IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING MACHINES OR TYPE WRITERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WRITING MACHINES OR TYPE WRITERS "which Invention has been communicated
to me from abroad by Ignacio, Marquis de Camarasa of Paris in the Republic of
France to be as follows.
1
This Invention relates to a circular writing machine with pivoting characters
self inking by turning over on a pad and enabling the writing to be seen-The
writing machine known as Type writers present the serious disadvantage of not
enabling the operator to see what he 18 writing-In the improved machine con-
structed and operating according to the present Invention this disadvantage is
obviated, the operator sees what he is writing, facility is afforded for going back,
corrections can be made, and accents can be placed as easly as when writing with
a pen-Moreover the construction of the mechanism 18 simplified and ink of a fatty
nature may be employed
In a machine constructed according to this Invention the keys are attached to a
series of vertical rods arranged in one or more circles round the apparatus and
supported by springs These rods when depressed by the keys cause levers or type
carriers to describe an arc of a circle and converge towards the centre of the
machine-These levers are jointed at one extremity to a fixed ring and are
provided at the other extremity with a metal or rubber type or character which
when the levers are depressed strikes the upper side of the paper at the centre of
the machine
Each key is marked with the letter or sign which it is used to produce
The types are guided in radial slots in a species of funnel attached at the upper
part to a cylindrical case or ring and at the lower part to metal plates or a disc also
attached to the said case or ring-The hammers or type are inked by means of a
removeable and adjustable circular pad against which they rest when not in action
In addition to the circular motion obtained by turning upon their fixed centres the
type carriers are capable of partaking of a rotary motion about their own axes so
that when operated by the keys the types descend for a certain distance face
upwards in the position they occupy against the pad until three teeth or projections

page_text: on a boss fixed on the arm carrying the type engage with corresponding bars or
wires or other projections attached to the slotted funnel This has the effect
of turning over the type and causing it to present its face downwards or towards
the paper situated underneath-On returning, the action is reversed so as to cause
the type to return to its original position with its face resting against the circular
inking pad at the upper part of the machine The stems of the type carriers are
provided with flat surfaces which engage with the slots in the guide funnel and
render them incapable of turning therein except at the point where the type is
turned over as herein before described -The paper carrier is provided with a pair
of Cylinders supported in a rectangular frame mounted upon travelling rollers and
capable of travelling horizontally upon suitable guide rails The Cylinders are
made in two segments connected together by screws or rubber rings and the
extremities of the sheet of paper to be printed or written on are held between these
segments The part of the sheet operated on by the type rests upon a suitable
support on table-Each Cylinder is provided with one or more ratchet wheels with
differently pitched teeth and held in position by a spring pawl These wheels are
employed to produce the interlinear spaces Thus when one line is completed the
Cylinders are rotated to the extent of one or more teeth according to the width of
space desired either directly or by means of a crank or bandle of suitable length
Jointed or otherwise connected to the axis of the Cylinder-In order to keep the
paper well stretched, the Cylinder opposite to the one which is operated is caused
to turn somewhat stiffly upon its axis
The forward movement of the paper carrier 18 obtained by means of a spring or
weight, the return motion being produced by the hand of the operator
In order to feed forward the paper after the formation of each letter a toothed
rack with two sets of oppositely placed teeth is provided at the side of the paper
carrier, being acted upon by a species of escapement movement consisting of a catch
or anchor operated by a lever connected to a ring at the centre of the machine
The type carriers when depressed come in contact with and depress this ring and
operate the lever so as to disengage the rack and allow the feed spring or weight to
propel forwards the paper carrier so as to present the paper in the proper position
to receive the impression of the next letter In order to produce the space required
between two successive words it is simply necessary to depress a blank key which
causes the escapement lever to be operated in the same way as when a type key 18
operated and feeds forward the paper to the extent required
The feed or escapement ring is preferably padded and deadens the shock pro-
duced by the descent of the type carriers and assists in causing them to return to
their original position after they have struck the paper
The apparatus may be used for producing perforated characters to be employed
for obtaining copies, or the characters may be produced by causing the types to
remove portions of a thin layer of some substance impervious to ink such as
Stearine from the surface of paper With this object reversible types may be
employed presenting at one end the ordinary surface used for printing and at the
other characters formed by points or cutting edges These reversible types are held
in a socket in the extremity of the type carriers and secured in position by a set
screw It is simply necessary to turn these types through half a revolution in
order to form either description of characters-If preferred readily removeable
types or characters may be employed in order to admit of making changes with
facility.

