IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by George Washington Newton Yost, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 26th February 1878, and dated the 7th January 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by George Washington Newton Yost, of the City
and State of New York, United States of America.
The said improvements relate to an apparatus, instrument, or machine, now well
known as the "type writer" wherein writing or printing is effected by the fingering
of keys which operate pivoted type bars having type which makes the " improssion
on a sheet of paper held against a platen that is intermittently advanced with the
paper as the writing proceeds.
According to the present Invention, the pivoted type bars are disposed in a circle
and have one or two types to each bar, all arranged to strike at a common centre or
centres. The keys are levers and the type bars are connected to the said keys by
connecting rods, which are forked at their upper ends; the forked portion is perforated
to receive trunnions fixed in the type bars.
The platen in the form of a cylinder is mounted in a movable frame placed on a
carriage, automatically advanced by a spring, whose force is equalized by a fuse or
cam wheel; and the spring has combined with it a worm and pinion or other means
by which the power of such spring may be increased or diminished. The platen
frame, when the type bars have two types, is made susceptible of a transverse motion
to bring the platen over the desired type or character.

page_text: The carriage has wheels adapted to run on rails, one of which is mounted in
bearings and shaped to conform to the periphery of the carriage wheel or wheels;
and the said carriage may be turned up on the said rail as on a hinge, the carriage
wheel or wheels by their conformance with the rail causing such rail to turn on its
own axis with the carriage. Travelling with the carriage parallel with the said rall
are notched bars or racks; and by means of these racks, and a dog or pawl, the
carriage is permitted to advance one notch, that is to say, one letter space at each
movement.
The said dog is sustained and oscillated on central points, and is operated by the
keys through a "universal bar," which is arranged at the rear of the type bar con-
necting rods.
The aforesaid carriage has a lever, by means of which and associated mechanism
the operator disengages the racks from the said dog, and returns the carriage to
begin anew after each line of printing is completed.
The base of the said machine is adapted for the application of a platform having
its surface covered with a sound insulating substance to prevent the sound of the
machine passing to the base, and said platform nay also receive and sustain a
transparent sound proof case for enclosing the machine and insulating the sound
thereof when in operation. The said base also has sockets for receiving elastic feet
that serve a similar purpose.
and showing the base in section.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the said machine.
Figure 3 is a plan or top view, with the carriage removed.
Figure 4 shows the underside of the said carriage as turned upon one of the
rails.
Figure 5 shows on an enlarged scale a type bar and connections with part of a
key lever.
Figure 6 shows also on an enlarged scale one of the type blocks and part of a
type bar.
Figures 6 and 6b shew other portions of the said machine, also drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a case enclosing the machine drawn to a reduced
scale.
Figure 8 shows a sound insulating case for the said machine.
A is a hollow base, preferably of cast iron, upon which are erected hollow standards
or columns a, on top of which is placed a plate B, which plate and standards are
permanently secured to each other and to the base A by bolts or screws. The base
is surrounded by an enclosing rim, and has sockets which receive the heads of said
screws, and hold feet b of india-rubber or other material that will prevent injury to
the table or object on which the machine is set, and serve also as a means of deadening
the sound.
The said base contains key levers C which are notched at their rear extremities
and hook under a rib d, that forms their fulcrum, to which rib they are held by
springs e.
The key levers C are connected to the outer ends of the type bars by connecting
rods D, the upper ends of which are forked and perforated, so as to embrace the
type bars and engage the trunnions 2 thereon, shown in the detached view Figure 5.
The rods D work through an opening in the top of the base (indicated by a
dotted line X in Figure 3), and the lower ends of the said rods are buckled to the
key levers by "screw buckles "f, Figure 5, into which said rods are screwed, thus
forming a complete means of adjusting their lengths with facility and precision;
and with the forked portion of the rods made thin and elastic, they can be readily

page_text: sprung on and off the trunnions of the type bars in adjusting or repairing the
machine.
Mounted upon the top plate B is a carriage G having a cylinder H termed the platen,
upon which is placed a sheet of paper that receives the type writing or printing
from a type or types placed at the extremities of the type bars E, one of which is
seen detached in Figure 5. Said type bars are pivotted near their upper ends, and
are disposed in a circle horizontally in an opening in the top plate indicated in
Figure 3, and are so arranged that the types thereon strike in printing at a common
central point or working centre.
