Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WELLINGTON PARKER KIDDER, of No. 26,
Norfolk Avenue, Boston; in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, Mechanic.]
Improvements in Type Writing Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
escribed and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
}
My improvements apply to that class of many keyed instruments in which the
type characters are placed on the ends of sliding bars radially mounted to deliver
impressions at a common printing point by end thrust.
By placing all type bars in a single and preferably horizontal plane, and by
attaching the key levers directly to the bars without intermediate mechanism and
further by attaching two or more characters to each type bar thereby greatly
reducing the number of keys and type bars in machines of a given number of
characters, using a vertical shift for the paper carriage, I am able to construct a
machine of much greater simplicity; less expensive and most compact and yet
admitting the maximum of speed and utility.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a plan of one form of my invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through the line 2-2 of Figure 1; three only,
of the levers being shown, all others being simply duplicates.
Figure 3 is a partial rear elevation showing more particularly the mechanism for
effecting the vertical shift of the paper carriage.
.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are details showing the movable wings for side guides to
the ends of the type bars at the printing point, and a part of the escapement.
mechanism.
Figure 8 is a partial plan of the rocker shafts and carriage actuating mechanism.
Figure 9 is an end elevation of Figure 8 with the type bar supporting plate
added, and showing a type-bar and the rocker-shafts in their normal position.
Figure 10 is a similar view except that the type-bar is forward to the printing
point and has actuated one of the rocker-shafts to operate the pawl of the escape-
ment mechanism.
Figure 11 is a sectional view more clearly showing inking mechanism.
.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of paper carriage showing the
means for supporting the same.
Figure 13 is a cross section of the same on the lines 17, 17 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a plan of another form of my new type-writer.
Figure 15 is a sectional elevation on line 2-2 of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a rear elevation.
Figure 17 is a view showing the ribbon spools with ribbon removed for greater
clearness.
Figure 18 is a detail view of a type-bar in different positions to the guide at the
printing point.
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the rocker-arm which connects each key-lever
with its type-bar.
Figure 20 is a perspective of my improved panel type-bar.
Figure 21 shows the type-block.
ر
Figure 22 is a diagramatic view more completely illustrating the type-bar guides
and bevelled type-block.
Figure 23 is a side view of two sets of guides.

page_text: Figure 24 is a plan of the machine with parts removed for greater clearness.
Figure 25 is a plan of the carriage supporting mechanism.
Figure 26 shows a modification of the escapement mechanism and connected
parts for the endwise feed of the carriage.
Referring to Figures 1 to 11'A represents the frame and A¹ the base.
B, B, B, are three curved supports for the pivots of the three banks of key levers.
The ends of these supports are fast to the frame A. The supports are grooved
at (B) and slotted at (B3) to receive the pivots B of the key levers B. Each
key lever is provided with a finger button or surface B³ on its approximately
horizontal arm b, while its approximately vertical arm bent at its lower end to a
right angle passes through or engages a slot B formed in type-bar B'. The type-
bars B' formed preferably of thin sheet metal slide freely longitudinally in suitable
grooves formed radially in the frame A at a and a¹.
At the forward ends of type-bars B' are attached two or more type characters B³,
in this instance three characters to each bar.
An inclined surface B is formed on the underside of each type-bar to give motion
to the escapement mechanism common to all of the keys for feeding the paper
carriage D and also to give motion to the movable wings E, E', the latter being
side guides to the type characters at their printing point. These wings E and E in
this position of rest are as indicated in Figures 1 and 4, and are pivoted in frame A
at a and a Eccentrically attached at a are connecting links a pivoted to
levers a' and a³ fast on rocker shafts a pivoted in the frame. It will be noticed
that there are two independent rocker-shafts a', placed in a line with each other
their inner journals meeting in a common bearing in the centre of the machine at a
Figure 4. Fast in each shaft are the curved rods a", engaged by the inclines B'
on the under sides of the type-bars B'.
