same, so that if desired, the type block may be drawn forwards in the direction
of the arrow in fig. 4. The handle d is fixed to the middle of the type block and
may be placed into any of the notches in the plate c³ fixed to the edge of the frame b ;
on the upper side of the front of the frame is fixed the register 9 g. Returning
to the type block;-on to the under side of the same are two alphabets represented
by the dotted lines in fig. 2 and seen in cross section in fig. 4; x is an alphabet in
capital-Z in small letters. When now the handle on the type block e e is drawn
forwards in the direction of the arrow in fig. 4 a capital letter will be brought over
the opening c and printed; should the type block be pushed backwards or in the
position shown in fig. 4, a letter of the small-letter alphabet stands over the opening c
and will be printed.
Now to the mechanism for transporting the paper: In the front part of the machine
frame a a is a double groove s s¹ and in the shallow grooves which runs along the
whole length of the machine frame, the frame q-bent over at its ends to form the
bearing qq for the two rollers his horizontally moveable. Along the middle of
the bottom of this framework 99 runs a ratch rr (fig. 1), the frame is held from
springing out of the groove by means of plate k. (Fig. 2).
In the deeper groove s¹ is a rod 1 (fig. 1) round which a spring ; is coiled. This
spring is fastened at one end to the rod itself and at the other to a pin running
across the groove. On one end of the rod is the button whilst to the other a
string m is attached which string m passes round the pulley m¹ and is attached to
the lever t (in fig. 3). This levert is firmly fixed by means of three screws to the
end of the upper frame b. In the middle of the rod is fixed on the same a spring t¹
which passes under the pin u and then fits into the teeth of the ratch (fig. 1). When
a letter is being printed, the upper frame b is pressed down, as shown in fig. 4, and

page_text: consequently the levert will be moved a little (just the length of one tooth of the
ratch) in the direction of the arrow in fig. 3. By this movement of the levert the
rod will be pulled in the direction of the arrow in fig. 1, the spring catch t¹ will
be drawn under the pin u and in consequence held away from the ratch and the
spring will be stretched. As soon as the letter has been printed, the springs uu
press the upper frame bb upwards into the position in fig. 3, the spring jj being
released by the lever t, contracts pulling the rod 1 to the left as in fig. 1 and the
spring catch t¹ passes behind the next tooth of the ratch pulling it one tooth further
and with it the frame 9 9 and rollers h¹ and the paper which lies between them.
The roller is held in its bearings by the spring i (fig. 3) and the roller has a
rod n which projects beyond the macbine and has a button n¹ which may be con-
veniently taken hold of by the fingers. The roller h has further a disc 2 on its
end which has small notches in its rim in which the roller h¹ can rest-but the
notches are not deep enough to allow the paper to slip about between the rollers;
it has further four or five india rubber rings round it h³ ³ which effectually prevent
any slipping of the paper. The object of the button n¹ and the notched disc h²
is the following when a line of letters has been printed and a new line is to be begun,
the button on the rod is pressed in the direction of the arrow in fig. 1 whereby
the spring catch t¹ is held out of the ratch; the frame qq with it rollers h and h¹
will at the end of the line have reached its extreme left position and must then be
drawn by means of the button n¹ to the extreme right (fig. 1) and the button n¹
must be turned round until the upper roller h¹ snaps into the next notch on the
disch when the paper will have been passed through exactly so far as the required
distance between the lines. The notched disc has the object of maintaining an equal
distance between each of the lines of the letter to be printed.
The working of the machine is as follows:
The roller frame qq is placed in position that is to say at the extreme right in
fig. 1 and the paper is fed into the rollers (by turning the button n¹) until it has
reached the position shown in fig. 4.