66
در
In the machine shown in the Drawing, the type bars have each two types,
for example a capital" and a "lower case.' The two types are formed of a
block Y, which has a small stem t¹ made slightly taper, and which is inserted
at or near the lower end E¹ of the type bar; I thus provide means for adjusting
the two types at any angle with regard to the type bar, so that the two types of
each type bar will strike at the same two central or working points and in the same
relation to the platen cylinder, whatever position may be occupied by the said type
bar in the circle of type bars.
Provision is also made for vibrating or moving the platen H back and forth trans-
versely to the travel of the carriage G, in order to bring the effective surface or
periphery of the platen over the working centre of either one of the types carried by
the type bars, according to the letter or character it is desired to point. It consists
in placing the platen in a light frame J on the carriage, and arranging such frame
for sliding on the carriage crosswise thereof the distance of one type from the other.
The movement of the frame J is limited by stops 1 fixed in the carriage and
projecting up through the frame. These stops 1 also serve as catches for
latches N combined with the said frame. The latches N are pivotted to an oscillative
plate N¹ (of which there may be two, one at either side of the frame), and provided
with a spring 7 bearing gently against the said latches.
The plate or plates N₁ must be suitably connected at their upper ends with
a rod L.
The aforesaid frame is vibrated or moved to and fro through the
medium of the said rod, which is operated either by manipulation of the handle L¹
forming part of the rod, or by means of key levers through suitable connections with
the said rod. When motion is given to said rod L, the plate N' first lifts the latch N
that is engaged with one of the catches, and then carries the frame J with it until
the other latch meets and engages with the other catch; thus the frame and platen
are held securely in either of its required positions aforesaid by a self-engaging and
disengaging device.
The connections for using key levers to vibrate the said frame are illus-
trated in Figures 1 and 3, where K represents upright arms affixed to a rock
shaft Z (an end view of which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1), said arms
having at their upper ends a sort of trough M for the reception of a projection 3
from part of the aforesaid rod L, which projection remains in the trough at all
positions of the carriage and frame, whereby the said rod may be operated at any
time and at any point in the journey of the carriage G. It is so operated by short
arms 4 at opposite, ends of the rock shaft Z, one in front and the other behind, each
having studs g, over which are hooked rods 5 that extend to and connect with the
key levers used for that purpose; for example those marked U, L, in Figure 3.
0
°
The paper is properly held to the platen cylinder by a roller P, termed a feed
roller, and by guides 0 of thin elastic metal; the latter are stationary with respect
to the platen, excepting that they yield to permit the movement of the paper when
it is drawn in between the feed roller and the platen D.
The aforesaid carriage and platen are advanced as the writing proceeds letter by
letter by the impulse of a coiled spring, whose inner end is made fast to an arbor i,
and whose outer end is attached to a fusee or scroll-shaped cam wheel R, of varying
diameter, turning freely on the saine arbor. On said cam wheel is wound a flat
band 9, that is also made fast to the carriage, Figure 4, and the construction and
arrangement are such that when the carriage and platen are placed at one end of

page_text: the machine ready to begin the printing of a line, the impelling spring is wound up,
exerting a constant force on the carriage to draw it forward.
Moving with the said carriage are two racks or ratchet bars m, n, each having
teeth that represent the space occupied by a letter or printed character on the paper
or a space between the words, which racks are alternately engaged by a dog 8,
arranged for oscillation between points or centres in a stationary frame B¹. Au
oscillating motion transversely to the racks is given to the dog 8 from the key
levers through the "universal bar" k, which lies across the key levers beneath them
and receives motion when any key is struck, the said bar transferring such motion
through the rods j to the said dog. The said universal bar is located at the rear
side of the connecting rods D, and by such location the effort required to work
the machine will be diminished, and the facility and speed of operation will be
enhanced.
