Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
CONNIP
XPRETKICATIUN
[Communicated from abroad by OSCAR MAYNARD ANGIER, of 28, Forest Street,
Boston, County of Suffolk, Massachusetts, U.S.A.]
Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The object of my invention is to furnish a simple, inexpensive, light and reliable
type writing machine that may be operated as rapidly and as practically as the
more expensive and bulky machines in general use. Another object of my
invention is to furnish such a machine that will write with the paper in a
horizontal position and under the eye, so that the writing can be read the most
readily without having to previously lift up any mechanism and while the writing
is being done.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of my improved type writing machine.
Fig. 1 is a back view of the same.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a similar section through the line y y of Fig. 1, but with the paper
carriage and its connecting parts removed.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the left hand end of the paper carriage and its con-
necting parts.
Fig. 5 represents in detail the mechanism for drawing down the type cylinder or
spools.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the back portion of the machine, the front portion and keys
being broken away, and the paper carriage with its connecting parts removed.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the line of Fig. 6.
Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, are details.
Similar letters represent like parts in all the figures.
A is the frame of the machine which supports the working mechanism, and B is
the longitudinal back bar of said frame forming the rail upon the upper edge of
which the rollers of the paper carriage are adapted to travel. The upper portion
of the rail B extends outwardly, forming a flange having a longitudinal shoulder a
parallel to the top of said rail. C is the frame for holding the paper cylinder,
inking ribbon, &c., and constitutes the travelling paper carriage. Said carriage
supports the ordinary revolving cylindrical platen D, to one journal of which is
secured the platen knob or handle, and to the other journal or opposite end of
the platen is secured the ratchet c. The grooved carriage rollers or wheels dd
are journaled to the back of the carriage C and are adapted to ride over the
rail B.
1 is the front bearing rod or rail of the paper carriage which rests upon and is
adapted to ride over a roller journaled on the frame A, and a lug 3 extending
over said roller and rail serves as a guide for the rail. 4, 4 are two lateral
pins projecting from the paper carriage, one at each end, over which the ribbon /
passes and is stretched.
A plate E having projecting ends e e extending downwardly from the same is
removably attached to two lugs or projections fextending outwardly from the
carriage C. The ends e e are bent inward forming lugs gg which extend under
and against the shoulder a. Said plate E with its lugs gg serves as a guide for
the paper carriage and to keep it firmly in its position on the rail B. The
plate E may be adjustably attached to the carriage C by means of screws and
slotted holes in said plate.

page_text: Extending downwardly from the carriage C are two lugs which form
journal bearings for a rock shaft F. Two arms ii.are secured to said shaft and
extend inwardly from the same, and the rack. G is supported longitudinally with
the carriage by said arms to which said rack is secured. An arm H extends
upwardly and outwardly from the shaft F, by which arm the rack is adapted to be
lifted the rack G may either be held down in its normal. position by its own weight,
or a spring may be used for this purpose. The spring line space lever 1, to which
the pawl or dog for operating the platen ratchet is attached, extends outwardly
(see Figures 1, 1 and 2) and in front of the arm H, and said arm will bear against
the lever I, so that when the latter is pushed down it will carry the arm H with it
and thus raise the rack G.
G
The ribbon reels JJ are hung on journals kk which extend laterally in front of
the carriage C and with the ribbon 7 extending longituninally over the top of the
platen. Coil tension springs mm may be inserted between the reels JJ and
adjusting nuts n, if so desired. An adjusting screw extends through the back
of the carriage C with its end abutting against the lower arm of the lever I and
serves to regulate the play of said arm in a backward direction and the forward
play of the dog j.
A pinion K having a ratchet L secured to its back surface is loosely journaled
upon the frame A in such position that when the carriage C is in proper position
with its rollers d d on the rail B, the rack G will engage with said pinion.
