AN IMPROVED STENOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM Phillips Thompson, Fel. Inst. P.A., of 6 Lord Street Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, and of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED STENOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS" 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 a method of and apparatus for mechanically printing
or recording speech or language, and consists firstly, in a novel system or set of signs
or characters which singly or combined represent letters, syllables or words, and
figures or numbers; and secondly in a mechanism by which any or all of the
characters may be made to appear upon a sheet of paper, or other suitable material
in a definite order, to convey an intelligible meaning.
The method consists in peculiar combinations of arbitrary signs or characters to
represent given sounds; whereby a small number of characters is made to
represent a great variety of sounds; in suppressing (ordinarily) the vowels as in
short hand, and indicating by a special mark in each word or by the absence of
any mark to which of the three classes into which the vowels are divided, the
accented vowels of each word belongs;-and thereby indicating by the same mark
the beginning of each new word, so that spacing is rendered unnecessary..
The machine is somewhat similar in its general principles and construction to
the ordinary type writer, but is arranged to print one or all of its characters or
signs at a time in a straight line transversely of the paper strip, and is provided
with but thirteen keys and space bar.
The arrangement of the keys is such that without moving the hands from a
given position, one or all of the keys may be struck simultaneously.
The paper feed roll is provided with a ratchet wheel which is actuated by a dog
or pawl, carried by a swinging or rocking yoke or bar which extends across .all the
key bars and is elevated each time the key is depressed,-the pawl riding out of
.

page_text: engagement with the ratchet immediately before the stroke is made, so that a
sudden impetus is given to the key and a sharp blow results.
The characters may print indent or puncture the paper and may show through
the same so that they may be readily read from the back, in which case they may be
printed from right to left and read from left to right. Or, as is preferred, the type
or dies will be arranged to print from right to left in an inverted position so that
by turning the strip end for end and reading from the bottom upwards the lines
will read from left to right. The object of thus arranging the keys to print from
right to left is to bring those characters which are most used, and which are
combined to represent letters, sounds, syllables, figures or words, into convenient
position to be manipulated by the right hand.
Referring now to the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved
machine;
Fig. 2 a plan view of the same;
Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical section;
Fig. 4 a detail view of the mechanism;
Fig. a plan or face view of the characters employed which may however, be
varied indefinitely;
"
Fig. 6 a view illustrating the use of the machine for telegraphic transmission.
Attempts have hitherto been made to produce a system and mechanical means
by which speech or language might be stenographically recorded, but in every
proposed plan so far as I am aware each separate letter, or all the vowels, or vowel
sounds have been sought to be represented, as well as all the consonants and their
various combinations, but in this plan the words are spelled phonetically and the
vowels are omitted and determined through the context and the marks indicating
the accentuation.
4 TA'
Referring now to the Drawings, A indicates a base or bottom board upon which
the mechanism is mounted, said board being supported upon rubber feet or buttons
to prevent undue sound, and B B B B indicate posts or uprights secured upon said
base to support the mechanism, for which posts upright plates may advantageously
be substituted.
C indicates a roll advisably covered with rubber or other elastic material, and
journalled in standards or side plates of the frame, in which it is free to rotate in
one direction.
The roll C is furnished at one end with a ratchet wheel a with which a pawl D
engages, said pawl being pivoted to a rocking frame or yoke E, the arms of which
are secured to a rod or shaft F which is journalled in posts B, or in the side plates
of the frame when such plates are substituted for the posts.
A lever or arm G attached to and projecting from the shaft F serves to rock
said shaft and swing the yoke E upward against the joint action of gravity and of
a spring b, which latter renders the descent of the yoke quicker and more certain
than it would be if dependent upon gravity alone.
The pawl D is pressed forward and caused to engage with ratchet wheel a by a
spring c, but its forward movement is limited, so that if the yoke be rocked
beyond a certain point the pawl will be drawn from engagement with the ratchet
and thus prevented from moving or turning the paper feed roll too far.
The horizontal bar d of yoke E extends across a series of key bars H, each of
which bars is pivoted in a seat or support e and furnished at its inner end with a
sign or character arranged to strike the inner side of roll, C, the several character's
being arranged side by side in a straight line so that all may be caused to strike
simultaneously.
Under this arrangement the depression of the button f of any key of the series
will cause the elevation of the inner end of the key bar and the type, die, or
character thereon, bringing it into contact with the roll C or with the paper which
passes under and around said roll. Backward rotation of roll C is prevented by:a
pawl h. which engages with ratchet wheel a.

