Improvements in Type-cleaning Attachments for Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-cleaning Attachments for Type-writing
Machines.
1, WILLIAM BELLINGER NORTHROP, a citizen of the United States, residing at
Charleston in the County of Charleston and State of South Carolina, United States of
America, Stenographer, 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 :-
In accordance with the improvements constituting my invention I employ devices
for cleaning the faces of the types of type writing machines, which cleaning devices
are carried by and partake of the movements of the paper carriages of the machines.
The cleaner, provided with brush-like material such as bristles, felt, napped cloth, card
clothing, etc., is connected with the paper carriage of the machine by being supported
by and suspended from the paper guides of the carriage. When adjusted the cleaner
is in position to be struck by the actuated type and any one or more of the types may
be caused to strike the cleaner as often as necessary for thorough cleaning. The cleaner
is of simple and inexpensive construction and may readily be attached to and removed
from the machine.
In the accompanying drawings which show my improvements as applied to the
paper carriage of a Caligraph machino, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the paper carriage
detached, and in the position it would occupy when attached to the machine and
elevated or thrown back, with the type cleaner in place. Fig. 2 is a view partly in
elevation and partly in vertical section showing a type in the position it would occupy
when elevated to strike against the cleaner. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the
cleaner, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of a portion thereof, on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing a modification. Fig. 6 a like view of another
modification; and Fig. a section on the line 7 of Fig. 6.
The type cleaner consists of a facing or strip A of suitable brush-like material such
as bristles, felt or napped cloth, card-clothing, etc., and a back or carrier B which I
prefer to make of springy or yielding material, as steel, with forks or hook-like
supporters at its opposite entls and integral therewith. These end supporters
adapt the cleaner to be engaged with or supported by and suspended from the paper
guides of the paper carriage of the machine in position to be struck by the
actuated type. The cleaner supporters b b are readily made by bending the ends of
the cleaner back upon itself first inward and then outward, as clearly shown in Figs. 3
and 4, a very secure attachment of the brush facing or strip being attained by
clamping its ends between the body of the back and the inturned end portions thereof.
Instead, however, of depending solely upon mere clamping pressure to secure the
brush like strip in place, spurs or projections d may be struck from the cleaner back
to engage each of the clamped ends of the brush strip of the cleaner.
In applying the cleaner to the machine in position to be struck by the actuated type,
it is only necessary to lift or throw back the paper carriage, spring or bow the cleaner
so as to lessen the distance in a straight line between its ends, adjust it to the paper
guides by its end supporters, release the pressure on the cleaner that it may straighten
out and snap into place as will readily be understood, and then adjust the carriage to
the working position; whilst to remove the cleaner it is only necessary to spring or
bow it sufficiently to clear it from the paper guides, after lifting the carriage.
My improved cleaner may obviously be employed in connection with other type
writing machines than the Caligraph, such as the Remington and the Yost machines,
simply by properly varying the dimensions of the cleaner.
Although I prefer the cleaner constructed as above described, I do not wish to be
understood as confining myself to the precise details set forth, as my improvements

page_text: may be modified in some respects. For instance the cleaner may be made as indicated
by Figs. 5, 6 and 7 in accordance with which construction it is not necessary that the
cleaner be adapted to bend or bow in applying and removing it. As will be under-
stood from inspection of Fig. 5, the cleaner is adapted by loop-like ends supporters b
to be fitted over the ends of the paper guides and slid along them into position. By
the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the end supporters of the cleaner are adapted
for engagement with the paper guides by being inserted between them and the
impression roller of the paper carriage. In this instance the cleaner brush, facing or
strip is secured to its back or carrier by clamping the edges of the strip by the turned
down edges e e of the carrier.
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. The cleaner for the type of type writing machines constructed to be readily
connected by its ends with the paper carriage of the machine, substantially as shown
and described.
2. The cleaner for the types of type writing machines, consisting of the brush-liko
strip having the springy or yielding back with the end supporters, and adapted to be
bowed or sprung for engagement with the paper guides of the paper carriage,
substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the paper guides of the paper carriage of a type writing
machine, of the cleaner detachably engaging said paper guides in position to be struck
by the actuated type, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of May 1890
WILLIAM BELLINGER NORTHROP.