When the rack G is lifted by the arm H out of engagement with the pinion K, the
paper carriage can readily be slidden back and forth. A spring actuated arm M
pivoted longitudinally to the frame A has a pivoted dog or pawl which engages
with the ratchet L, the actuating spring of said arm tending always to bear the
dog down against said ratchet. The free end of said arm M is provided with a pin
or projection which is adapted to engage with the rack G when said pin is lifted,
and to hold said rack firmly until the pin releases it.
N is a rod extending longitudinally the entire length of the machine and which
constitutes the fulcra of all of the key levers O and P which are levers of the first
class. Q and R are iwo longitudinal bars, each of which is pivotally connected
with the rod N by right angled backwardly extending arms s, the bar Q being just
in the rear of the bar R.
The key levers 0 of the forward and lower row of keys S, extend back and
under the bar Q, and the key levers of the back and upper row of keys T extend
back only under the bar R, said levers and P bearing against the under side
of the bars Q and R respectively.
A bell crank lever S is pivoted to the rod N about half way between its ends,
the upper arm of said lever having a backward projections extending over the
bars and R and with downwardly extending pins or projections bearing on the
top of said bars. The lower arm of the lever S2 is provided with a lateral lug f
on which the space key arm U rests, said arm being loosely hung upon the rod N
and not extending back of the same. A bell crank lever V is also pivoted on
the arm N and has its upper arm π attached to the lever S2, its lower armv
extending backward and under the arm M. When the space key arm U is
depressed, the arm of the lever V will raise the arm M and the dog 7 out of
engagement with the ratchet L, and when said arm U is released the dog will fall
back engaging with the next tooth of the ratchet L and thus move the rack K
and the paper carriage to the left the space of one letter.
W is a bar upon which is secured or cast at right angles to the same a tube
or cylinder X, and this bar and cylinder are supported by journal bearings on
either end of said bar on raised supports Y Z near the centre of the machine, so
that the cylinder X will be transverse to the machine. Two arms ww extend
forward from the bar W and one of said arms is connected by a link a to the
forward end of a spring bell crank lever A' pivoted to the rod N, the backward
and upper arm of said lever A' (see Fig. 5) extending over the bars Q and R
in a similar manner to the lever S2 and with similar bearing points or projections.

page_text: The cylinder forms a long stationary bearing for supporting the shaft or
spindle B of the type cylinder C, and when either of the bars Q and R is raised
by any of the key levers, the inner arm of the lever A will be depressed and
through the link drawn down the bearing X and the type cylinder Con to the
ribbon against the paper and platen. When the key lever is released, the spring
lever A will return to its normal position and the bearing X and the type
cylinder C will be raised again,
The type is placed or arranged on the periphery of the cylinder C in a somewhat
similar manner to that of the Crandall type writer, and it is therefore necessary to
have mechanism for revolving the cylinder in order that the type corresponding
with the key that is struck may be directly over the ribbon. The mechanism as
above briefly stated is as follows:
a
D' is a pin on which fits into a recess in the bar W; the shaft B' of the type
cylinder extends loosely through said pinion and is keyed to said shaft by
feather fitting into a longitudinal groove a¹ in the shaft. By this means the
shaft B may freely have longitudinal play in the pinion D', but when the latter
revolves the shaft B' and cylinder C' will also have to revolve. Et is a vertical
segmental gear fixed to the rocking shaft and engaging with the pinion D'
is a smaller segmental bevel gear, also fixed or keyed to the shaft" and
extending laterally from the same. A similar segmental gear G₁ engages with
the gear
Fand is secured to a rock shaft H' extending the length of the machine.
are downwardly extending arms, keyed to the rock shaft H' and passing
between the key levers O and P.
The lower end of each arm I is provided with lateral lugs extending each side
of the arm, or a pin c passing through said armı. Each key lever and P has a
cam-shaped slot d with curved walls extending up from the lower edge of said
lever, and the lever when depressed brings one of the walls or edges of the cam-
shaped slot into contact with one of the pins e' on the arm I' bearing against said
pin, so as to rock the arm I', shaft Hand racks G' and F and thus rotate the
pinion D' and the type cylinder C. The arms are keyed at such an angle on
the shaft H, in relation to the type on the cylinder C', that when a particular key
is depressed it will immediately bring its corresponding type on the cylinder C
directly over the inking ribbon. It will be understood that the type cylinder C¹
does not return to a central or normal position after a key lever is depressed, but
remains in the position said key lever left it, and the cam slots d' are of such shape
and the arms 1 set at such an angle thereto that any key will bring the cylinder
to its proper position, no matter in what position the preceding key had left it.