:
The racks m, n, are part of a "rack frame," the cross bars 7 of which slide on the
rear carriage rail, and move with the carriage. One rack is permanent with. its
frame, and the other rack m is disposed in suitable guides for moving lengthwise on
its frame the distance of one tooth. One of the racks has a light spring t, whose
tendency is to forco the movable rack m forward in the same direction with the
carriage. In operation the forward motion of the movable, rack m precedes the
advance of the carriage, receives the dog in one of its notches, and lays that notch
beside the notch in the permanent rack which the dog is next to engage, as
follows: The normal place of the aforesaid dog when the machine is not in opera-
tion is in the movable rack m, as seen in Figure 1. In the downward or printing
motion of the key levers the dog moves over and out of the movable rack, and
engages the inner or permanent rack to hold the carriage motionless while a letter
is printed; at the same time the movable rack is permitted to move forward by the
spring t the distance of one tooth, and when the dog moves back, which it does on
the upward motion of the key levers, it engages a new notch in the moveable rack,
releasing the carriage, whereupon the carriage instantly advances to a new position
in obedience to the superior force of the impelling spring Q, while, the movable
rack being now held by the dog, the small spring t is compressed (as the carriage
advances) in readiness to again move forward the moveable rack, when such rack
shall be released by the dog on the next downward motion of the key lever, as
before, and so on.
In lieu of having one dog and yielding and permanent racks, the same result may
be attained in some instances by one rack and yielding and oscillating dogs. In
such case both dogs are oscillated together across the rack, and one is adapted to
yield and follow the advance of the carriage to a limit of one notch or a letter space,
the other dog holding the carriage at rest during the printing action of the type
bars. As the said carriage travels onward in its course, the applied force of the
impelling spring Q is equalized by the gradually lessened diameter of the cam
wheel R, which forin of the cam wheel provides an increasing leverage to com-
pensate for the diminishing power of the spring, whereby the speed of the carriage
is fully maintained throughout its course.
To augment the effective power of the impelling spring it is necessary to provide.
a device that will be always ready or at hand, and of easy manipulation.
Such a
device is illustrated in Figure 2, and consists of a pinion p and worm 7, having a
crank handle 8 by which it may be rotated, and so increase the spring's powers, by
winding it on its arbor.
plate B.
"
The aforesaid carriage has wheels V, V, adapted to run on rails or ways on the top
One of the rails w is mounted to turn on its axis in suitable bearings 10
at each end, and has its sides flattened to conform to the wheels V on the rear side
of the carriage.
As the writing proceeds it may be inspected from time to time by lifting or
turning up the said carriage from the front side, thereby exposing the under side of
the cylinder, as shown in Figure 4; in this movement or adjustment the rail w turns
in its bearing 10 with the carriage.

page_text: Instead of having the sides of the rail flattened, it may have a groove to take
wheels formed to fit the same; or the rail and wheels may have any other shape
that will accomplish the desired result.
After the completion of a line of printing, and when the said carriage is to be
returned to begin a fresh line, the racks must first be disengaged from the dog; to
provide for this disengagement the rack frame is made capable of oscillating on the
rear carriage rail. For these purposes I provide a lover S, called the "carriage
lever;" the lower and outer end of this lover serves as a handle, and by an outward
pull thereof the upper horizontal end S¹ is brought to bear on the inner side of the
rack frame, and tilts it upward, lifting the racks from off the dog, after which the
carriage is run back by manual force applied to the said handle. The same motion
of this lever which lifts the rack also effects the "line spacing," that is to say, it
turns the printing cylinder to feed in the paper a certain distance, and determines
the position of the next line with respect to that last printed. These results are
obtained by a pawl 11 pivotted to the lever, and engaging with a racket 12 affixed
to the end of the platen cylinder.
T is a spring for holding the cylinder, and preventing it accidentally turning.
It is sometimes desirable to muffle or conceal the sound of the machine, and for
this purpose a platform U is combined with the aforesaid base, and provided with a
covering y of india-rubber or other substance which is a bad conductor of sound.
Such material covers the whole superficial area of the base, passing under the
columns and leaving no openings excepting small apertures for the passage of the
screws or bolts that hold the top plate to the base, and for the connections of
the key levers.
The object of this platform and covering is to receive an enclosing case of suitable
material, as nearly as possible
to sound, for which purpose glass will be
found advantageous for the sides and top of the case, and hard india-rubber for
the sash or frame.
The said platform is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and as broken away in
Figure 2, but will be understood as extending beyond the machine on all sides
sufficiently to sustain the case, which encloses all of the mechanism excepting the
key board.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The combination with pivotted type bars provided with two types of means
for adujsting the types at any angle to the type bars, in order that the two types of
every type bar may strike in printing at the same two working centres, as above
set forth.
