IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENOGRAPHING BY AID OF PRINTING CHARACTERS OR TYPE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Baudoin and Jules César Bombart, Gentlemen, both
of the City of Paris, in the Republic of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENOGRAPHING BY AID OF PRINTING CHARACTERS
OR TYPE."
Sealed the 16th February 1877, and dated the 1st September 1876
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Baudoin and Jules César
Bombart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st September
1876.
JULES BAUDOIN and JULES CÉSAR BOMBART, Gentlemen, both of the City of
Paris, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENO-
GRAPHING BY AID OF PRINTING CHARACTERS OR TYPE"
The object of this Invention is to replace the unintelligible short-hand signs by
type printing, to the apparatus for effecting which we give the name of the
stenograph
The apparatus is worked by keys on a finger board similar to that of a piano.
These keys are in direct communication with the type letters, whose impression is
made upon a strip of paper automatically unwinding itself and receiving the impression
by the action of the keys as rapidly as the words ate delivered by the orator.
Two main elements are requisite for the accomplishment of this object; namely,
a special combination of the apparatus and the combination of a special alphabet,
the number of whose letters are restricted and limited, yet sufficient for the
instantaneous reproduction of any discourse.
The apparatus is portable, simple in construction, devoid of complicated mechanism,
works regularly without interruption for reparation, and takes to pieces for con-
venience of transport.
The body of the machine consists of a wooden frame, within which the mechanism
is situated; this embraces six principal parts, viz., the finger board, working or
actuating levers, regulators, letter carriers, inking pads, and a frame bearing the
latter.
The finger board is like that of a piano, the keys, 20 of which are sufficient for a

page_text: complete and perfect result, are of wood, ivory, or bone, 10 are used for printing the
vowels and 10 for the consonants.
The actuating levers are immediately beneath the keys and are two in number,
one for communicating motion to the vowels and one to the consonants; each lever
bears two small branches placed at each end and fulfilling the functions of the
levers; one of these branches acts on a small spring serving to determine the
displacement of the inkers or pads on a horizontal plane without any friction of the
letters, and allowing free passage to the letter to be printed. The other branch
actuates a toothed wheel communicating motion to the roller that receives the paper
as it is printed, this movement of the roller is regular and defined, so that the
drawing of the paper should only be equal in length to that required by the
displacement or printing of a letter. The motor lever also bears two small shafts
serving to lead the regulators to their normal positions after the action of each key;
it also bears a balance rocking on an axis occupying its centre, this balance actuates
the regulators and consequently the letters to be printed
There are two regulators, each in communication with the lever working it, one
of these is for the vowels the other for the consonants; they have small escapement
shafts equal in number with the letters. These regulators are inovable and rock in
the centre on a fixed shaft supporting them. The escapement shafts communicate
with small movable and right-angled hooks, which latter are always kept in the
required position by aid of small springs. The shafts are fixed to a metal plate,
where their backward and forward course is limited; their combination with the
escapement shafts serves to determine the course of the letter carriers and at the
same time guides the letter, which should be struck in the place it should occupy
between the inking pads, so that the impression is effected without difficulty.
Each key of the finger-board bears beneath it a small chain in connection with
an elbow piece for allowing a fiee passage to the points of the regulators. In
touching a key the chain slackens and allows the spring to lead the elbow on to the
detunt shaft to the regulator which corresponds with the letter to be printed.
The letter carriers are small apparatus composed of ten metallic blades arranged
fan fashion and fixed at one of their ends to the axis, which serves as pivot to
then. The other end of each shaft bears a printing letter or type. The ends of the
_carriers are fixed to the centre part of the inside of the frame. There are two
carriers, one for the vowels the other for the consonants.
Two small blades are placed at the sides; they pass between the characters and
bear at their free ends a particular sign, their object being to give to some letters
only a double signification; they are worked by two keys, which the thumbs act
upon, and are placed beneath the apparatus.
The inking pads are four in number, being specially arranged in relation to the
working of the letters; they are fixed at one of their sides to the lateral sides of
the machine, and are sustained in a horizontal plan by means of a small chain which
serves to separate them from the lever motor, which by its organization is arranged
to produce the backward and forward motion necessary for the working of the
letter to be printed and the renewal of the inking of the type.
The frame of the pads is composed of a small apparatus fixed beneath the main
frame of the machine by one of its sides by means of hinges; at the other side it is
supported by two small keys which allow of its removal like the lid of a box, for
renewing the ink, cleaning the apparatus or the pads. This frame bears a kind of
cushion in its centre which serves to support the paper which should receive the
impression of the type; it is so arranged that the latter can be printed on the paper
without difficulty and accurately.
Two rollers are placed one on oach side of this frame; one bears the paper to be
printed, the other receives it as printed, but only as the lever motor acts.
:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jules Baudoin and Jules César Bombart in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd February 1877.