I will now proceed to describe the mechanism for moving the type cylinder C¹
forward and backward, in order that a type from any row on said cylinder may be
brought into position over the king ribbon.
J is a vertical plate having two horizontal and longitudinal slots e¹ (sec
Fig. 3), and gare headed screws or pins extending through said slots and into
lateral lugs of the frame A, thus allowing the plate J to have longitudinal play.
The shaft B' of the cylinder C¹ has keyed upon it a pinion for a purpose
hereinafter to be described, and is a loose sleeve encircling the shaft B' and held
from longitudinal play on said shaft by means of a short collar and a binding
screw passing through the same and bearing against said shaft. The sleeve J' is
connected by a link to a vertical plate or bar K' which is secured to the plate J.
A backwardly projecting bar m' extends from the plate and has a narrow upper
edge which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the pinion when the latter and
the type cylinder C' are depressed, thus locking said type cylinder and holding it
firmly while the type is striking the ribbon and paper. A lug having a vertical
slot projects upward from the front of the lug 3, and said slot serves as a guide
for the bar m (see Fig. 8). L' is a spring lever which is pivoted to the top of the
frame A and with the outer end of its longer arm bearing against a shoulder o' on
the top edge of the plate J M' (see Figures 1 and 11) is an L-shaped lever
loosely journaled on the rod N near its left hand end, the short upper arm of said

page_text: lever bearing against the back edge of the short arm of the lever L'; and the front
end of the lever Mextending to the front of the machine near the keys and also
provided with a key.
An arm N is also loosely pivoted on, the rod N by the side of the lever M and
has a lateral lug pl.extending from its top edge and resting on the top-edge of said
lever M', so that when the arm N¹ is depressed the lever M' will also be carried
down with it. Two shoulders q in the front of the frame A. serve as stops to
the downward play of the lever M' and arm N respectively. The arm N¹ extends
in front and beyond the lever M1 and is provided with a key similar to said lever.
When the arm N¹ is depressed it carries the lever M' down far enough so as to
force the type cylinder C₁ forward a slight distance through the instrumentality of
the lever L, plates J' and K' and link P, and when the lever M' is depressed until it
strikes the stop y', said lever carries the type cylinder forward still further.. Said
lever M and arm N' are so regulated with the parts connecting them with the
type cylinder C', that when the arm N is depressed to its fullest extent the capital
letters type on the third and fourth rows from the back end of the cylinder will
come over the inking ribbon, and when the lever M' is depressed to its fullest
extent the figures and punctuation marks type on the last two or forward rows of
the cylinder will come over the inking ribbon.
Oand P (see Fig. 3) are two bell crank levers loosely pivoted side by side to
the rod N, and with their backward ends s¹¹ secured to the top of the bars Q
and R respectively. The lower forward portions of said levers O and are pro-
vided with cam shaped slots ' and e', similar to those of the key lever, and said
slots are adapted to engage with three pins we extending laterally from the lower
portion of the plate J. The object of these cam slotted levers O P is to bring
the proper row of characters on the cylinder C (there being two rows for each set
of characters) above the ribbon and the portion of the platen to be struck, simply
by the depression of the required key, the action being performed from the key to
the bar Qor K, to the lever Oor P and thence to one of the pins w', the
plates JK, link L' and the type cylinder C.
QQ are two levers loosely journaled on the arms w, with the rear and shorter
arms of said levers extending under and resting against the lower edge of the
bar W the forward and longer arms of the lever Q Q' extend as far as the type
cylinder C, where they are formed into loops through which the inking ribbon
passes.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction as hereinbefore set forth, as
the different features somewhat varied or modified without altering my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what 1 claim is:
1. In combination with the paper carriage, the platen and inking ribbon held
and carried by the carriage, said ribbon extending in a substantially horizontal
plane above and over the platen, all as set forth.
