Year: 1886

page_text: 1, KOBERT ERASTUS MORRIS, of Wichita, in the County of Dedgwick, and State
of Kansas, in the United States of America, gentleman, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in type-writers or printing
machines, and it consists in certain novel combinations, constructions and arrange-
ments of parts, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, whereby the
machine is simplified and its operation improved.
In the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 3 is an end view of
the same.
Fig. 4 is a detached view of the feeding devices.
Fig. 5 is a diagramatic view of the type-plates.
Fig. 6 is a detached view of the devices for actuating or setting the type-plate.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.
Upon a bed plate A, two standards or uprights A¹, are erected each provided
with a central bearing a, to receive the journals of the roller B which latter is
furnished with a notched or toothed disk A³, cooperating with a spring pawl a¹,
serving to determine the feeding movement and to hold the roller in adjusted
position.
The two uprights A³, are also connected by rods or bars B¹, B', lying parallel to
each other and to the roller B, one of said bars B₁, being journalled in the uprights,
while the other B is supported in open bearings b, as shown by dotted lines in
Fig. 3. The bars B1, B2 are connected together at each end by plates B³ which
serve to maintain the bars in their proper relative positions when, the frame
composed of the bars B1, B2, and plates B³ is. raised to uncover the roller, the bar B¹
operating as the pivot, upon which the frame turns when thus elevated. A latch
may be employed if desired for retaining the bar B' in the open, bearings during
the printing operation, to prevent the accidental raising of the frame.
Pivoted to the inner faces of both uprights A¹, and in rear of the roller B,.
These yokes O are'
is a yoke C, whose front end rests upon a pin or shoulder c.
formed with elongated slots or bearings c³, on opposite sides of the roller B to
:

page_text: ⋅
receive the journals of the smaller rollers C', the latter being provided at each end
with pulleys c³, over which are placed elastic belts or bands c³ uniting the
corresponding ends of the rollers C¹. The rollers C¹, preferably located slightly
below the axis of the roller B, are held firmly in contact with the paper by means
of the elastic bands c³, the latter also serving to ensure the simultaneous rotation
of both of said rollers when the roller B is rotated to feed forward the paper, and
thereby ensure the proper advance of the latter. The yokes C, carrying rollers C¹,
being pivoted to the standard as described, can be raised above the roller B, to
facilitate the insertion or removal of the paper, the rollers C¹, yielding laterally
to pass the roller B.
The rollers C¹, being impelled toward each other by elastic pressure devices,
when mounted in the yokes C, below the center of the roller B, as described,
operate to hold the yokes pressed down and with their free ends in contact with
the stops c, and at the same time to hold the paper tightly drawn over the roller B,
but, if desired, catches may be applied to the yokes for holding the rollers C³, in
contact with the paper and the roller B, as will be readily understood.
The devices thus far described constitute an efficient and convenient mechanism
for holding and adjusting the paper during the printing operation which latter is
preferably performed by devices such as herein-after described, supported upon the
rods B', B and adapted to be reciprocated thereon longitudinally of the roller B,
but the other forms of printing mechanism may, as is obvious, be advantageously
used therewith.
Located above and extending across the roller B is a frame D resting upon, but
free to slide longitudinally of the bars B¹, B¹ said frame carrying the printing and
feeding mechanism.
:
The printing mechanism is constructed and applied as follows:-
At one end of the frame D is journaled a roller D¹, lying transversely across and
above the roller B and upon the axis of this roller D', is hung a yoke D' carrying a
pin d, preferably T shaped as shown.
slot
Resting upon the roller D¹, and with the pin d, projecting through a longitudinal
e, is a plate E the opposite or forward end E¹, whereof is widened and depressed
to bring it nearer the roller B. The plate E is thus rendered adjustable both.
radially and laterally about the pin d, and is free to vibrate upon the axis of
roller D¹, to elevate and depress the end E¹, said roller being mounted upon the
axis of the yoke D, and serving to diminish the friction of a plate E thereon
when the former is reciprocated back and forth as hereinafter explained.
