Year: 1886

page_text: I JOHN BECKER of Boston in the State of Massachusetts one of the United
States of America, Engraver 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 has for its object to construct a simple and efficient type-writer.
In this my invention an index-plate is mounted to slide freely and to work upon
a feed bar, the index-plate has pivoted upon it a type carrying segment having a
lever by which to operate it, the said lever corresponding with the index-plate to
insure the correct placing of the type which it is desired to use.
A segmental piece of rubber having type moulded thereon is secured to the type
carrying segment.
The paper to be printed is fed upon and over a bed by a manually operated
feed roll.
A printing lever pivoted to one side of the index-plate near the feed-bar has at
its under side a projection, which when depressed strikes and forces the type upon
the paper lying on the said bed.
A rocking lever extending lengthwise of the machine is loosely connected with
and so as to operate the printing lever, the said lever being controlled by a spring
to thereby normally keep the printing lever in its elevated position..
A feed dog loosely pivoted to the printing lever engages the feed-bar, and as the
printing lever is operated the feed dog is made to engage the next tooth of the
feed-bar, thereby moving the index-plate and its attached parts forward.
The feed dog is disengaged from the feed-bar by the operator and is employed
as a lever to return the index-plate and its attached parts to their normal position
to commence to print at the left hand side of the paper.
Various other details are also shown for inking the type, spacing and centring
the type carrying segment etcetera, which will be hereinafter more fully described.
Figure 1 shows in top view a type-writer embodying this invention.
Figure 2 a cross section of Figure 1, taken on the dotted line x-x.
Figure 3 a rear side view of a portion of Figure 1 showing the pivoted printing
lever and the sleeve carrying the independent pads.

page_text: напи
printing devices being omitted.
Figure 5 a detail of the independent pads.
MIRCHIL
Figure 6 an enlarged detail of a portion of the rubber segment, and
Figure 7 an edge view of Figure 6 to show the deep grooves in the rubber
segment between the types.
The frame-work A is of suitable construction to support the working parts.
The paper feeding roll a, preferably having a milled surface, has its bearings in
the frame-work A extended lengthwise of the machine and is provided at one end
with a thumb-nut a' by which to rotate it by hand.
A rod 25 having a series of spring fingers 26 extends lengthwise of the machine,
the fingers bearing upon the feed roll a to keep the paper in contact with the
said roll.
A feed-bar a having ratchet-teeth a', is fixed to the frame-work A at opposite
ends of the machine, as at a, a, thereby lying parallel with the paper feeding
roll a.
The index-plate B provided with guide arms bis mounted to slide freely upon
the feed bar a, said index-plate being herein shown as cast in approximately
circular form, see Figure 6, the guide arms b projecting outward therefrom.
That portion or segment 61 of the said index-plate B most remote from the feed-
bar a presents a series of letters or characters such as it is desired to print by the
machine.
The type carrying segment C is pivoted upon a stud C located at the centre of
the index-plate, said type carrying segment consisting of a segmental frame c
having a segmental piece of rubber c¹ preferably vulcanized thereto, and the
segmental centring device c² secured to the said segment by a screw.
The segmental pieco c¹ interposed between the frame and the centring device c
and preferably vulcanized to the said frame c, consists of rubber having letters or
characters moulded upon its underside, as at 6, see Figure 6, corresponding with
the letters or characters represented upon the surface of the index-plate at b¹.
An operating lever c', preferably cast integral with the type carrying segment c
extends therefrom, passing beneath the index portion 6 of the index plate B,
shown in Figures 1 and 3, and a pin attached to an upright or projection cat
the extreme end of said operating lever ct extends over the said index portion 6¹
of the index plate to register with any letter or character thereon as the operating
lever is moved.
The type or characters upon the type segment c' are arranged in reverse order
to the characters upon the index portion b¹ of the index plate, so that as the
operating lever is moved and its più c³ made to register with a certain letter, the
corresponding letter of the type segment c will be brought into printing position.
The paper to be printed is fed by the feed roll a over the bed plate d forming a
portion of the frame-work of the machine, the said bed extending parallel with the
said feed roll a and feed-bar a'.
The ratchet toothed feed rod a*, see Figures 1 and 5, is surrounded between the
guide arms b of the index-plate B by a pad carrying sleeve 27 which slides on the
said rod a in unison with the index-plate, as the latter is moved by hand.