Motion is imparted to one of these rocker shafts, a³, only when a key on that side
of the machine is operated. The other rocker shaft a is operated only by the keys
of the other side or half of the machine, but the motion of either rocker shaft gives
proper motion to the escapement mechanism whereby the paper carriage is moved
in the ordinary manner whenever any key on the machine is struck. This is
accomplished by a lever a¹ fast to each rocker shaft engaging a common lever a
pivoted on inner journals a³ of shafts and provided with a pawl a¹ engaging the
escapement racks C of the paper carriage D, the latter in a manner in common use
on other type writers and too well known to require description. The return
rocking motion of shafts a' and lever a¹³ is effected by any convenient arrangement
of springs as a¹.
It will be seen that to simply effect the feed of the paper carriage no necessity
exists for making two independent shafts a but I utilize these two shafts to operate
the movable wings or side guides E and E', which I will now describe.
Side guides to the type ends B8 of the bars B' at or near the point of impression
are necessary to deflect the type from the longitudinal direction of the bars in their
various angles, to a direction at right angles to the surface of the paper to be
printed. Such guides might be rigidly fixed to the frame A but this would cause
the bars at the extreme sides of the machine to enter between the guides with too
much friction on account of the steep angles of contact, as for instance, dotted
type-bar 3, in Figure 4, moving in the direction of the arrow 4, against guide E,
striking its surface at too nearly a right angle to be easily deflected in the direction
of arrow 5, between the guides E E to the impression on line 6. To remedy this
whenever a bar on one side of the machine as bar 3 in Figure 4, is struck, the
guide E of the opposite side is swung forward to a position at or near a right angle
to the surface of the paper, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, thereby offering a
comparatively easy inclined surface to the type whereby it is deflected directly to
the impression, which is at line 6.
In like manner whenever a key of the opposite half of the machine is struck the
other guide E' is swung forward.. These movements are accomplished by one of
the links a connecting guide E¹ of one side with lever a' of rocker shaft a³ of the

page_text: opposite side of the machine, the other link a vice versa, the two links in crossing
each other being properly offset to pass without interference. It is evident that
the normal position of these wings might be closed instead of open as shown, and
the mechanism arranged to open either of them out of the path of an approaching
type bar as required, or instead of swinging they might be moved into position in a
variety of ways, all of which would constitute a part of my invention.
My improved vertical shift paper carriage consists of a sliding or moving
frame D' mounted on rollers, or in slides D' on the base A To this frame may be
attached an ordinary cord D' leading to a drum D' provided with the usual coil
spring De for drawing the carriage, also with the usual fast and loose racks C
engaged by the pawl at forming the well known escapement in common use.
Standing upright and fast in the moving frame D near its opposite ends are the
two racks D which also serve as guide posts to a second frame d carrying the
paper roll d' with clamp plate d between which plate and roll the paper is secured
in the usual manner to receive its impressions from the type-bars. Journalled in the
ends of the secondary or upper frame d, is freely mounted the shaft d³ to which
are fast two pinions of gears d' engaging the upright rack posts D'.
The objects of the rack, gears and shaft is simply to keep the frame d in a
parallel position as it is moved vertically up and down on the guide posts D'. This
vertical shift of the frame d carrying the paper roll d' is for the purpose of
presenting the line on the paper to be printed to either of the three characters B
of type bars B7 and corresponds to the horizontal shift on ordinary type lever
machines. It is accomplished as follows: A path is formed in the carriage
frame d which receives the friction roller de pivoted on stud fast on one end of
rocker shaft, journalled in base of frame A. The opposite end of rocker shaft d
receives the double armed levers do d provided with finger buttons or surfaces for
use similar to the key-lever buttons B or other arrangement of d and may be
substituted; the under surface of the lever d8 is formed with two bearers d¹, dis
resting against the firm pressure of a spring supported at its ends d¹ on
base A¹.
The normal vertical position of the carriage d is shown in the drawings, both
feet or points d¹³, d¹s of lever resting on the spring d supporting the printing
point on the roll d' opposite the central type characters B on the type bars B'.
Depressing the lever do rocking the shaft do raises the friction roll as indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 3, depressing the spring d as indicated. In like manner
if lever du be depressed roll is carried below the normal position as indicated,
also depressing spring d; in either case acting in path to raise or lower the
paper carriaged to either the upper or lower type characters B of the type bar 137,
the spring d returning the carriage to the normal position whenever the key di
or do is released. Any suitable stops as d and d may be provided to limit the
vertical motion of the carriage in either direction. In some cases I intend to
neutralize the dead weight of the carriage d, and roll d by springs or counter-
weights in order that either shift key do or d" may be operated with equal facility.