page_text: Improvements in Writing Machines or Type-writers
I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inu Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Ignacio, Marquis de Camarasa of Paris in the
Republic of France 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 circular writing machine or type writer hereinafter
described provided with oscillating type of characters automatically supplied with
ink and so arranged as to enable the operator to see the writing as it is produced
The writing machines heretofore constructed and known as type writers present
the serious disadvantage that the operator is unable to see the letters and words as
they are formed
These machines are usually provided with an indicator which shews the position
of the paper and with a bell which gives notice when a line is completed but as
the wiiting is concealed from view it is extremely difficult to avoid mistakes such
as omissions of letters or of spaces for example
In the improved machine constructed and operating according to the present
Invention this disadvantage is obviated, the operator sees what he 18 writing
and facility is afforded for going back, making corrections supplying omissions or
placing accents, stops and the like whenever required Moreover the construction
of the mechanism is simplified and ink of a fatty nature may be employed such
as the ink commonly employed in printing and lithography These results are
obtained by the employment of self-inking type carried on arms partaking of a
compound motion and converging to a central point on the upper surface of the
paper, the said arms and the feeding devices for the paper being actuated by means
of mechanism arranged and operating as hereinafter described
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer
to the several figures on the annexed sheets of diawings the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding pirts in all the figures
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of an
improved circular writing machine constructed according to this Invention
Figure 2 is a corresponding plan and Figure 3 is a part vertical section in a
plane perpendicular to the section in Figure 1
This machine is provided with a series of keys A corresponding to the letters or
signs to be produced and attached to vertical rods A¹ arianged in a circle and
supported by springs R These rods are connected by links d to sleeves b placed
upon type carriers B supported at their lower extremities in sockets c Jointed or
hinged to a stationary ring or support C The levers B are provided at the other
or upper extremity with a type or character c which when the levers B are
depressed strikes the upper side of the paper at the centre ✗ of the machine and
rest against an inking pad T when the sud levers are elevated
There are as many keys A and type carriers B as there are letters figures stops
or other signs employed in writing and if preferred the keys A may evidently be

page_text: arranged in two or more circles instead of one as shewn in the drawing Each
Ley A is marked with the letter or sign which it is used to produce
The types are guided in radial slots in a species of funnel or cone E which may
be attached as shewn at e to a cylindrical case or ring D and at e¹ to a base
formed by metal plates or a disc D¹ also attached to the case or ring D This
base with the cylinder D and the cone E constitute the principal framework of the
machine
The types are automatically supplied with ink by a removeable and adjustable
annular pad T against which they rest when not in action This pad is contained
in a metal case and is supported in such a manner as to admit of being readily
removed when required being also capable of adjustment so that the types may not
always strike the pad at the same place
The details of the construction of this inking device may evidently be modified
in various ways without affecting the principle of the Invention-In addition to
the motion in an arc of a circle obtained by turning upon the centre or pivot at c
the type carriers B partake of a rotary motion about their own axes so that when
operated by the keys the types c¹ descend for a certain distance face upwards until
the carrier arrives at the position indicated by the dotted lines at x on the right
hand side of Figure 1 At this point three cogs teeth or projections a on a boss
fixed on the carrier B engage with corresponding cogs or projections ff¹ which
may be conveniently formed by a species of wire fork or staple soldered or other-
wise attached to the under side of the slotted cone or funnel E as shewn in the
diawing When the cogs a come in contact with the cogs f f¹ the carrier B is
caused to turn upon its axis in the socket c so that the type describes half a
revolution and turns its face towards the paper at X-During the downward
stroke the first projection or cog a by engaging with the stationary cog f, causes
the type to describe one quarter of a revolution and assume the position indicated
by the dotted lines at a¹ on the left hand side of Figure 1 the second projection or
cog a then coming in contact with the cog f¹ causes the carrier and type to com-
plete the half revolution and assume the position indicated by the dotted lines at x²
Figure 1 On returning, the action is reversed the type being caused to return to
its original position with its face in contact with the inking pad T
The type
carers B are provided with enlargements having flat surfaces which engage
in the slots in the guide or funnel E during a portion of the stroke and prevent
the carriers from turning on their own axes except when the cogs a engage
with the cogs ƒ ƒ¹ as herein before described This effect may be obtained by
making the cone E of the form represented in Figures 1 and 3 according to
which the said cone is bent or bulged outwards at the part where the cogs ff' are
attached and the sides of the slot consequently clear or release the enlargement h
at that portion of the stroke where the carrier requires to be turned Any other
suitable mechanical devices may evidently be employed for turning over the type
in place of the arrangement herein before described by way of example
The paper is rolled upon a pair of cylinders or rollers I and J figures 2 and 3
supported in a rectangular frame g mounted upon travelling rollers g¹ and capable
of travelling horizontally upon rails of a form in section corresponding to the profile
of the periphery of the travelling rollers The rollers I and J are made in two
Begments connected together by screws or rubber rings, and the extremities of the
sheet of paper to be printed or witten on are held between these segments and is
secured therein by screws for example as indicated in figure 3 The part of the
paper acted on by the type rests upon a table or support P carried by the frame g
The rollers I and J are provided with ratchet wheels v with differently pitched
teeth engaging with springs pawls u for the purpose of regulating the spaces
between the lines
When one line is completed the rollers are rotated to the extent of one or more
teeth of the ratchets according to the width of space desired, either directly or by
means of a crank or handle 3 of suitable length jointed or otherwise connected to
the axis of one of the rollers