The type-plate F provided with separate impression faces or type f, preferably
composed of rubber or other yielding material is attached to the lower surface of
the extension E³, of plate E, and above the latter are formed or affixed a series
of characters, corresponding to those of the types f both as to their relative
arrangement on the plate F and their assigned form or value, said series of
characters constituting an index.
Mounted upon or secured to the top-plate de, of the frame D, and beneath the
faces of the type is an inking surface F¹, with which, as the plate E is moved, the
type are brought into contact, and in said plate de, immediately above the roller B
is formed an opening d', through which the type are projected one at a time, as
the plate E is depressed.
To the frame D is secured a pointer G whose end is carried over and above the
index EB, on the plate E so that when any given character upon the index is
brought under the end of the pointer, the corresponding type will stand above the
opening d', and in position to be impressed upon the paper lying upon the roller B.
In order to ensure the proper alignment of the characters in printing and to guide
and position the plate E, as the impression is made, a tapered pin 9 is secured to
the frame D below the plate E, and the latter is provided with a series of holes g¹,
corresponding in number and relative position to the types f, so that when said
plate is depressed, the pin g will enter one of the holes g¹. The plate E, is provided
with a knob E', or other convenient form of handle to facilitate the manipulation™
°

page_text: of the plate back and forth or from side to side to bring the different types into
position and to impress them upon the paper.
The type are preferably applied to the plate in curved lines, and they may be
arranged either upon concentric arcs or upon a series of arcs having the same
radius, and in either case each individual letter or character should be so disposed
that it will stand at right angles to a line drawn from the centre of oscillation and
passing through the said type when the latter occupy its printing position above
the opening d.
By such arrangement the distance to be traversed by the type plate in locating
each letter is reduced, but as is obvious, the type may be arranged in any order
desired, in parallel, radial, segmental, or other form, so long as each type when
brought to the impression point will stand in proper relation to the line of printing
the registering device and index being correspondingly modified.
In order to enlarge the capacity of the machine without materially increasing its
size and to provide for the ready removal of the type plate and the substitution of
others bearing the same or dissimilar styles of type, the type plate F is removably
applied to the plate E, and is provided with two or more series of type such as
capitals and small letters or type of different sizes or shapes and provision is made
whereby the type plate can be shifted upon the plate E, and with respect to the
registering devices and index plate so that one set of type may replace the other.
To accomplish this effect the type plate is supported beneath the plate E, upon
screws or bolts h, passing through curved slots h¹, in said plate E. Beneath a
plate H serving as a cover to the end of plate E, and in which the index is
supported, is pivoted a lever H¹ having a knob or handle h³, projecting through an
arc shaped slot in said plate H, and normally held at one extreme of the slot by a
spring h. The opposite end of the lever H¹ is slotted to receive one of the bolts h
secured to the type-plate. By means of the lever H¹, the type-plate can be moved
and its position upon the plate E shifted so as to bring another set of characters
within the range of the printing orifice, index and registering devices.
After each letter or other character has been impressed it is necessary to move
the printing mechanism towards the right, a distance equal to the width of the
character in order that the next succeeding letter may be impressed.
With printing devices such as described either the support for the paper or the
frame or carriage may be moved, but I prefer to reciprocate the printing mechanism
longitudinally of the support, and to this end the feed controlling devices are
located upon the frame and operate to advance the latter a determinate distance as
each character is impressed as follows: One of the bars upon which the frame D
is mounted and preferably the front bar B' is furnished with a series of teeth I,
and upon the side of the removable plate De, applied to the frame D is pivoted
at i, a link or lever I', provided at one end with a tooth i, engaging the rack I,
and at the opposite end with a stud 2. The lever I is normally held down into
engagement with the rack by a spring . To the lever I', and in front of its
pivot is hung a pawl I', whose free end projects backwards, and a second pawl I³
standing in the same direction as pawl I, is hung upon the axis of the lever I'.