This may be accomplished by a spiral spring d¹ attached to cords d and do led
over friction pulleys mounted on studs d" fast in upper ends of racks or
guide posts D, the ends of the cords attached to carriage d at d³, see Figures 2
and 3.
A convenient form of inking mechanism consists of spools 1 and 2 journalled in
brackets 3 fast to the frame of the machine. The ink-ribbon 4 leads from one
spool to the other over suitable guides 5, passing between the inner ends of the
type bars and the platen. Roll 1 is provided with a ratchet wheel 6 with which
engages a pawl 7 mounted on an arm 8 fast on rocker-shaft a Spool 2 is pro-
vided with a ratchet wheel 9 with which engages a pawl 10 mounted on an arm 11
fast on rocker shaft. a. When the rocker shaft is actuated, pawl 10 turns ratchet
wheel 9, feeding spool 2, one notch. When all the ribbon has been wound on
spool 2 spring 12 pivoted at 13 to the base of the machine, is swung out of engage-
ment with the pawl which then drops out of engagement with ratchet wheel 9, and

page_text: pawl 7, until now kept out of engagement with ratchet wheel 6 is allowed to drop
into engagement with ratchet wheel 6 by removing the supporting pin 14.
The ribbon is now rewound on spool 1. To insure alignment, the inner ends of
the type bars are supported on a guide plate 15, at the time the impression is taken,
plate 15 being supported by the frame of the machine. As the type levers are
moved endwise for impression they preferably slide over the plate 1.
In Figures 12 to 24 inclusive, I show a different embodiment of the features of
my invention. In these figures:
A is the base; B the key-levers; B₁ a rocker-arm connecting each key-lever
with its corresponding type-bar D and G is the paper carriage. The key-levers B
are mounted on a cross-bar b supported in this form of my machine a cross rib a
slotted at x to receive the key-levers and each key-lever engages an arm 1 of the
T-shaped rocker-arm B¹ mounted on a cross-rib a' slotted at. The long arm 2
of each rocker-arm B' engages a type-bar D, the bar D being preferably slotted
at d to receive the notched end 6 of the rocker-arm B'. That is, this is the
preferred form of connecting these parts. The end b¹ is bent over at an angle and
is notched at 63, 63, so that one side wall of slot d lies in notch 6 and the other side
wall of that slot in notch 6. The type-bars D are mounted in vertical slots ³ in
rib as, their front ends being between guides a' supported by the guide plate a*
which the type-bars slide to deliver impression by end thrust upon paper on the
platen g of the paper-carriage G which moves endwise in the usual way while the
platen g is movable vertically.
over
A majority of the type-bars support two or more characters each, the characters
being arranged one above the other on the front ends of the bars D. The type-
blocks D' on the ends of the levers D are each formed with a bevel d' at each end,
so that when the type-bar is thrust forward for printing the type-block clears the
guide which is opposite the bevel d¹ and allows side of type-block D' to impinge
upon side a of a guide a³ so that it is deflected straight to the printing point.
Were the type-blocks not bevelled at they would be apt to strike against the
guide blocks a and pass between the guide blocks with much greater friction than
is now the case owing to the bevelling at d¹. The bevelling is not absolutely
essential, the main feature being that the key D is provided with an extension at
each end of that part of the type-block on which the characters are, which extension
serves as guides. These extensions are shown as parts of the type-block but it is
manifest that they may be integral with bars D as may also be the type, if
preferred.
The type-bar deflecting guides a between which the type-bars are thrust when
impression is taken are each bevelled on their opposed faces at a and are rigidly
secured at the impression point, the upper pair conveniently on an upright a and
the lower pair on guide plate a'.