The forefinger of the writer is then placed through the ring of the handle d of the
type block and handle lifted up a little, pulled out or pushed in according as to
whether a capital or small letter is required then moved horizontally to the right or
to the left and placed in the notch in the plate e which lies against the letter on
the register required to be printed by which means the corresponding letter on the
under side of the type block will be brought over the opening c in the plate b¹. The
handle is then pressed slightly but quickly down into the notch by which means
the whole upper frame b is pressed down, the hole c pressed over the pad o¹ and the
required letter printed on the paper lying between, at the same time the whole of
the letters, figures and signs on the under side of the type block are pressed on to the
ink pad p. When now the handle d is raised to be placed into the notch opposite
the next letter required, the frame 6 springs up under influence of springs u u¹ the
rollers are transported one tooth towards the left in fig. 1, as previously described
when the next letter can be printed and so on until the line is finished when the roller
frame must be pulled back to its original place at the right hand side of fig. 1 and
the button n' burned, in the manner previously described.
Dated this 6th day of June 1889.
FRIEDRICH SOENNECKEN.
By Rayner & Cassell,
hancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, FRIEDRICH SOENNECKEN, manufacturer of Poppelsdorf at Bonn on the Rhine in
the province of the Rhine, German Empire, 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 Improvements in writing machines hereinafter described consist in constructing
the machine in such a manner, that whilst a clear and sure print is secured the
apparatus on account of its simplicity is cheap and durable.
In order to make my Invention more clear, I refer to the drawings sent in with
provisional Specification, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the
several views.
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the machine with the lower front elevation part
in section along line a ẞ in Fig. 2 for the sake of greater clearness.
Fig. 2 shows a plan of the machine.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 4 is a cross section along the line y d in Fig. 2, showing the machine in the act
of printing a letter.
The construction of the machine is as follows:
To the frame a a is hinged the frame b b. This frame has attached to its under
side the plate 61 which has a hole c in its middle just large enough to admit one
letter of the type; to the top side of this plate 61 is fixed the ink pad p shown in
dotted lines Fig. 3, to which pad the whole of the letters on the type blocks are
pressed in printing each letter hereinafter more fully described (Figs. 2 & 4). The
rod c¹ is fixed in this frame at the points e² ² and extends along the whole length of
the same.
On this rod c' the type block e e is hinged and horizontally moveable by
means of the two wire hinges or hooks ff. These hooks ff, as will be seen from the
drawing Fig. 4, do not hold the type block direct on to the rod c¹ but extend some
distance behind the same, so that if desired, the type block may be drawn forwards
in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. The handle d is fixed to the middle of the
type block and may be placed into any of the notches in the plate c³ fixed to the
edge of the frame b; on the upper side of the front of the frame b is fixed
the register gg. Returning to the type block on to the under side of the same are
two alphabets x z represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 and seen in cross section
in Fig. 4; is an alphabet in capital- in small-letters. When now the handle on
the type block e e is drawn forwards in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, a capital
letter will be brought over the opening c and printed; should the type block be
pushed backwards or in the position shown in Fig. 4, a letter of the small letter-
alphabet stands over the opening c and will be printed.
Now to the mechanism for transporting the paper: In the front part of the
machine frame a a is a double groove's s¹ and in the shallow grooves which runs
along the whole length of the machine frame, the frame gy-bent over at its ends to
form the bearing q₁ q', for the two rollers his horizontally moveable. Along
the middle of the bottom of this frame work 7 9 runs a ratch r r, Fig. 1, the frame is
held from springing out of the groove by means of plate k. Fig. 2.
In the deeper groove s¹ is a rod 1, Fig. 1, round which a spring ; is coiled. This
spring is fastened at one end to the rod itself and at the other to a pin running
across the groove. On one end of the rod is the button l, whilst to the other a
string m is attached-which string m passes round the pulley m¹ and is attached to
the lever t, in Fig. 3. This lever t is firmly fixed by means of three screws to the
end of the upper frame b. In the middle of the rod l¹ is fixed on the same a spring t¹
which passes under the pin u and then fits into the teeth of the ratch, Fig. 1.
a letter is being printed, the upper frame b is pressed down, as shown in Fig. 4, and
consequently the lever t will be moved a little (just the length of one tooth of the
When

page_text: ratch) in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. By this movement of the levert the
rod, will be pulled in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the spring-catch t¹ will
be drawn under the pin u and in consequence held away from the ratch and the
spring will be stretched. As soon as the letter has been printed, the springs u¹ u²
press the upper frame bb upwards into the position in Fig. 3, the spring being
released by the lever t, contracts pulling the rod to the left as in Fig. 1 and the
spring catch t' passes behind the next tooth of the ratch pulling it one tooth further
and with it the frame 9 9 and rollers, and the paper which lies between them.