Second. The combination of parts comprising the pivotted type bars arranged in
a circle and provided with two types on each bar adjusted to strike the same, two
working centres, and a platen or cylinder adapted for receiving a transverse motion,
as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the pivotted type bars arranged in a
circle and provided with two types on each bar adjusted to strike the same, two
working centres, the platen or cylinder, the carriage, and a platen-holding frame
adapted for moving to and fro on the carriage, as above set forth.
Fourth. The combination with pivotted type bars arranged in a circle, and with
the platen or cylinder, its frame, and the carriage, of means for securely holding the
frame and platen in the positions for using either one of the said two types or
characters, as above set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the cylinder or platen and its frame of key levers
and their connections, as above described, for imparting the lateral or transverse
motion to the said platen.
Sixth. The connecting rods for connecting the key levers with the type bars pro-
vided with means for adjusting or regulating their length, as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.

page_text: Seventh. The combination of parts comprising the type bars and forked and per-
forated connecting rods, which type bars are provided with trunnions to connect
them with the same rods, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The combination with the carriage, its rack or racks, and the engaging
dog or dogs, of the carriago lever, constructed and operated for disengaging such
rack or racks and returning the carriage, as above set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the said carriage lever and platen or cylinder of
means for rotating the platen for line-spacing, as above set forth.
Tenth. The arrangement of the universal bar and its connections at the rear of the
type-bar connecting rods, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. The base or frame of a type-writing machine or apparatus constructed
with sockets, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Twelfth. In the construction of a type-writing machine or apparatus the com-
bination of a top plate or carriage support with the base by means of interposed
standards, as above set forth.
Thirteenth. In a type-writing machine or apparatus the combination of a platform
with the said base, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourteenth. The combination of an impelling spring for advancing the carriage
with a fusee or camn-shaped wheel, and means for increasing or diminishing the
power of such spring, as above specified.
Fifteenth. The combination with the carriage of two racks and an oscillating dog
adapted to engage with the said racks alternately, one of which racks is adapted to
yield when so engaged and allow the carriage to advance a letter space, and which
dog holds the carriage at rest by means of the other rack during the printing action
of the type bars, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WN. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by George Washington Newton Yost, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 26th February 1878, and dated the 7th January 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TYPE-WRITING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by George Washington Newton Yost, of the City
and State of New York, United States of America.
The said improvements relate to an apparatus, instrument, or machine, now well
known as the "type writer," wherein writing or printing is effected by the fingering
of keys which operate pivoted type bars having type which makes the "impression
on a sheet of paper held against a platen that is intermittently advanced with the
paper as the writing proceeds.
According to the present Invention, the pivoted type bars are disposed in a circle
and have one or two types to each bar, all arranged to strike at a common centre or
centres. The keys are levers and the type bars are connected to the said keys by
connecting rods, which are forked at their upper ends; the forked portion is perforated
to receive trunnions fixed in the type bars.
The platen in the form of a cylinder is mounted in a movable frame placed on a
carriage, automatically advanced by a spring, whose force is equalized by a fuse or
cam wheel; and the spring has combined with it a worm and pinion or other means
by which the power of such spring may be increased or diminished. The platen
frame, when the type bars have two types, is made susceptible of a transverse motion
to bring the platen over the desired type or character.

page_text: 1
The carriage has wheels adapted to run on rails, one of which is mounted in
bearings and shaped to conform to the periphery of the carriage wheel or wheels;
and the said carriage may be turned up on the said rail as on a hinge, the carriage
wheel or wheels by their conformance with the rail causing such rail to turn on its
own axis with the carriage. Travelling with the carriage parallel with the said rail
are notched bars or racks; and by means of these racks, and a dog or pawl, the
carriage is permitted to advance one notch, that is to say, one letter space at each
movement.
The said dog is sustained and oscillated on central points, and is operated by the
keys through a "universal bar," which is arranged at the rear of the type bar con-
necting rods.
The aforesaid carriage has a lever, by means of which and associated mechanism
the operator disengages the racks from the said dog, and returns the carriage to
begin anew after each line of printing is completed.
The base of the said machine is adapted for the application of a platform having
its surface covered with a sound insulating substance to prevent the sound of the
machine passing to the base, and said platform may also receive and sustain a
transparent sound proof case for enclosing the machine and insulating the sound
thereof when in operation. The said base also has sockets for receiving elastic feet
that serve a similar purpose.
on vi a machine con according
and showing the base in section.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the said machine.
