IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE WRITING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES OAKFORD, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hat Manufacturer, do.
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE WRITING
MACHINES," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to type writing machines; and consists in a pivoted
hub carrying radial arms to which the figures and letters are secured, supported
upon a fixed bearing and combined with a holder and feed for the paper by which
any letter or figure desired may be caused to swing around over the paper and by
pressure thereon be caused to print; and in many details of construction all of
which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the
accompanying drawings which form part thereof.
The object of my invention is to construct a simple and yet practical type
writer, embodying cheapness and durability.
In the Drawings:
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a type writer machine embodying my
improvements.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of same with the type wheel removed and
Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation of a modified form of type wheel.
A is the base and is preferably formed of wood. B is an overhanging metal
frame secured at one end to the base A as at B¹, forming a space B* between the
said frame B and base A through which the paper being printed on may be fed.
E is the type wheel and is arranged to rotate horizontally about a fixed center D
secured to the frame B. This wheel consists of a hub F .to which radial spring
arms G are secured the free ends of which arms are provided with finger pieces to
the undersides of which are secured type H which may be of metal or rubber or any
composition capable of receiving and depositing a printing fluid or ink. The upper
surfaces of these fingers are provided with letters or figures or symbols / indicating
the particular figure or symbol or letter supported upon the underside thereof, and
these finger pieces are arranged compartively close together and equidistant from
the axis D, so that as the said wheel is moved around, all of the letters figures
or symbols are caused to pass over the same place on the paper. As shown
the hub F of the printing wheel is formed of a saucer F' having an upwardly
T
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page_text: extending flange f to which the radial spring arms. G are secured and an inverted
cup shape piece F' which fits down over the saucer and through which parts the
bearings for the pin D are formed.
The frame B is provided with a curved guide rail C in the front thereof which
is furnished with a notch c the object of which will be hereinafter explained. M is
the slotted paper holder through which the paper is placed, and is provided with
ratchet teeth O at the top and with dove tail guide piece M' at the bottom which
fits into a transverse dove tail groove m by which the paper may be fed trans-
versly across the base A and under the printing type. Pivoted to curved guide
picce C of the frame B and to one side of the notch c is a lever I whose movement
is limited by a lug f* upon the guide picce C. Hinged to the upper and free end
of the lever I is a pawl K which works upon the rack O of the paper guide and is
provided with a hooked extension L by which it may be raised, when desired in
adjusting paper for spacing. The free end of the lever I is normally kept in a
raised position in line with the notch c, and the pawl K drawn back, through the
agency of a spring I or its equivalent. R represents the paper. The rear end
of the casting B is made cup shape and into which the inking pad G¹ is placed and
from which the type receives ink.
The operation is as follows: The paper is placed through the holder M and after
the type have been inked the finger is placed upon the letters, figures or symbols
that it is desired to print, in succession, and they are drawn around over the
notch and upon being depressed they are guided by the said notch and
simultaneously depress the lever I causing the paper to be moved transversly one
ratchet tooth or width of the type, printing down upon the clean surface of the
paper. As the finger is removed the parts once more assume the positions shown,
and when the next figure or symbol is brought around over the notch it is
depressed first feeding the paper transversly across the machine as before. The
space between two words may be obtained by simply moving the paper holder
When the line is
under the pawl a distence of one or more teeth as desired.
completly printed the paper is moved up through the slot in the holder M so as to
bring the next line into position and so on.
In place of making the aims G flexible and being secured rigidly to the hub F
they may be formed as shown in Fig. 4 in which the arms are hinged to the
hub and are kept in a raised position by springs.
If desired in place of the rigid pad G¹ a suitable roller pad may be used as
indicated in Fig. 1 in dotted lines and in place of feeding the paper in act of
depressing the type it may be fed upon the return of the type by simply reversing
the angle of the pawl K, therefore while I prefer the construction shown I do not
limit mayself to the details thereof as they may be modified in various ways
without departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1st. A type writing machine having a type wheel formed with radial arms
provided with type upon their ends said arms radiating from a pivoted hub, and
adapted to be depressed.
2nd. A type writing machine having a type wheel formed with radial arms
provided with type upon their ends said arms radiating from a pivoted hub, and
adapted to be depressed in combination with an inking wheel or pad to supply ink
to said type.
3rd. A type writing machine having a type wheel formed with radial arms
provided with type upon their ends said arms radiating from a pivoted hub, and
adapted to be depressed in combination with a paper holder and guide and feeding
mechanism which is actuated automatically upon depressing or raising one of the
type carrying arms over the paper in the act of or after printing.
4th. A type writing machine having a type wheel formed with radial arms
provided with type upon their ends said arms radiating from a pivoted hub, and

page_text: adapted to be depressed in combination with a paper holder and guide and feeding
mechanism which is actuated automatically upon depressing or raising one of the
type carrying arms over the paper in the act of or after printing and an over-
banging supporting frame for the type wheel under which the paper passes and
having a guiding notch by which the type carrying arms are caused to be depressed
and guided in the proper place.
5th. A horizontal star type wheel supported loosely upon a fixed center in
combination with a transversly moving paper holding device, and a step by step
mechanical movement actuated by the act of printing which shall cause the sheet
to be intermittently fed transversly across the machine.
6th. In a type writing machine the type wheel E formed with the solid center
or hub F, and spring radial arms G having type H upon their ends.
7th. In a type writing machine the type wheel E formed with the solid center
or hub F and spring radial arms G having type H upon their ends in combination
with frame B, and inking device G¹.
8th. In a type writing machine the type wheel E formed with the solid center
or hub F and spring radial arms G having type H upon their ends in combination
with frame B, and inking device G¹, base A, paper guide M having teeth O, and
feeding mechanism I, K, and spring I¹.