page_text: indicates a press roll which has its journals extended into slots in the post B
or side frames of the machine, and which rests directly upon roll C or upon the
paper passing over the same, producing friction, and causes said paper to be fed
forward by the rotation of roll C.
J and K indicate two rolls which carry the ink ribbon L, which ribbon winds
from one roll to the other in order to afford a fresh surface for the type to act upon
when type are used.¨¨
Each of the rolls J K carries a gear wheel R; and a shifting pinion M on the
shaft of roll C may be adjusted to mesh with either of said wheels so as to wind
the ribbon from one to the other in either direction, in essentially the same manner
as is now done in ordinary type writers.
The rolls J K. are set in such relation to roll C that the ribbon is held close up
against the paper and kept in contact with or close to the same at all times.
Paper is drawn from roll M, journalled in standards or in side frames; a long
band or strip of paper about two inches in width being wound upon the roll.
Referring now to the keys or key bars which are numbered consecutively from
one to thirteen (1 to 13) in the Drawing, this arrangement or order of the
characters will be explained, this particular order being the result of careful study
and particularly adapted to enable speech or language to be readily recorded by
mechanism.
As the right hand is usually most used in manipulating the keys, I provide
keys 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 which are arranged in a curved line so as to be simultaneously
struck by the fingers and thumb of the right hand,-with characters which
separately represent in the order of their number, S, D, V, T, and B; but the last
four of which, combined in certain predetermined orders, represent nearly all the
consonants required in stenography, and combined with 5, and used jointly serve
to represent the vowels, numerals, a few of the consonants, and certain combinations
of the consonants.
Key 7 represents A; AN; AND; or I, its significance being determined by the
context.
Keys 5 and 9 respectively bear marks which separately serve to indicate in the
first syllable of each word whether the accented vowel of that word belongs to
the first or to the third series of accented vowels, it being understood of course that
in this system the ordinary stenographic plan is followed, of classifying the vowels
in three groups, preferably as follows:
First Class.
A in mat.
AR in part.
O in pot.
OU in bought..
I in ice.
OW in cow.
OY in boy.
Second Class..
E in met.
A in ate.
U in but.
O in vote.
Third Class.
I in pit
EE in feet,
U in put
00 in boot.
EW in Jew.
In case neither of the marks before referred to appears, it will be known that
the accented vowels belong to the second series or group. When combined with
other characters, those of keys 5 and 9 are always used jointly.
If both keys 5 and 9 are simultaneously struck the double mark thereby
produced indicates C. H.
Keys 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13, in the order named represent the letters R L N T
or D and S or Z, and this order is important for the reason that in a vast number
and in a very large percentage of words in which two or more of these letters are
used they follow each other in the order named, hence the manipulation of these
keys is greatly facilitated.
--
The characters of keys 11, 12, and 13, unless standing alone, are presumed not
to be followed by a vowel unless the vowel actually appears in the succeeding line.
Kong & end 10 nood fax Rand L

page_text: 5, 6, 9,
6,
A.
B.
5, 9,
CH..
2,
D.
4, 5, 9,
E.
To produce the various letters combinations are formed as follows:
O, or cipher.
P.
KW or GW or 4.
R or 5.
RT or 6.
2, 5, 9,
2, 3, 4,
2, 3, 5, 9,
3, 4, 5, 6, 9,
2, 4, 5, 6, 9,
3, 6,
F.
1, or 13.
S.
2, 6,
Gr.
4...
T.
3, 4,
H.
12..
T or D.
3, 5, 9,
t
I.
4, 5, 6, 9,
U.
2, 4,
J.
3...
V.
2, 3,
K.
2, 3, 6,
W.
3, 5, 6, 9,
L or Fig. 1. 2, 4, 5, 9,
Y or 3.
2, 5, 6, 9,
3, 4, 6,
2, 3, 5, 6, 9,
2, 3, 4, 5, 9,
LT.
2, 3, 4, 6,
Z.
M.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9,
TW or DW or 9.
N or 7.
3, 4, 5, 9,
..SH or ZH.
NT or 8.
2, 4, 6,
NG or ING.
As mentioned, keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, are in position to be readily struck simul-
taneously by the fingers and thumb of the right hand and keys 8, 10, 11, 12 and
13 are similarly arranged for the left hand.
Key 7 is in such position that it may be struck by the knuckle joint of the
thumb of the right or left hand with or without moving the tips of the fingers or
thumb from any of their keys.
Keys 5 and 9 are so placed that the inner side of the hand, or the fleshy base
of the thumb of the respective hands may be readily caused to bear thereon
likewise and to actuate said keys simultaneously with the others without changing
the position of the tips or ends of the fingers or thumbs.
•
In this way any or all of the keys may be simultaneously struck.
The peculiar grouping of the keys is of the utmost importance since it permits
thirteen distinct keys to be manipulated with great rapidity without moving the
fingers or thumbs of either hand from the keys specially provided for thom.
Letters, figures, numbers, syllables, or even words can be printed at a single.
stroke of this machine as fully as the same are written stenographically.
Spacing may be performed when required by operating the arm G.
A paper bed or table P guides and supports the paper as it runs out from the
machine.
The mark indicating the class to which the accented vowel belongs-renders
spacing unnecessary.
Instead of a single key 7 two independent keys, one for each thumb or knuckle
may be provided each bearing a special character and thus fourteen key's may be
simultaneously or independently actuated.
The machine is susceptible of various modifications as to details but it is
important that the keys or their finger buttons be arranged in two curved lines
as shown, so that the fingers may be placed simultaneously upon ten keys and
that the three or four additional keys shown and described may be operated
simultaneously with any or all of the keys struck by the fingers.
Thus instead of pivoted key bars a series of upright bars or stems sharpened at
their lower ends.or bearing type or dies and raised by springs may be used, the
upper feeding mechanisin being modified or located accordingly, and in like
manner, other details may be modified or varied without departing from the spirit
of the Invention.
The apparatus may also be used as a telegraph instrument, each key completing
a circuit when depressed and causing the operation of the corresponding key of a