JULES BAUDOIN and JULES CÉSAR BOMBART, Gentlemen, both of the City of
Paris, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR STENO-
GRAPHING BY AID OF PRINTING CHARACTERS OR TYPE."
Fig. 1 is a plan of the finger board; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3, a
view taken from beneath the key board; and Fig. 4, a section at A, B, of Fig. 3.
The object of this Invention is to replace the unintelligible signs or characters in
short hand by type printing, to the apparatus for effecting which we give the name
of the stenograph.
The apparatus is worked by keys, the finger board presenting the same external
appearance as that of a piano. These keys correspond with the printing letters,
whose impression is made on a band or strip of paper automatically unwinding
itself, and receiving the impression by the play upon the keys. The paper roll is
fixed to the apparatus, and supported by a frame, which will be hereafter explained.
To effect this important result, whose object is to entirely do away with writing by
particular signs often not decipherable, and instead to employ ordinary printer's
type, it is above all necessary that the printing of the letters and their combination
should be capable of production mechanically on paper with the same rapidity as
the speech of an orator; it is therefore obligatory to employ two principal elements
constituting the general system which forms the Invention,-
First. The special combination of the apparatus.
And, Secondly. The combination of a special alphabet.
The problem resting on this double combination required a sufficiently difficult
solution, as it was necessary to have a simple apparatus free from all complicated
mechanism, so as to work regularly under all circumstances, and not requiring
frequent reparation, so as to avoid any interruption during its use; and, in addition,
the creation of a special alphabet, the number of whose letters are restricted and
limited, yet sufficient for the instantaneous reproduction of any discourse. It is
also requisite that the apparatus should be portable, that is to say, of such dimen-
sions as to be readily transported, the same as any other instrument indispensably
required at a moment's notice. To overcome these obstacles is the principal merit
of the Invention, and from experiments made these difficulties have been overcome,
the results obtained being of the greatest importance by the combination of the
apparatus hereafter described, and on which we base our claim.
The machine is represented in its different aspects and in all its details by the
Drawings accompanying this description, that is to say, the stenographic machine
printing with type consists of a fiame A forming the principal body of the machine,
bearing within it all the mechanism constituting the system; although shown as
square in the Drawing it can nevertheless take any other form and dimensions
desired, the mechanism being then suited to adapt itself to such shape. This frame
may be of wood, metal, or other matter capable of being so employed, and is so con-
structed as to admit of taking to pieces without fear of any derrangement of the
parts, each side bearing with it a part of the mechanism, and the reinstating of the
apparatus is naturally and easily effected.
The plan representing the machine is of the natural size for working, but as already
mentioned these proportions can be determined with the importance of the apparatus.
The mechanism constituting the machine for stenographing embraces as principal
parts, 1st, the finger board B; 2nd, working levers C; 3rd, regulators D; 4th,
letter carriers E; 5th, inking pads F; 6th, the frame G.
The key board B is similar in outward appearance to that of a piano; it is formed
of a limited number of keys, which work in a similar manner to a piano, with the
exception of their producing sounds; they serve to displace the type with which
they communicate, and which after inking automatically leave their impression on
.

page_text: the paper
Twenty, as shown by the Drawing, are sufficient for a complete and
perfect result; ten of these are used for printing the vowels, the other ten serve for
printing the consonants. These keys may be in wood, ivory, bone, or otherwise
and are maintained in a horizontal position like those of the piano by small springs
beneath the key board forming the external surface of the machine 'may be
ornamented as desired. The actuating levers C, which play an important part in
the general movement of the mechanism, are immediately beneath the keys; there
are two of them, one serving to communicate motion to the vowel keys, and the
other to the consonants; they are consequently movable, and are set in motion
whenever the keys are touched. Moreover each lever bears two small branches a, a¹,
placed one at each end, and fulfilling the functions of the lever. One of these
branches a or lever arm serves to act as a small spring, which determines (on a
longitudinal plane and without friction with the letters) the displacement of the
inkers or pads to leave a free passage to the letter to be printed or struck The
other branch of the lever a¹ serves to actuate a toothed wheel for setting in motion
the roller which receives the paper band as it is printed; this movement of the
roller is regular and defined, so that the drawing of the paper should only be equal
in length required by the displacement of each letter after being printed. The
levers also bears two small shafts b, b¹, serving to lead the regulator (hereafter
described) to its normal position after the action of each key. It likewise bears a
system of balance H rocking on the axis H³, which occupies its centro; it is this
balance system which actuates the regulator, and consequently the characters or
letters to be struck.
The regulators D, D, are like the levers two in number, each of these regulators.
being in communication with the lever which works it; the two are alike and act
similarly, one for the vowels, the other for the consonants; they have small escape-
ment shafts I of an equal number with the letters; these regulators are movable,
and rock in the centre on a fixed shaft I, which serves as a support to them. The
escapement shafts communicate with small, movable, and right angled hooks, which
latter are always kept in the required position by aid of small springs for the purpose.
