Improvements in or relating to Typewriting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Typewriting Machines.
We, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY, and GEORGE SALTER, THOMAS PHILIP BACHE,
JOHN HENRY BIRCH, and THOMAS HENRY SALTER, trading as George Salter
and Company, all of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines and has
particular reference to an improved device for carrying and operating the inking
ribbon, and also to means for adjusting the spring control of the scale-bar, and
for preventing play between the platen frame and the carriage in which it
works.
The ribbon is automatically wound off one spool on to the other, and when
one spool is filled the mechanism is set so that at the next forward movement of
the carriage it is reversed and the ribbon wound back again on to the empty
spool. An adjustment is provided whereby the inking ribbon may be drawn
back to allow inspection of the line of type last written, and the ribbon. may
be adjusted so that various portions of its width come under the type-head.
Various portions of the machine are not herein described in detail as they form
no part of the present invention.
The platen roller is carried in bearings in a frame free to move in a path at
right angles to its length, in guides in the main carriage. This motion of the
platen frame is brought about by shift key levers which when depressed cause the
pivotted bar or rock shaft to rotate and to push an angle bar or guide rail
forward. The guide rail moves in suitable guides in the main frame and its
motion preferably takes place against the action of a spring. The platen frame is
provided with a groove, into which the guide rail fits and thus the platen frame is
carried backwards and forwards with the guide-rail. This motion of the platen
is necessary in order that the case may be changed, that is, capitals or figures
employed instead of small letters etc.
33
The main carriage moves longitudinally upon the frame and an escapement
which may work in any ordinary manner is provided so that the main carriage
may be operated from the type keys.
A rack is carried by the main carriage its function being to operate the ribbon
winding mechanism as hereinafter described.
The inking ribbon mechanism is carried upon a shield or plate which is prefer-
ably pivotted to a portion of the frame and adapted to be held in one or other
of two positions for convenience in inserting the paper.
Long pinions are carried upon the shield which gear with and drive the ribbon
spools. The movable plate carried preferably in guides upon the under side of
the shield, carries toothed wheels which engage with the rack upon the main
carriage. The axles of these wheels pass through the plate and terminate in arms
or cranks which carry pawls. These pawls engage with other wheels which,
in turn, drive either directly or through intermediate gearing the ribbon spool
pinions.

page_text: A convenient arrangement of the pawl gear is to mount rings upon the arms
or cranks having pawls on their interior; as the crank rotates one of the pawls
will always be in engagement with the teeth of the wheel which it drives, and as
soon as the one pawl falls out of gear the other will drop into engagement. There
is found to be less wear on the teeth and less noise with this arrangement than
with spring controlled pawls.
It is to be understood that only one of the ribbon spools is driven at a time
the plate carrying the pawl gear moving so as to bring one or other of the spools
into gear.
The motion of the plate is conveniently brought about in the following
manner. A cam is provided mounted upon a portion of the shield; it tends when
in certain positions to turn under the action of a spring. An eccentric is
mounted upon the cam spindle and passes through an opening in the movable
plate so that when the cam is turned the eccentric causes the plate to move.
The cam and the eccentric are caused to rotate by the action of the rack upon
the main carriage which engages with the teeth of a segment plate mounted upon
the same spindle as the cam. The relative positions of the segment plate and
the cam are such that when the cam is in its position of rest the toothed portion
of the segment plate is caught by the rack upon the next forward motion of
the carriage and the segment plate is consequently rotated until a flat portion
comes uppermost and consequently the teeth miss the rack. In this position
the spring is tending to rotate the cam but is prevented from doing so by a stop
which engages with a pin upon the cam. There are two of these stops and they
are operated from levers controlled by the ribbon spools.
When the ribbon is wound to a certain diameter upon one spool, the lever
is operated and withdraws the stop from the cam which consequently rotates
under the action of the spring and allows the teeth of the segment plate to come
into engagement with the rack. The segment plate is then rotated and by the
action of the eccentric carries the movable plate over and brings the other spool
into gear. The ribbon.is then wound upon this spool until it in its turn becomes
full when the operation is repeated.
It will thus be seen that the ribbon itself sets the mechanism ready for reversal,
whilst the reversal is actually accomplished by the rack upon the carriage.
The ribbon spools are carried upon a plate which is free to slide upon the ribbon
shield. The ribbon passes off one spool on to the other through suitable guides
without being twisted in any direction. The guides through which the ribbon
passes are preferably capable of independent adjustment in order that various
portions of the width of the ribbon may be brought under the type-head.
In order that the line of type last written may be inspected, the plate which
carries the ribbon spools may be caused to slide back upon the shield; this is
conveniently brought about by connecting the plate by means of suitable levers
to a push-rod in front of the machine. When the rod is pushed the plate is
withdrawn from over the printing point against the action of a spring.