Figure 3 is a plan or top view, with the carriage removed.
Figure 4 shows the under side of the said carriage as turned upon one of the
rails.
Figure 5 shows on an enlarged scale a type bar and connections with part of a
key lever.
Figure 6 shows also on an enlarged scale one of the type blocks and part of a
type bar.
Figures 6 and 6b shew other portions of the said machine, also drawn to an
enlarged scale.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a case enclosing the machine drawn to a reduced
Bcale.
Figure 8 shows a sound insulating case for the said machine.
A is a hollow base, preferably of cast iron, upon which are erected hollow standards
or columns a, on top of which is placed a plate B, which plate and standards are
permanently secured to each other and to the base A by bolts or screws. The base
is surrounded by an enclosing rim, and has sockets which receive the heads of said
screws, and hold feet b of india-rubber or other material that will prevent injury to
the table or object on which the machine is set, and serve also as a means of deadening
the sound.
The said base contains key levers C which are notched at their rear extremities
and hook under a rib d, that forms their fulcrum, to which rib they are held by
springs e.
The key levers C are connected to the outer ends of the type bars by connecting
rods D, the upper ends of which are forked and perforated, so as to embrace the
type bars and engage the trunnions 2 thereon, shown in the detached view Figure 5.
The rods D work through an opening in the top of the base (indicated by a
dotted line X in Figure 3), and the lower ends of the said rods are buckled to the
key levers by "screw buckles" f, Figure 5, into which said rods are screwed, thus
forming a complete means of adjusting their lengths with facility and precision;
and with the forked portion of the rods made thin and elastic, they can be readily

page_text: sprung on and off the trunnions of the type bars in adjusting or repairing the
machine.
Mounted upon the top plate B is a carriage G having a cylinder H termed the platen,
upon which is placed a sheet of paper that receives the type writing or printing
from a type or types placed at the extremities of the type bars E, one of which is
seen detached in Figure 5. Said type bars are pivotted near their upper ends, and
are disposed in a circle horizontally in an opening in the top plate indicated in
Figure 3, and are so arranged that the types thereon strike in printing at a common
central point or working centre.
r
In the machine shown in the Drawing, the type bars have each two types,
for example a capital" and a "lower case." The two types are formed of a
block Y, which has a small stem t¹ made slightly taper, and which is inserted
at or near the lower end E' of the type bar; I thus provide means for adjusting
the two types at any angle with regard to the type bar, so that the two types of
each type bar will strike at the same two central or working points and in the same
relation to the platen cylinder, whatever position may be occupied by the said type
bar in the circle of type bars.
Provision is also made for vibrating or moving the platen H back and forth trans-
versely to the travel of the carriage G, in order to bring the effective surface or
periphery of the platen over the working centre of either one of the types carried by
the type bars, according to the letter or character it is desired to point. It consists
in placing the platen in a light frame J on the carriage, and arranging such frame
for sliding on the carriage crosswise thereof the distance of one type from the other.
The movement of the frame J is limited by stops 1 fixed in the carriage and
projecting up through the frame. These stops 1 also serve as catches for
latches N combined with the said frame. The latches N are pivotted to an oscillative
plate N¹ (of which there may be two, one at either side of the frame), and provided
with a spring 7 bearing gently against the said latches.
The plate or plates N¹ must be suitably connected at their upper ends with
a rod L. The aforesaid frame is vibrated or moved to and fro through the
medium of the said rod, which is operated either by manipulation of the handle L¹
forming part of the rod, or by means of key levers through suitable connections with
the said rod. When motion is given to said rod L, the plate N¹ first lifts the latch N
that is engaged with one of the catches, and then carries the frame J with it until
the other latch meets and engages with the other catch; thus the frame and platen
are held securely in either of its required positions aforesaid by a self-engaging and
disengaging device.
The connections for using key levers to vibrate the said frame are illus-
trated in Figures 1 and 3, where K represents upright arms affixed to a rock
shaft Z (an end view of which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1), said arms
having at their upper ends a sort of trough M for the reception of a projection 3
from part of the aforesaid rod L, which projection remains in the trough at all
positions of the carriage and frame, whereby the said rod may be operated at any
time and at any point in the journey of the carriage G. It is so operated by short
arms 4 at opposite ends of the rock shaft Z, one in front and the other behind, each
having studs g, over which are hooked rods 5 that extend to and connect with the
key levers used for that purpose; for example, those marked Ų, L, in Figure 3.