The roller is held in its bearings by the spring i, Fig. 3, and the roller h has a
rod n which projects beyond the machine and has a button n¹ which may be con-
veniently taken hold of by the fingers. The roller h has further a disc h² on its end
which has small notches in its rim, in which the roller can rest-but the notches
are not deep enough to allow the paper to slip about between the rollers; it has
further four or five india-rubber rings round it h³ ³, which effectually prevent any
slipping of the paper. The object of the button n' and the notched disc h² is the
following: When a line of letters has been printed and a new line is to be begun, the
button on the rod is pressed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 whereby
the spring catch t¹ is held out of the ratch; the frame q q with its rollers / and h³
will at the end of the line-have reached its extreme left position and must then be
drawn by means of the button n' to the extreme right, Fig. 1, and the button n' must
be turned round until the upper roller h, snaps into the next notch on the disc h²
when the paper will have been passed through exactly so far as the required distance
between the lines. The notched disc has the object of maintaining an equal distance
between each of the lines of the letter to be printed.
The working of the machine is as follows:
The roller frame 9 9 is placed in position-that is to say at the extreme right in
Fig. 1 and the paper is fed into the rollers, (by turning the batton n',) until it has
reached the position shown in Fig. 4.
The forefinger of the writer is then placed through the ring of the handled of the
type block and handle lifted up a little, pulled out or pushed in according as to
whether a capital or small letter is required then moved horizontally to the right or
to the left and placed in the notch in the plate c³ which lies against the letter on the
register required to be printed by which means the corresponding letter on the under
side of the type block will be brought over the opening c in the plate bl. The handle
is then pressed slightly but quickly down into the notch by which means the whole
upper frame b is pressed down, the hole e pressed over the pad o' and the required
letter printed on the paper lying between, at the same time the whole of the letters,
figures and signs on the under side of the type block are pressed on to the ink pad p.
When now the handle d is raised to be placed into the notch opposite the next letter
required, the frame 6 springs up under influence of springs u u¹ the rollers are
transported one tooth towards the left in Fig. 1, as previously described when the
next letter can be printed and so on until the line is finished when the roller frame
must be pulled back to its original place at the right hand side of Fig. 1 and the
button n burned, in the manner previously described.
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:
1. Two frames a and b hinged together, the frame 6 bearing a slide, with the types,
the slide being provided with a handle d, in combination with the paper feeding
rollers h h¹ and with a transporting device for the paper moved by the hinged frame b,
for the purpose as described.
2. The combination of frame a, frame b, hinged to the same, type block e, rollers h
and h³, rod 1, spring ;, pulley m¹ and lever t, in the manner and for the purpose sub-
stantially as described.
3. The combination of frame b having plate 6¹ with hole c, with ink pad p with

page_text: rod c¹, type block e having types xy and handle d, and with pad o¹ and
springs uu, register g and notched plate e³, in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
4. The combination of frame b having lever t with the roller m³, string m,
rod, having button 1, spring ; and ratchet t¹, and with rollers h h in frame
having ratchet r, springs i i, rod n and button n', disc k² and rings h³ h³, in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as described.
5. The combination of the sliding type block e with handle d resting on the
hinged frame b, bearing the register g and moving laterally by the lever t the
holding arrangement for the paper, in the manner and for the purpose sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of March 1890.
FRIEDRICH SOENNECKEN,
By Rayner & Cassell,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.