The machine is provided with a scale-bar pivotted at each end of the platen in
the usual manner but instead of providing the scale bar with a plain spring, a
spiral spring is fitted which is provided with an adjustment such for example as
a non-rotatable screw and nut in order that the pressure of the scale bar against
the platen may be regulated.
In order that there shall be no shake or play between the platen frame and
the main carriage--such play being prejudicial to good typing a spring is
provided which is preferably fastened to the carriage and bears against one end
of the platen frame, thus taking up all play whilst allowing the required motion
from back to front.
A small circular hole may be made in the hollow hub of the ribbon spool
and the ribbon may be attached by simply inserting the end of it through this
hole.
It is obvious that various alterations may be made in apparatus according to
this invention without departing from the spirit of it, for example, although the

page_text: ribbon winding mechanism is described as being set ready for reversal by the
action of the full spool, it will be readily seen that by a very slight modification
the lever controlling the stop could be operated by the empty spool.
Dated this 24th day of September 1898.
JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY.
GEORGE SALTER.
THOS. P. BACHE.
J. H. BIRCH.
THOS. H. SALTER.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Typewriting Machines.
We, JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY, and GEORGE SALTER, THOMAS PHILIP BACHE,
JOHN HENRY BIRCH, and THOMAS HENRY SALTER, trading as George Salter
and Company, all of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Engineers, 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 improvements in typewriting machines and has
particular reference to an improved device for carrying and operating the inking
ribbon, and also to means for adjusting the spring control of the scale-bar, and
for preventing play between the platen frame and the carriage in which it
works.
The ribbon is automatically wound off one spool on to the other, and when
one spool is filled the mechanism is set so that at the next forward movement of
the carriage it is reversed and the ribbon wound back again on to the empty
spool. An adjustment is provided whereby the inking ribbon may be drawn
back to allow inspection of the line of type last written, and the ribbon may
be adjusted so that various portions of its width come under the type head.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan of a typewriting machine having improvements according
to this invention,
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section looking in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation showing in detail the adjustable spring to the
scale-bar.
Figure 4 shows a portion of the ribbon shield in side elevation.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of the ribbon-shield.
Figure 5 being a plan,
Figure 6 an inverted plan,
Figure an elevation looking from the front of the machine,
.
Figure 8 an elevation looking from the back of the machine,
Figure 9 shows a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7 is a different
position.
Figure 10 shows in further detail and to a larger scale part of the mechanism
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, and
Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of one of the ribbon spools.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

page_text: Various portions of the machine are omitted in the drawings as they form
no part of the present invention and would, if illustrated, tend to obscure the
essential features of it.
The frame of the machine is indicated at A, it rests on feet as at A in the
usual manner.
B is a platen roller carried in bearings in a frame C which is free to move
in a path at right angles to its length, in guides in the main carriage D. This
motion is brought about by levers C and C² which when depressed cause a
pivotted bar or rock shaft (3 to rotate and through the action of arms C, to
push an angle bar or guide rail C³ forward. Adjusting screws c are provided so
that the arms C4 may operate equally upon the guide rail C. The guide rail C³
is furnished with guides C which slide in horizontal grooves in a portion of the
frame A. The motion of the guide-rail C takes place against the action of a
spring C, one end of which is secured to the frame A, and the other end to a
portion of the guides C integral with the guide rail C5. The platen frame C is
provided with a groove C8 into which the guide rail C fits and thus the platen
frame C is carried backwards and forwards with the guide rail.
This motion of
3
the platen is necessary in order that the case may be changed i.e. capitals or
figures employed instead of small letters etc., and is brought about as stated above,
by depressing one or other of the shift-key levers C¹ C³.
The main carriage D moves in longitudinal guides in the frame A and is
operated from the type keys E; it is provided with an escapement which may
work in any convenient manner.
Fis a rack carried upon the carriage D and operating the ribbon mechanism
hereinafter described.
G is a shield or plate carrying the inking ribbon mechanism; it is provided
with two brackets G (Figures 47 and 8) by means of which it is pivotally
mounted as at G8 to a portion of the stationary frame work of the machine.