The type-bars move end wise in paths radiating from the printing point, and those
bars which are at the sides of the bar directly facing the printing point must be
deflected at their type-supporting ends for impression. The type-bars D are
necessarily of considerable width to prevent wobbling between the guides a but
must be as light as possible, and I therefore form them with openings facing the
ribs d' which are at a sufficient distance apart to prevent wobbling and to minimize
the weight of the bars. The Ṭ-shaped rocker arm B₁ forms part of the spacing
mechanism H, its arm 3 engaging a cross-bar / secured to a rocker-arm which is
journalled in lugs of frame A. Rocker arm is provided with a dog ³ fast on
it and with a sliding pawl / mounted on it. The dog and pawl engages a rack h
on the paper-carriage. The construction and arrangement of these parts is old and
well known, and requires no further description. Rocker shaft is provided with
an arm he working against the force of a suitable spring h', conveniently mounted
as shown, one of its ends being secured to a part of frame A and its other end to
the free end of rocker-arm .
Inasmuch as the types on a given type-bar are arranged one above the other, it
is necessary to reciprocate the platen in a vertical path. I accordingly mount:

page_text: platen g in a frame g¹ provided with a groove g³ near its lower edge and extending
from end to end of the frame which slides up and down in vertical guide-ways g
in the end wise moving section of carriage G. Those portions of section 9
which are formed with the guide-ways g are provided with racks 9' with which
mesh pinions 9 mounted on cross-rod g journalled in frame g¹, the cross-rod 9'
being used to cause the pinions 9 to travel together and keep the sections of the
carriage parallel one to the other.
The frame g¹ is lifted in its way by a cam roll 198 pivoted on a stud 9³ fast on a
lever go fast on a rocker-shaft g! journalled at 91% and 9" in frame A.
The cam rod 98 runs in the groove g³ in frame g₁.
It is actuated by either of shifting levers G' G³ mounted on a rocker-shaft g¹
journalled at 9 9 in frame A.
15
The rocker-shaft g₁ has arms 9" 918, arm 917 engaging end 9" and arm 918
engaging end 20 of a double-lever g¹ rigidly mounted on the front end of rocker-
shaft g. At each end of double-lever g" a stop g" is arranged to limit the rocking
movements of lever g" in each direction. When shifting lever G¹ is depressed,
cam roll is raised through the connections described, carrying with it, frame g¹
in which the platen is mounted.
The cam roll 98 is held in one position by the action of a spring 923 pressing
against a bar g which is pivoted to frame A at 9% and engages projections 9
and on lever g10, projection 928 being on side of rocker shaft g" and projection 9"
on the other side thereof. Normally, bar 92 is in contact with both pro
jections 2, 9, but when key G¹ is depressed, shaft g" is rocked and projection
is carried away from the bar, the projection 9" being then moved against the bar g
compressing spring 9. When pressure is taken from key G¹, spring G² returns
the platen to its normal position. When key G' is operated the motion of lever g¹º
is reversed, as will be plain.
The ink ribbon I, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 15, is wound on a spindle j
and carried over guide j', then under guide and around guide ³ (passing in front.
of the printing point between guides; and 3) then returning under guide (where
the returning portion is at the side of the downwardly moving portion) then over
guide to a spindle mounted, like spindle j in cover A', or at any other con-
venient point. Each spindle carries two discs between which the ribbon is
wound, but only lower discs, jo are necessary.
The spindles are provided with a ratchet wheel which is conveniently provided
by notching the periphery of discs. A double pawl J¹ is pivoted at
" between
the spindles and is held in contact with one of the ratchet wheels by a
spring, which is a bent piece of sheet metal secured to angle piece which is
secured to cover A' at " (see Figure 15). The pawl is actuated to rotate the
ratchet-wheel by a rocker-lever pivoted to cover A' and connected at its end
to rod which is loosely pinned at " to an arm j" of rocker shaft /'. As the
rocker shaft ', is moved the pawl is actuated. To reverse the movement of the
ribbon, the pawl J' is swung into contact with the other ratchet, the spring j
holding the pawl in its reversed position after it passes the dead centre. In Figure 24-
showing a modification, the arm 3 of the rocker-lever B¹ is a dead part and may
be dispensed with the arm j" from rocker shaft being elongated to hold the
cross-bar h over the upper edges of arms of the rocker-lever B₁; and the dog /³
being above the sliding pawl * instead of under the sliding pawl.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by'
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
First. In a type writing machine the combination of side guides E and E¹ and
links a with levers a' and a³ and rocker shafts a the links connecting the levers
with the guides and the levers being mounted on the rocker shafts to actuate the
guides, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a type-writing machine a vertical shift paper carriage in a type

page_text: writing machine carriage a, Iriction ro
carriage d, substantially as set forth.