2. In combination with the paper carriage and its rack, the pinion K, ratchet L,
spring lever M and its dog, the projection and means for raising the lever M, as
set forth.
3. In combination with the paper carriage and its rack, the pinion K, ratchet L,
spring lever M and its dog, and a space lever for lifting said lever M, all as
set forth.
4. In combination with the paper carriage and its rack, the pinion K, ratchet L,
spring lever M and its dog, the lever Shaving the lug 6, and a space lever for
bearing down said arm and lifting the lever M, as set forth.
5. In combination with the ratchet L, spring lever M and its dog, the levers S
and attached at their upper arms, and means for raising the upper or backward
arm of the lever S, all as set forth.
6. In combination with the ratchet L, spring lever M and its dog, the levers S

page_text: and V attached at their upper arms, a pivotal bar or bars bearing against the under
sides of said upper arms, and a space lever for lifting said bar or bars, all as set
forth.
7. In combination with the type cylinder and its shaft, a bar extending trans-
versely across and attached to the same, and pivoted at its ends to two standards,
an arm projecting from said cross bar, a connecting link extending from said arm,
and a lever for bearing down said link, all as set forth.
8. In combination with the type cylinder and its shaft, a bar extending trans-
versely across and attached to the same and pivoted at its ends to two standards, an
arm projecting from said cross bar, a connecting link extending from said arm, the
lever A, a pivotal bar or bars for bearing against the under side of said lever, and
the key lever for lifting the same, all as set forth.
9. In combination with the cylindrical type cylinder having a longitudinal shaft
and a pinion keyed to the same, a segmental gear for engaging with said pinion, the
shaft, segmental gears F' and G', shaft H', arms I', and means for rocking the
same, all as set forth.
10. In combination with the cylindrical type cylinder having a longitudinal shaft
and a pinion keyed to the same, the series of levers having the cam slots ', the
shaft H', a series of hanging arms secured to said shaft and having bearing surfaces
for said cams, and a series of gears connecting said shaft with the pinion on the
type cylinder shaft, all as set forth.
11. In combination with the cylindrical type cylinder having a longitudinal
shaft and a pinion keyed to the same, the segmental gears E¹ F1 G', shaft H',
arms having the projections c', and the key levers having the cam slots d', all
as set forth.
12. In combination with the type cylinder pivotally supported in a lateral
direction, the pinion and bar m' longitudinally movable in unison, all substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In combination with the type cylinder supported in a lateral direction with
its shaft having longitudinal play, a vertical horizontally sliding plate connected
with said cylinder, and a spring lever for operating the same, all as set forth.
14. In combination with the type cylinder supported in a lateral direction with
its shaft having longitudinal play, a vertical horizontally sliding plate connected
with said cylinder, a spring lever for operating the same, and a key lever for opera-
ting said spring lever, all as set forth.
15. In combination with the type cylinder supported in a lateral direction with
its shaft having longitudinal play, a vertical sliding plate connected with said
cylinder, lateral projections on the under side of said plate, a lever having cam slots
in its under side for engaging with said projections, and the key lever for operating
said cam lever, all as set forth.
16. In combination with the key lever, a lever operated by said key lever and
having cam slots in its under side, a sliding plate having bearings for engagement
with said slot, and a connection between said plate and the type cylinder whereby
the latter is slidden backward and forward, all as set forth.
17. In combination with the type cylinder and the sliding plate connected with
the same, the bar m' and the slotted guide n', all as set forth.
18. In combination with the inking ribbon, the type cylinder supported in bear-
ings over the same, arms projecting from the cross bar support of the type hammer,
and the levers Q Q having loops at the ends of their outer arms through which
said ribbon passes, all as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of February A.D. 1831.
this 14th day of cortary A.D. 1831.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.