One of the brackets G is prolonged and furnished with a friction roller as at G²;
a spring G³ presses against this roller G³ and tends to keep the shield G in one or
other of two positions (Figure 4). Normally the shield is in the horizontal
position but while the paper is being inserted it is convenient to turn it so
that it takes the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4. Further
motion of the shield G, beyond either of the two positions is prevented by stops G7
which are attached to, or form part of, the frame work of the machine. Mounted
upon the shield G. are two long pinions G which are driven from toothed
wheels G³. Upon the underside of the shield G is a plate H having a limited
movement in the direction of its length in guides H. The plate H carries upon
one side toothed wheels H2 the axles of which pass through the plate H and
terminates in arms or cranks J which carry rings J¹ having pawls J2 on their
interior. These pawls Jengage with teeth K2 cut upon sleeves K¹ of toothed
wheels K. When rotated in the driving direction one of the pawls Ja of each
ring J will always be in engagement with the teeth K³, one pawl falling into
gear as soon as the other drops out, as is shown in Figure 10. There is found to
be less wear on the teeth and less noise with this arrangement than with a spring-
controlled pawl. As illustrated the, ring J is suspended upon the crank J at
a point which is nearer one of the pawl teeth J2 than the other; this is
advantageous but it will be seen that even if the point of suspension was equi-
distant from the teeth J2 the arrangement would still work.
The wheels H engage with the teeth of the rack F upon the carriage D and are
consequently rotated, first in one direction and then in the other as the carriage
moves forward or backward. The pawls J only engage with the teeth K³ when
the rack is moving backwards, i.e. in the direction in which it is urged when the
machine is used in the ordinary manner, and therefore rotation of the wheels K
only takes place then..
The sliding movement of the plate H is necessary in order that, as desired,
one or other of the wheels K shall gear with one of the wheels G. Thus in

page_text: If
Figure the plate H has been moved as far to the left as possible and the left-
hand wheel is engaging, through an intermediate wheel K³ with one of the
wheels G, while the right hand wheels K and G³ are out of engagement.
now the plate H be shifted to the right, the right-hand wheel K will engage
directly with its wheel G, and the intermediate wheel K³ will be withdrawn
from gear with the other wheel G. As hereinafter explained this movement of
the plate H brings about the reversal of the ribbon.
-
The motion of the plate H is effected by the following means:-A cam L is
provided mounted upon a portion Go of the plate G; it tends when in certain
positions to turn under the action of a spring lever L' and friction roller L. An
eccentric L is mounted upon the cam-spindle and passes through an opening H³
in the plate H, so that when the cam L is turned the eccentric L³ causes the
plate H to move in its guides H¹.
The cam L and eccentric L³ are caused to rotate by the rack F which engages
with the teeth of a segment plate L' mounted upon the same spindle as the cam I
and eccentric L³. The relative positions of the segment plate L and the cam L
are such that as shown in Figures 7 and 8, when the cam is in its position of;
rest i.e. when the friction roller L is in the dip of the cam L the toothed portion
of the segment plate L is caught by the rack F upon its next forward motion
and is consequently rotated until it assumes the position illustrated in Figure 9
where the flat portion of the segment plate L is horizontal and misses the
rack F. In this position the spring lever L¹ is tending to rotate the cam L, but
is prevented from doing so, by a stop M which engages with a pin L upon the
cam K. There are two stops M₁ carried upon a plate M which slides freely in
guides as at M³ upon the main plate G, its ends being turned over as at M. If
when the pin L is caught by one of the stops M', the plate M be moved in the
proper direction, the pin L is released, and the cam L rotates slightly until the
roller L is in the dip of the cam L, and consequently one of the toothed portions
of the segment plate L is ready to engage with the rack F.
The ribbon-spools N are carried in bearings N¹ upon a plate N2 which slides
upon the plate G being guided as at N³. Each of the spools N has one of its
sides formed as a toothed wheel N and the teeth of the wheel N engage with
the long pinions G carried by the plate G.
Pivotally mounted as at 0¹ is a lever 0, one end of which enters between the
cheeks of the ribbon spool N whilst the other end bears against the turned over
end M³ of the plate M. When the roll of ribbon on either spool attains a certain
diameter it pushes the lever O which consequently turns upon its pivot 0¹ and
pushes the end M³ of the plate M. This moves the plate M and causes the stop M
to release the pin L³, the segment plate L' then rotates and is caught by the
rack F and further rotated, so that the plate H is moved in its guides H¹ and the
other spool N thrown into gear. The ribbon is then wound upon the other spool
until that in its turn becomes full, when reversal again occurs.
It will thus be seen that the ribbon itself when wound to a certain diameter on
the spool, sets the mechanism ready for reversal, whilst the reversal is actually accom-
plished by the rack upon the carriage D. The inking ribbon N³ passes off
at the bottom of one spool N and through guides No P1 on to the other spool N
without being twisted in any direction. The guides No are part of the plate N°
and a gap between them constitutes the printing-space, or point where the
type descends upon the ribbon N³. The guides P¹ are part of a plate P which is
adjustable upon the plate N2 as by the slot and screw at P2, so that the ribbon N5.
may be shifted in order to bring various portions of its width under the type.