page_text: In order to keep the paper properly stretched the roller from which the paper is
unwound is caused to turn somewhat stiffly upon its axis by means of a screw &
spring or any suitable retarding device
The traversing movement of the paper carrier is produced automatically which
takes place between each letter by means of a spring Q or a weight for example,
the return motion previous to commencing a fresh line being produced by the
operator The mechanism carrying the paper may be drawn out of the apparatus
by means of a cord or chain k or by the handle, the latter being made of sufficient
length and jointed for this purpose The return motion of the carrier for com-
mencing a fresh line and the shifting of the paper by means of the rollers in order
to pass from one line to another may take place simultaneously in order to avoid
loss of time
The paper is fed forwards automatically after the formation of each letter by
means of a double rack K figures 2, 3 and 4 having two sets of oppositely placed
ratchet teeth and arranged at the side of the paper camer These teeth are
engaged by an anchor or detent m connected to a lever M oscillating on a centre
at N and operated by a ring V at the centre of the apparatus The type carriers
when depressed come in contact with and depress this ring thereby moving the
lever M and the anchor m so as to release the teeth on one side of the rack K and
allow the feed spring Q or its equivalent to propel forwards the paper carrier until
stopped by the teeth on the other side of the rack engaging with the other part of
the anchor m The space between the teeth being suitably regulated the paper 18
then presented in the proper position for receiving the impression of the next
letter The action of the escapement 18 shown in detail in figure 4 A regulir
and uniform motion of the paper is thus automatically produced between the con-
secutive letters employed in forming each word but in order to produce the spaces
required between the words it is necessary to depress a blank key A³ figure 3
which causes the lever M to be depressed in the same way as when a type key 18
operated and feeds forward the paper to the extent required The ring Vis
preferably padded and with the lever M deadens the shock produced by the
descent of the type carriers, and assists the springs R in causing them to return to
their original position after they have struck the paper
The ring C and case D may be replaced by a single metal cylinder forming a
case in one piece and presenting a suitable slotted or grooved opening for the
passage of the paper carrier and the whole apparatus may be provided with a
suitable cover for protection during transport It is evident moreover that the
details of construction and arrangement may be modified in various ways without
affecting the principle of the invention For example the springs R of the keys A
may be arranged in the interior of a tube as shown in figure 5 so as to employ a
longer spring without adding to the length of the key
If it be desired to employ a large number of keys in order to increase the
number of signs or letters without materially increasing the diameter of the
machine and at the same time retaining the circular form, the keys may be
arranged in two concentric circles in place of being arranged in one circle
arrangement involves only an unimportant modification in the general arrangement
of the apparitus
This
The apparatus may be used for producing perforated characters to be employed
for obtaining copies or the characters may be produced by causing the types to
remove portions of a thin layer of some substance impervious to ink, such as
stearine from the surface of paper With this object ieversible types may be
employed presenting at one end the ordinary surface used for printing and at the
other, characters formed by points or cutting edges. These reversible types are
held in a socket in the extremity of the type carriers and secured in position by a
set screw It is then simply necessary to turn or reverse these types in order to
form either description of characters If preferred readily removable or inter-
changeable types or characters may be employed in order to admit of making
changes with facility

page_text: 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
First The combination or arrangement of parts constituting the improved
writing machine herein before described
Second-The arrangement for turning over on reversing the types and bringing
them automatically into contact with the inking pad after acting on the paper, the
parts being so arranged that the operator is enabled to see the writing as it is
produced substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings
Third The employment in combination with type arranged and operating as
herein before described and claimed, of the feed lever M connected to the ring V for
releasing the feeding devices after the formation of each letter substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Fourth The combination of the feed lever M and the blank key A¹ in the
manner and for the purpose set forth
Fifth The construction and employment of the improved paper carrier in
combination or not with the propelling and controlling devices in the manner and
for the purpose set forth