Pivoted to the pawl I³ is a link I, carrying a thumb-piece ³, and a slotted
extension working loosely upon a pin on pawl I'.
At the end of the roller D¹, and upon the axis thereof is hung a lever J, whose
outer end projects above the stud of the lever I', and is provided with a thumb
piece j, located above the thumb piece of link I. Upon said lever J and near its
pivot is formed a shoulder 1 to engage a pin ³, on an extension of the yoke D².
The operation of the devices as thus constructed is as follows:-
When the machine is not in operation the tooth of the lever I', engages the
rack to prevent the forward movement of the printing devices and the pawls I³, I³,
also engaging the rack prevent movement in the opposite direction. If now the
printing plate is depressed to force the type down and in contact with the paper,
it will operate through the T bolt on the yoke D' to elevate the latter and depress
the pin, which is attached in front of the pivot. As the pin is thus depressed

page_text: it bears against the shoulder 7, and forces the lever J down and into contact with
the stud of the link I, depressing the rear end and elevating its forward end
until the tooth is withdrawn from contact with the rack, and the point of the
pawl I', is advanced a distance equal to one or more teeth of the rack depending
upon the amount of feed desired.
After the type has been brought into contact with the paper and the plate is
elevated, the link I is forced back to its first position by the spring, and as its
forward end descends, the pawl I', having taken a new position upon the rack in
advance of that previously occupied, the whole frame is pushed forward until the
tooth on said link I, again strikes the rack and locks the frame in position
preparatory to the printing of the next succeeding character.
By means of the thumb-piece on the lever J this feeding motion can be effected
without depressing the type-plate and thus the spacing between words can be
accomplished, and when it is desired to move the frame back or forth, to position
it, by pressing the two thumb pieces together, not only will the link I¹ be actuated
and its engaging end freed from the rack but the pawls I, I³, will likewise be
elevated and held above the rack, so as to release the frame.
The feeding devices as described being mounted upon the reciprocating frame,
and above the guide rods, it does not in any way interfere with the raising or
.tilting of the frame upon the rear guide bar as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
'I claim is
1. In a type writer, such as described the combination with the uprights and
the paper supporting and feeding roller, of the holding rollers located upon the
opposite sides of said first mentioned roller and mounted in pivoted yokes, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with the paper supporting and feeding roller of the two
.holding rollers located below the center of the first mentioned roller and movable
toward and from the latter in bearings formed in the pivoted supporting yokes,
substantially as described.
3. In combination with the paper supporting and feeding roller and the pivoted
yokes, supported at each end of said roller, of the holding rollers supported in said
yokes and movable towards and from the first mentioned roller, and the elastic
bands applied to and connecting the corresponding ends of the two holding rollers,
and operating to draw these together and cause their simultaneous rotation,
substantially as described.
4. In combination with a roller serving as a support for the paper, of a pair of
rollers mounted in movable yokes, and applied upon opposite sides of the first
mentioned roller below the center, thereof and elastic bands connecting said pair
of rollers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In combination with the paper supporting roller and the holding rollers
mounted upon pivoted yokes, of the pivotally attached reciprocating printing
mechanism supported upon bars or ways parallel with the first mentioned roller,
substantially as described.
.
6. In a type-writer, the combination with the paper supporting roller, of a
frame supported upon ways on opposite sides and above the said roller and adapted
to move longitudinally thereof, said frame carrying the printing and feeding devices,
substantially as described.
7. In combination with a roller support for the paper and a frame carrying the
printing mechanism and mounted upon ways so as to reciprocate longitudinally of
said roller, of feeding devices attached to said frame and engaging one of the
supporting bars, substantially as described.
8. In combination with the roller support and longitudinal guide bars or ways,
of a frame carrying the printing devices supported to reciprocate upon said ways
above the roller and detachably applied to one of said ways and hinged or pivoted

page_text: to the other so that the entire printing mechanisın can be swung back from the
roller, substantially as described.