The
In order to inspect the line of type last written, the plate N° with the ribbon
spools N, and ribbon guides No and P¹ etc. may be caused to slide back in the
guide N upon the plate G. This is accomplished in the following manner.
plate N is joined by means of a link N8 to a lever No pivotted to the frame A
as at No. The lower end of the lever N is operated by a push rod Nu from the
front of the machine, and its upper end is controlled by a spring N the other end

page_text: of which is fastened to a portion of the angle bar C³. The spring N holds the
lever N against a stop which is rigidly connected with the angle bar C³.
When the rod N" in front of the machine is pushed it overcomes the action of
the spring and causes the plate N3 to move backwards upon the plate G. The
ribbon N is thus withdrawn from over the line last typed."
It will be seen that when the angle bar C is moved forward by the action of
the lever C or C, the lever N will be pulled by the spring Nia and thus the
plate N and the ribbon Nō with its guide will be moved forward with the
platen B. That is to say, unless the rod N is pushed inwards the position of the
ribbon N with regard to the axis of the platen 13 remains unchanged.
The machine is provided with a scale-bar R pivotted at each end of the
platen B in the usual manner, but instead of providing it with a plain spring, a
spring R is fitted having one end fixed to the platen-frame C as at R while
the other end is fitted with a non-rotatable screw R³ and a nut R'. The screw R³
passes through a portion of the scale-bar so that the tension of the spring R¹ and
consequently the pressure of the scale bar R against the platen B may be
adjusted.
In order that there shall be no shake or play between the platen frame C
and the carriage D-such play being prejudicial to good typing a flat spring (10
(Fig. 1) is provided which is fastened to the carriage 1) and bears against one
end of the platen frame C, thus taking up all play whilst allowing the required
motion from back to front.
Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of one of the ribbon spools N; a small
circular hole n is made in the hollow hub of the spool, and the ribbon is attached
by simply inserting the end of it through this hole n.
It is obvious that various alterations may be made in apparatus according to
this invention without departing from the spirit of it; for example although
the ribbon winding mechanism is described as being set ready for reversal by
the action of the full spool, it will be readily seen that by a very slight modifica-
tion the lever controlling the sliding plate M could be operated by the empty
spool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In a type-writing machine a ribbon-winding device in which the mechanism
is automatically set for reversal by the spool.
2. In a type-writing machine a ribbon-winding device in which the mechanism
is automatically set for reversal by the spool and the reversal effected by the
movement of the carriage.
3. In a type-writing machine the combination with the carriage of a rack
which operates the ribbon-winding mechanism substantially as described.
4. In a type-writing machine the combination with a ribbon-spool of a lever
operated by the ribbon when wound to a certain diameter upon the spool sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a type-writing machine mounting the ribbon-spools upon a sliding
plate for the purpose of withdrawing the ribbon from the printing point when
desired.
6. A ribbon-winding device for a type-writing machine having two sets of
pawl-driven gear which are thrown in and out of engagement with the ribbon-
spools substantially as described.
7. In a type-writing machine the combination with the ribbon spools of
pawl-driven gear carried upon a sliding plate substantially as described.
8. In a type-writing machine pawl driving mechanism comprising the com-
bination with a ratchet wheel of a pawl having two engaging teeth pivotted
between the two upon a crank mounted concentrically with the ratchet wheel.
9. In a type-writing machine the employment in pawl driving mechanism

page_text: of a pivotted pawl having two teeth at different distances from the point of
suspension.
10. In a type-writing machine a pawl driving device comprising a ring
mounted eccentrically to the ratchet wheel and having internal pawls substantially
as described.
11. In a ribbon-winding device for a type-writing machine a cam actuated by
a spring lever and released by the action of the spool substantially as described.
12. In a type-writing machine an adjustable plate such as P P P by which the
ribbon may be adjusted substantially as described.
13. In a type-writing machine a ribbon shield hinged or pivotted and adapted
to be held in two positions by a spring substantially as described.
14. In a type-writing machine the combination with the scale bar of a spring
the power of which is adjustable substantially as described.
15. In a type-writing machine the combination with the platen-frame and
carriage of a spring to prevent end-play.
16. In a type-writing machine fastening the ribbon by inserting the end of it
in a circular hole in the hub of the spool.
17. In a type-writing machine the combination with the platen frame of a
guide rail such as C5 substantially as described.
18. In a type-writing machine the combination with the platen frame of a
guide rail such as C and a rock shaft C operated by means of levers C₁ C²
substantially as described.
19. The complete ribbon winding device substantially as described or illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1899.
JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY.
GEORGE SALTER.
THOMAS PHILIP BACHE.
JNO. H. BIRCH.
THOMAS HENRY SALTER.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.