The paper is properly held to the platen cylinder by a roller P, termed a feed
roller, and by guides O of thin elastic metal; the latter are stationary with respect
to the platen, excepting that they yield to permit the movement of the paper when
it is drawn in between the feed roller and the platen D.
The aforesaid carriage and platen are advanced as the writing proceeds letter by
letter by the impulse of a coiled spring, whose inner end is made fast to an arbor i,
and whose outer end is attached to a fusee or scroll-shaped cam wheel R, of varying
diameter, turning freely on the same arbor. On said cam wheel is wound a flat
band 9, that is also made fast to the carriage, Figure 4, and the construction and
arrangement are such that when the carriage and platen are placed at one end of

page_text: the machine ready to begin the printing of a line, the impelling spring is wound up,
exerting a constant force on the carriage to draw it forward.
Moving with the said carriage are two racks or ratchet bars m, n, each having
teeth that represent the space occupied by a letter or printed character on the paper
or a space between the words, which racks are alternately engaged by a dog 8,
arranged for oscillation between points or centres in a stationary frame B¹. An
oscillating motion transversely to the racks is given to the dog 8 from the key
levers through the "universal bar "k, which lies across the key levers beneath them
and receives motion when any key is struck, the said bar transferring such motion
through the rods j to the said dog. The said universal bar is located at the rear
side of the connecting rods D, and by such location the effort required to work
the machine will be diminished, and the facility and speed of operation will be
enhanced.
The racks m, n, are part of a "rack frame," the cross bars of which slide on the
rear carriage rail, and move with the carriage. One rack n is permanent with its
frame, and the other rack m is disposed in suitable guides for moving lengthwise on
its frame the distance of one tooth. One of the racks has a light spring t, whose
tendency is to force the movable rack m forward in the same direction with the
carriage. In operation the forward motion of the movable rack m precedes the
advance of the carriage, receives the dog in one of its notches, and lays that notch
beside the notch in the permanent rack which the dog is next to engage, as
follows: The normal place of the aforesaid dog when the machine is not in opera-
tion is in the movable rack m, as seen in Figure 1. In the downward or printing
motion of the key levers the dog moves over and out of the movable rack, and
engages the inner or permanent rack to hold the carriage motionless while a letter
is printed; at the same time the movable rack is permitted to move forward by the
spring the distance of one tooth, and when the dog moves back, which it does on
the upward motion of the key levers, it engages a new notch in the moveable rack,
releasing the carriage, whereupon the carriage instantly advances to a new position
in obedience to the superior force of the impelling spring Q, while, the movable
rack being now held by the dog, the small spring t is compressed (as the carriage
advances) in readiness to again move forward the moveable rack, when such rack
shall be released by the dog on the next downward motion of the key lever, as
before, and so on.
In lieu of having one dog and yielding and permanent racks, the same result may
be attained in some instances by one rack and yielding and oscillating dogs. In
such case both dogs are oscillated together across the rack, and one is adapted to
yield and follow the advance of the carriage to a limit of one notch or a letter space,
the other dog holding the carriage at rest during the printing action of the type
bars. As the said carriage travels onward in its course, the applied force of the
impelling spring Q is equalized by the gradually lessened diameter of the cam
wheel R, which form of the cam wheel provides an increasing leverage to com-
pensate for the diminishing power of the spring, whereby the speed of the carriage
is fully maintained throughout its course.
To augment the effective power of the impelling spring it is necessary to provide
a device that will be always ready or at hand, and of easy manipulation.
Such a
device is illustrated in Figure 2, and consists of a pinion p and worm r, having a
crank handle 8 by which it may be rotated, and so increase the spring's powers, by
winding it on its arbor.
The aforesaid carriage has wheels V, V, adapted to run on rails or ways on the top
plate B. One of the rails w is mounted to turn on its axis in suitable bearings 10
at each end, and has its sides flattened to conform to the wheels V on the rear side
of the carriage.
As the writing proceeds it may be inspected from time to time by lifting or
turning up the said carriage from the front side, thereby exposing the under side of
the cylinder, as shown in Figure 4; in this movement or adjustment the rail w turns
in its bearings 10 with the carriage.