9. In combination with the roller support and the longitudinally reciprocating
printing devices pivoted to one side and extending above the roller, of the. holding,
rollers united at opposite ends by elastic bands and mounted to reciprocate in
pivoted supporting yokes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In combination with the supporting roller and its standards, the parallel.
rods forming ways upon which the printing mechanism is reciprocated, said rods
being connected by yokes and supported the one in closed and the other in open.
bearings in the standards, and on opposite sides of the roller, substantially as
described.
11. In combination with the reciprocating frame carrying the printing mechanism
mounted upon the guide rods, the link pivoted to the frame and provided with a:
tooth and pawl for engaging rack teeth on one of the guide rods and the spring
for returning the said link to its starting point after it has been raised, whereby
the frame is advanced a determinate distance at each reciprocation of the link
and locked in position for printing the next succeeding character, substantially as
described.
12. In combination with the movable plate carrying the type plate and the
yoke to which it is pivoted, the lever provided with a shoulder engaging a pin
upon the said yoke, said lever engaging the pivoted link when the type-plate is
depressed to cause the tooth on said link to be raised from the rack bar and the
feeding pawl to advance, substantially as described.
13. In combination with the frame and its pivoted yoke, the plate carrying the
type attached to yoke, so as to be capable of an oscillating and radial movement
with respect thereto, substantially as described.
14. In combination with the radially movable and oscillating plate carrying the
type, the yoke to which said plate is attached pivotally mounted on the frame and
the roller supported upon an axis coincident with the pivots of the yoke to sustain
the said movable plate and permit of its adjustment and vibration substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
15. In combination with the pivoted yoke and the plate pivotally supported so
as to be free to move radially thereon, of the type plate and index attached to said
movable plate and the pointer cooperating with the index for properly locating the
type, substantially as described.
16. In combination with the radially movable and oscillating plate carrying the
type and index plates and provided with registering spaces as described, the pointer
mounted upon the frame and cooperating with the index and the pin cooperating
with the registering spaces to locate and hold in adjustment the type during the
printing operation, substantially as described.
17. In combination with the oscillating and radially moving plate, the type-
plate adjustably secured to said movable plate to present different sets or series of
characters, substantially as described.
18. In combination with a plate movable with respect to the printing position
of a type-plate adjustably attached to said movable plate so as to permit different
Bets or series of characters to be brought into position for printing therefrom,
substantially as described.
19. In combination with a movable plate by which the characters to be printed
are located and impressed at a given point, a plate provided with two or more sets
or series of characters movably attached to said first mentioned plate and an index
common to both sets of type for locating corresponding characters, substantially as
described.
20. In combination with a plate movable radially with respect to its center of
oscillation an index attached to said plate and a pointer cooperating with said
index, of a type-plate attached to said movable plate and adjustable thereon in the
are of a circle to bring the several sets of type into proper relation to the pivot and
the index, substantially as described.

page_text: 21. In combination with the movable plate and the type plate adjustably secured
thereto and bearing two or more sets of characters, of the lever pivoted upon the
movable plate and engaging the type plate to adjust the latter, substantially as
described.
22. In combination with the plate carrying the type-plate connected to a pivoted
yoke so as to move radially and laterally with respect to its point of attachment,
of a lever for operating the feeding mechanism so connected to the yoke as to be
actuated thereby when the type plate is depressed but free to move independently
of said yoke, substantially as described.
23. In combination with the lever for actuating the pivoted link provided with
the tooth and pawl engaging the rack, the retaining pawl and the lever loosely
connected to both of said pawls whereby the pawls and link can be simultaneously
raised out of contact with the rack, substantially as described.
24. In combination with the link pivoted upon the reciprocating frame and
provided with the forwardly projecting tooth and oppositely projecting pawl for
engaging the rack and the retaining pawl hung upon the pivot of the link, of the
link loosely connected to both of said pawls and operating when raised to elevate
both pawls above the rack, substantially as described.