The sleeve 27 is cut out at its upper side for a short distance, as at 28, see
Figure 3, to permit the pivoted feed dog g to pass through the sleeve and engage
the teeth of the ratchet toothed bar a*.
Two independent inking pads d², d³, are rigidly connected with the said sleeve 27
near each end by arms 29, said arms being of sufficient length to enable the said
inking pads to be placed under the rubber segment carrying the type, the pads
being left in such position as to be struck by some of the projecting type of the
said rubber segment c when the latter is depressed.
The inking pads d², d³, are also located some little distance apart to leave suffi-
cient space between the said inking pads to enable the type on the type segment
to be forced against the paper to be printed.

page_text: A printing lever e pivoted on a stud e¹ at one side of the index-plate B and near
the feed-bar a' has at its underside a lug or projection e² and two flat springs e³, et,
which as the printing lever is depressed bear upon the rubber type segment c¹ the
flat springs bringing the type in contact with the inked surfaces d³, d³, while the
lug or projection e² forces the type in contact with the paper.
A rocking bar f of bale shape is mounted to rock upon the feed-bar a¹ and
controlled by a spring f¹, said bale shaped rocking lever passing between two
projections 30, 31, attached to the upper side of the printing lever e, thereby
forming a loose connection that the printing lever e may be raised and lowered by
the movements of the rocking lever f, and also permitting the printing lever and
its attached parts to move freely laterally on said rocking lever.
A feed dog g is loosely pivoted to the rear side of the printing lever e, the said
dog engaging by gravity the ratchet teeth a³ of the feed bar a being so arranged
that when the printing lever is in its elevated position the feed dog will just engage
one tooth, and as the printing lever is depressed the feed dog will force the printing
lever and the index-plate to which it is attached and all its connecting parts,
forward one tooth, so that when the printing lever is again elevated the feed dog
will engage the next tooth, thus feeding the type carrying devices forward step by
step, until a line is completed.
The feed dog g is disengaged from the feed-bar a' by the operator and employed
as a hand lever at the completion of each line printed or when it is desired to
return the printing devices to the normal position to print upon the left hand side
of a sheet.
The rocking lever f which operates the printing lever e is provided at one end
with a yielding projection or finger-piece 40, which co-operates with a stop, shown
in this instance as the milled head of the thumb-nut a².
When the lever f is depressed by the action of the finger on the said finger-
piece 40, the lever e is depressed only far enough to compel the feed dog g to move
the carriage, but when the said lever f. is depressed by the action of the finger
directly upon it, the movement imparted to the lever e is sufficient to not only
move the index plate, but also to cause the stud e³ to depress the rubber segment
far enough to print, but to prevent too great descent of the said stud e³ and lever e,
I have provided the said lever e with a projection 33 which during its descent
strikes one of the guide arms b.
The centring device before referred to consists of a metal segment c³ secured upon
the type carrying segment, and is provided with a series of countersunk holes 4
and a pin 5 is attached to the under side of the printing lever e which when the
latter is depressed enters one of the holes 4, and if the hole be not presented in just
its correct position the pin 5 will strike one side of, or the countersunk portion of
the hole thereby throwing the type carrying segment into its correct position that
the pin may enter the hole.
The rocking lever f being free to rock upon the feed-bar a and the index-plate
being also free to move upon said feed-bar, the entire rocking parts may be
upturned upon the feed bar, to expose the paper upon the bed.
A bell D is also provided for audibly indicating to the operator when a line is
nearly completed, such bell D being herein located upon the pivoted type carrying
segment, the bell hammer D¹ being attached by a yielding arm to the rocking
lever fat or near its right hand end so that as the bell moves from the left to the
right with the index-plate in printing a line, it will be struck by the hammer D¹
just at or before the line is completed.
It is obvious that the bell may be otherwise arranged than that herein described
without departing from this invention, such for instance as reversing the arrange-
ment herein shown.
The rubber segment c¹ carrying the type is provided, see Figures 6 and 7, with
a series of deep grooves 6, which separate the type one from the other, such
separating grooves enabling that one type of the segment immediately below the
stud es attached to the printing lever e, to be forced down upon the paper without.