These shafts are fixed to a metal plate, where their backward and forward course is
limited their combination with the escapement shafts serves to determine the
course of the letter carriers, and at the same time guides the letter which ought to
be struck in the place it should occupy between the inking pads, so that the
impression is effected without difficulty. The working of the machine is thus
effected mechanically, and with the greatest precision, the regulator receiving its
movement from the actuating lever, which in itself receives it from the impulsion
given to the keys of the finger board.
It has been described that the regulator received its rocking motion from the
actuating lever, by aid of two small shafts b, b' Each key bears beneath it a small
chain, which corresponds with the square or elbow piece K of the frame, with
which it should communicate to determine a free passage to the points of the
regulator. In touching a key, the chain slackens and allows the spring to lead
the elbow K. on to the detent shaft, to the regulator which corresponds with the
letter to be struck The letter carriers or porte letters L consist of small apparatus
composed of ten metallic blades, arranged fan fashion, and fixed at one of their ends
to the axis which serves as pivot to them. The other end of each shaft bears a
printing letter or type, see the plan, Figure 2. The axes of the letter carriers are
fixed to the centre part of the inside of the frame. The blades of theso carriers
may be of steel, as well as the letters, for greater strength. There are two letter 5
carriers, as the apparatus has two regulators, and two lever motors, one bears
the vowel letters, the other the consonants. These letters, as already mentioned,
are ten in number for the vowels, that is to say, A, I, O, U, corresponding with the
large keys of the left hand, and É, E, 8, 8, 8, representing O, U, and Ô, o,
ponding with the small keys, the two other characters, at the side of the vowels, 5
are the full stop and the comma Two small blades H are placed at the side, they
pass between the characters, and bear at their free ends a particular sign, their
corres-

page_text: object being to give to some letters only a double signification. The movement
for working them is determined by two keys, which the thumbs act upon. These
keys are placed beneath the apparatus.
The letter carriers of the consonants bear the letters P, K, T, F, H, L, M, N, R, S,
in relation with the alphabet which constitutes the key of our system. These
letters may be changed for any other combination, since the Invention rests entirely
in the combination of the apparatus, which may itself be employed for a multitude
of alphabets, the number of the keys being increased or diminished as required.
The letter to be printed is held in a support M which gives it the necessary im-
pression on the strip of paper. The inking pads F, as shown in the plan, are four
un number, being specially arranged in relation to the working of the letters. They
are fixed at one of their sides to the latteral side of the apparatus, they are sus-
tained in a horizontal plan by means of a small chain, which serves to separate
them from the lever motor, which by its organization is arranged to produce the
backward and forward motion necessary for the working of the letter to be printed,
and the renewal of the inking of the character.
It may be readily conceived that these pads may be changed and replaced by any
other equivalent arrangement producing a like result. The frame G is composed
of a small apparatus, shown in the plan, and fixed beneath the main frame by one
of its sides by means of hingos, at the side it is supported by two small keys,
which allow of its removal, like the lid of a box, for renewing the ink, cleaning the
apparatus or the pads This frame beais a kind of cushion M in its centre, this
cushion serves to support the paper which should receive the impression of the
characters; it is so aranged that the letter can be printed on the paper without
difficulty and very accurately. On each side of the frame are placed two rollers N,
N'; one N bears the paper that should be printed, the other N¹ receives the same
band of paper, but as the lever motor acts only. Beneath, the apparatus bears
a bottom plate merely for preserving the mechanism from any possible deterioration.
We claim,―
1st The right of varying the dimensions of the apparatus.
2nd. The disposition of the finger board like that of a piano, the keys being then
placed all on the same side.
3rd The employment of the apparatus for printing music, which can be re-
produced in the same manner and by the same means, music notes being employed
instead of the letter type.
4th. The application of a simple method of printing words with the samo
machine.
5th We reserve the dispositions of any other arrangement of apparatus tho
mechanism being suitably altered, but the principle being still maintained. The
regulator for instance may be fixed at one end by a system of hinges, and receive
motion from the lever motor by a long and very flexible spring fixed longitudinally
to the letter carriers by a triangular lever placed beneath, and then led in situ by a
metallic thread fixed at its other end. The letter carriers, by any other arrango-
ment of key board, may always be drawn from the same side and obviate the use
of inkers with double action. In a word, the idea on which rests the organization
of our mechanism has received a happy demonstration, as we have been enabled to
show by experience, but nevertheless we intend making the most express reserve of
all combinations of apparatus, the mechanism of which rests on the application of
our system, and which could only be an imitation of our Invention.
•>>
In witness whereof, we, the said Jules Baudoin, and Jules César Bombart,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day of February, in
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
J BATTOIN
(T.S)