page_text: Instead of having the sides of the rail flattened, it may have a groove to take
wheels formed to fit the same; or the rail and wheels may have any other shape
that will accomplish the desired result.
After the completion of a line of printing, and when the said carriage is to be
returned to begin a fresh line, the racks must first be disengaged from the dog; to
provide for this disengagement the rack frame is made capable of oscillating on the
rear carriage rail. For these purposes I provide a lever S, called the "carriage
lever;" the lower and outer end of this lever serves as a handle, and by an outward
pull thereof the upper horizontal end S' is brought to bear on the inner side of the
rack frame, and tilts it upward, lifting the racks from off the dog, after which the
carriage is run back by manual force applied to the said handle. The same motion
of this lever which lifts the rack also effects the "line spacing," that is to say, it
turns the printing cylinder to feed in the paper a certain distance, and determines
the position of the next line with respect to that last printed. These results are
obtained by a pawl 11 pivotted to the lever, and engaging with a ratchet 12 affixed
to the end of the platen cylinder.
T is a spring for holding the cylinder, and preventing it accidentally turning.
It is sometimes desirable to muffle or conceal the sound of the machine, and for
this purpose a platform U is combined with the aforesaid base, and provided with a
covoring y of india-rubber or other substance which is a bad conductor of sound.
Such material covers the whole superficial area of the base, passing under the
columns and leaving no openings excepting small apertures for the passage of the
screws or bolts that hold the top plate to the base, and for the connections of
the key levers.
The object of this platform and covering is to receive an enclosing case of suitable
material, as nearly as possible
to sound, for which purpose glass will be
found advantageous for the sides and top of the case, and hard india-rubber for
the sash or frame.
The said platform is shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1, and as broken away in
Figure 2, but will be understood as extending beyond the machine on all sides
sufficiently to sustain the case, which encloses all of the mechanism excepting the
key board.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination with pivotted type bars provided with two types of means
for adjusting the types at any angle to the type bars, in order that the two types of
every type bar may strike in printing at the same two working centres, as above
set forth.
Second. The combination of parts comprising the pivotted type bars arranged in
a circle and provided with two types on each bar adjusted to strike the same, two
working centres, and a platen or cylinder adapted for receiving a transverse motion,
as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the pivotted type bars arranged in a
circle and provided with two types on each bar adjusted to strike the same, two
working centres, the platen or cylinder, the carriage, and a platen-holding frame
adapted for moving to and fro on the carriage, as above set forth.
Fourth. The combination with pivotted type bars arranged in a circle, and with
the platen or cylinder, its frame, and the carriage, of means for securely holding the
frame and platen in the positions for using either one of the said two types or
characters, as above set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the cylinder or platen and its frame of key levers
and their connections, as above described, for imparting the lateral or transverse
motion to the said platen.
Sixth. The connecting rods for connecting the key levers with the type bars pro-
vided with means for adjusting or regulating their length, as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.

page_text: Seventh. The combination of parts comprising the type bars and forked and per-
forated connecting rods, which type bars are provided with trunnions to connect
them with the same rods, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The combination with the carriage, its rack or racks, and the engaging
dog or dogs, of the carriage lever, constructed and operated for disengaging such
rack or racks and returning the carriage, as above set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the said carriage lever and platen or cylinder of
means for rotating the platen for line spacing, as above set forth.
Tenth. The arrangement of the universal bar and its connections at the rear of the
type-bar connecting rods, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Eleventh. The base or frame of a type-writing machine or apparatus constructed
with sockets, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Twelfth. In the construction of a type-writing machine or apparatus the com-
bination of a top plate or carriage support with the base by means of interposed
standards, as above set forth.
Thirteenth. In a type-writing machine or apparatus the combination of a platform
with the said base, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourteenth. The combination of an impelling spring for advancing the carriage
with a fusee or cam-shaped wheel, and means for increasing or diminishing the
power of such spring, as above specified.
Fifteenth. The combination with the carriage of two racks and an oscillating dog
adapted to engage with the said racks alternately, one of which racks is adapted to
yield when so engaged and allow the carriage to advance a letter space, and which
dog holds the carriage at rest by means of the other rack during the printing action
of the type bars, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM RORT. LAKE.
(L.S.)
W¼ ROBT LAKE. (L.S.)