and a guide or path
111
Third. In a type-writing machine the combination of carriage d, friction roll do,
rocker shaft d, roll being supported on rocker-shaft and the key operating
the rocker shaft to raise and lower roll do to raise and lower carriage d substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. In a type-writing machine, the combination of paper-carriage feeding
mechanism with a sliding type-bar having an inclined surface, and a rocker shaft
having an arm engaged by said incline to actuate the carriage feeding mechanism
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a type-writer, the combination of a pair of rocker shafts with a series
of type-bars movable endwise, a pair of movable side guides for the type-bars and
mechanism for connecting the side guides with the rocker-shafts, and mechanism
for actuating the rocker-shafts, all combined substantially as described to deflect
the type-bars to the impression point, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. In a type-writer, the combination of a series of keys and a series of
endwise movable type-bars, which are arranged radially in respect of the printing
point, with a pair of rocker-shafts each supporting a side guide and mechanism for
actuating the rocker shafts the side guides directing the type-bars to the printing
point, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. In a type-writer, the combination of carriage d, supporting the platen d',
with the carriage D, pinions d', shaft d³, racks D, and mechanism for reciprocating
carriage d in a path at an angle to its endwise movement, the pinions and racks
meshing to keep carriage d parallel to carriage D', all substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Eighth. In a type-writer, the combination of carriage d carrying platen d with
carriage D', substantially such as described, (that is, roll d' on rocker-shaft & and
spring ) for moving carriage d away from carriage D₁ all substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. In a type-writer, a key-lever B a T-shaped rocker arm B₁, a type-bar D
in combination with spacing mechanism, the rocker-arm B¹ being actuated by the
key-lever, and in turn actuating the type-bar and spacing mechanism, all sub-
stantially as described.
Tenth. In a type-writer, the combination of an endwise moving paper-carriage
section formed with vertical ways g³; a vertically reciprocating section g¹
supporting the platen g mounted in ways g³ and formed with a cam groove g
running endwise of it, a cam roll g running in said groove and mounted on a
rocking lever glo, rocker shaft gl supporting rocker lever 910, double lever g" on
rocker shaft rocker-arms g, g18, on rocker-shaft g, each engaging the rocker
lever g" and shifting keys G₁ G2, all substantially as described.
Eleventh. In a type-writer, the combination of a series of key-levers, a series of
type-bars, a series of levers connecting the key-levers and type-bars, a rocker arm
common to all the connecting levers and a spring, all substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Twelfth. In a type-writer, the combination of a key-lever B; rocker-lever B';
end wise sliding type-bar D; and horizontal guide plate a', the rocker lever B¹
being intermediate the type bar D and key lever B and being directly connected
to the type bar, substantially as shown and described.
Thirteenth. In a type-writer, the combination of a series of key levers B; a series
of endwise moving type bars D; a series of intermediate rocking levers B¹ and a
swinging bar connected with a rocker shaft / forming part of the spacing
mechanism, the bar h being common to all the rocker levers B₁ all substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenth. In a type-writer, the combination of a key lever B; with a type
bar D having an edge-slot ; and a rocking lever B¹ having its end at an angle
and in the slot d of the type-bar, all substantially as described.
:
Fifteenth. In a type-writer, the combination of a platen; an endwise moving

page_text: type-bar; means for actuating said type-bar and two pairs of stationary deflecting
guides secured to said guide plate mounted in close proximity to the platen, one
pair of the stationary guides receiving and guiding the upper end of the type-block
and the other pair of guides receiving and guiding the lower end of the type-block,
all substantially as shown.
Sixteenth. In a type-writer, the combination of a platen, and endwise sliding
type-bar provided with a type-block; a supporting plate for the type-bar, means
for actuating the type-bar and two pairs of stationary guides, secured to the said
plate, the type-block being provided with end extensions each of which is received
between a pair of the stationary guides, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 29th day of March 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.