page_text: The characters representing the accented vowels and the letters, initial Ș,-R,
'L, N, T, and final S may any or all of them be attached to an ordinary typo writer
so as to make their marks above or below the letters at the same time that they
are struck, thus enabling a common type writer to be used in carrying out the in
Invention which has been above set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that what I claim is :
•
1. In a machine for recording speech or language the combination of a series of
keys adapted to print characters which singly or jointly represent consonants, and
figures, and keys bearing distinctive marks to indicate to which of three classes
the accented vowels of the word belongs.
2. In a stenographic printing or writing machine, two groups of keys each
provided independently with a special character or mark, and having their finger
buttons arranged in curved lines corresponding to the positions of the fingers and
thumbs of the two hands as held in the act of striking the keys, whereby any or
all of the keys may be struck at a time without shifting the hands or fingers.
3. In combination with a group of printing, punching or embossing keys adapted
to be simultaneously or separately struck or depressed by the ends of the fingers
and thumb of the hand a separate key adapted to be depressed by the knuckle of
the thumb simultaneously with the depression of the keys of the group substantially
as set forth.
4. In combination with a group of keys adapted to be depressed by the finger
and thumb, a key located in rear of the group and adapted to be depressed by the
body of the hand or by the wrist substantially as set forth.
5. In a stenographic machine the combination of two groups of keys arranged
in curved lines corresponding to the positions of the fingers of the two hands;
a key or keys in rear of and between the groups in position to be actuated by the
joint or knuckle of the thumb, and two keys in position to be actuated by the
body of the hand or wrist without shifting the hands, whereby any or all of
the keys may be operated at a time.
6. In a stenographic printing machine, the combination of a series of keys which
separately or in combination serve to produce marks representing all the consonants,
figures, and various combinations of consonants, and other keys succeeding and
following the first series but capable of being simultaneously struck therewith,-
which do not thus combine with the first series, but which produce individually
characters representing in the order named the letters R, L, N, T or D and S or Z
following the first series; as and for the purpose explained.
7. In combination with a series of keys which singly or in combination represent
the various consonants and their combinations a series of independent keys
representing respectively and independently the letters S, L, R, N, T, S.
8. In combination with a paper feed roll C having a ratchet wheel a a pivoted
yoke or frame E, carrying a pawl D and an arm G attached to said frame and
serving to actuate the frame or yoke and thereby to rotate the feed roll.
9. In combination with a feed roll and a ratchet wheel connected there with a
series of key bars and a swinging frame overhanging the key bars at the inner
sides of their pivots and provided with a pawl to engage with the ratchet wheel
whereby the depression of any key of the series is caused to move the frame and
pawl and thereby to operate the feed roll.
10. In combination with a feed roll provided with a ratchet wheel a series of
key bars a movable bar overhanging the key bars and carrying a spring pawl
having a limited forward movement and adapted to engage with the ratchet
whereby the depression of a key causes the pawl to rotate the roll and then
withdraw from the ratchet and thereby to permit the key bar to make a short and
sudden stroke substantially as and for the purpose set forth..

page_text: 11. In combination with one or more of the keys indicating the letters R, L, N,
T, S, a set of four keys which independently and in combination represent the
different consonants and keys bearing marks to indicate the class to which the
· accented vowel belongs all arranged substantially as described and shown to be
struck simultaneously.