page_text: at the same time forcing downward against the paper other type adjacent to the
one selected as next to print a letter.
The operation may be briefly stated as follows: the sheet of paper is placed
between the feed-roll a and spring fingers 26, as shown in Figure 1.
The operating lever c' is then turned until the pin co registers with the desired
letter to be printed, the type carrying segment being thereby correspondingly
moved, the bale shaped rocking lever f is then depressed causing the printing
lever e to strike the type segment c¹ and force the type in contact with the
paper.
During the time the rocking lever f is being depressed the feed dog g is pushing
against one tooth of the ratchet toothed feed-bar a and thereby moving the entire
printing devices forward, but just before the rocking leverf has become entirely
depressed the feed dog arrives at its limit of movement so that the entire parts
are at rest while the letter or character is being printed.
The rocking lever f is then released when the spring f¹ returns the same to its
normal position and by the loose connection with the printing lever e, said lever is
also returned to its normal position, and the feed dog g being loosely connected
with the printing lever is therefore raised that it may drop by gravity ahead of
the next tooth of the feed-bar preparatory to again feeding the parts forward.
When it is desired to have the machine feed and not print as for a space between
words the spring plate n is depressed, to thus partially depress the printing lever
as described and when it is desired to return the entire printing mechanism to the
left hand side of the machine as at the commencement of a line the feed dog g is
disengaged and employed as a hand lever which is grasped by the operator.
To guage the relative distances between different lines the thumb piece a² is
turned to present one of the arms to a certain fixed position as upright for instance,
and as each arm is respectively carried to the upright position, the feed roll a will
feed the paper forward a definite destance.
By the employment of an operating lever, as herein described, no shadow is cast
upon the index table of the index-plate to cause the operator to hesitate or to make
mistakes.
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, the movable index plate, the type carrying segment
pivoted thereon, and the operating lever for moving the type carrying segment,
combined with an independent printing lever pivoted to the index-plate and
constructed and arranged to bear upon the type segment to print when depressed,
substantially as described.
2. In a type-writer, the movable index-plate, the type carrying segment
pivoted thereon, and the operating lever for moving the type carrying segment,
combined with a printing lever pivoted to the index-plate, a lug c², and an
adjusting stop m carried by said printing lever, all substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a type-writer, the feed-bar, movable index-plate mounted thereon com-
bined with the pivoted printing lever and rocking lever for operating said
printing lever, the axial centres of the pivots of said printing lever and rocking
lever being at right angles with relation to each other, so that the printing
lever may be parallel with and move back and forth upon the rocking lever, all
substantially as described
4. In a type-writer the feed-roll and presser combined with the feed-bar and
movable index-plate mounted to move laterally and to rotate on said feed-bar
and normally bearing upon said presser, said index-plate being so constructed
and arranged to support the printing mechanism and its co-operating parts, all
substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a type-writer the index-plate and type carrying segment pivoted thereon,
the centring device mounted upon said type carrying segment and having a series
of holes 4, combined with the printing lever having the centring pin 5 to enter the
said holes 4, all as set forth.
6. In a type-writer, the movable index-plate, and the carrying segment
pivoted thereon, combined with the pivoted printing lever, the feed dog and
feed-bar and rocking lever and yielding projection 40 attached to said rocking
lever and a limiting stop for the said projection, all substantially as described.
7. In a type-writer, a rubber segment, provided with projecting type, properly
spaced, and having the deep grooves or recesses 6 between said type, whereby each
type may be operated independently of its neighbours on either side, the said
grooves permitting the type operated upon to separate from its neighbours, and
thus preserve them from injury and from smearing the paper being written upon,
substantially as described.
8. In a type-writer, the index-plate and type carrying segment pivoted
thereon, the guide arms b, and ratchet toothed feed-bar a', combined with the
sleeve 27 mounted upon said feed-bar between the guide arms, and independent
inking pads carried by said sleeve, and a pivoted printing lever, all substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a type-writer, the movable index-plate, and type carrying segment
pivoted to said index-plate, and bell carried by the index-plate, combined with
the rocking lever f, and bell-hammer attached to one end thereof, substantially as
described.
10. In a type-writer the combination or arrangement of parts constructed and
co-operated substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated the 2nd day of October 1886.
WM BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the said John Becker,