Improvements in Typewriters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
Improvements in Typewriters.
I, THOMAS TINSLEY HEATH, of Loveland, Clermont County, State of Ohio,
United States of America, Attorney, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My machine is intended for the production of copy to be later used in connection
with type setting machines or matrix making machines or other typographic
machines, the object being to produce copy which will indicate to the user of the
copy what spacing is required between words to produce proper justification.
In typographic machines, whatever their character, the various characters occupy
various degrees or units of space of the length of a predetermined line of work.
In my typewriting machine a line-length will be selected coutaining the same
number of space units as the line to be produced on the typographic machine, and
each character on my machine will have assigned to it the same number of space
units which the same character requires in typographic machines. My machine
has an indicator showing, step by step, the number of space units which have been
consumed while the line is being written, and it has an indicator showing the
number of spaces between words. Near the end of a line, at the end of a word or
syllable, the operator may therefore stop and notice how much line-length remains
unconsumed and how many spaces there are which may be one or all slightly
increased to fill out the line. At the end of the line a memorandum may be made
showing what the word spacing ought to be. The operator of the typographic
machine may thus, in forming his line, be guided by this memorandum, and make
his word spacing proper for the filling of a line. Assume, for instance, that the
typewriter operator is making lines two hundred and twenty units in length;
that near the end of a line the indicator shows that two hundred and twelve
units have been consumed, leaving eight units as a shortage: and that there
are six word spaces in which compensation could be effected. Assume that the
normal spacing between words is four units. The eight units of shortage could be
arranged for by adding one unit to four of the spaces and two units to the other
two spaces. He may make a memorandum at the end of the line thus "4-5; 2-6,"
showing that the user of his copy is to produce in the line four spaces having five
units each and two spaces having six units each. Aside from typographic machines,
such as type-setting machines &c., the copy produced on my machine may be
re-written, with the memorandum in view, and produce justified work.
I show and describe a machine exemplifying my invention, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings in which ;-
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the machine, with parts in section on lines a and b ;
Fig. 2, a rear elevation:
Fig. 3, an elevation of the right-hand side of Fig. 1, being the left-hand side of
the machine, parts appearing in section in the plane of line c:
Fig. 4, a similar elevation of details at the foot of the indicator standard:
Fig. 5, an end view of the paper holder:
Fig. 6, a plan of the carriage-rack:
Fig. 7, a side elevation of a row of type shafts, parts appearing in section in the
plane of line d.:
:
:
:
:
:
Fig. 8, a side elevation of the spacing keys and connections, parts appearing in
section in the plane of line e:
Fig. 9, a.rear elevation of one of the arms showing at the right of Fig. 8 :

page_text: Fig. 10, a vertical section of the group of back shafts, in the plane of line f:
Fig. 11, a vertical section of a portion of the type-bar pivot-ring in the plane of
line a:
Fig. 12, a plan of the same:
Fig. 13, a front elevation of carriage and paper-holder, part in section in plane
of line a:
Fig. 14, a rear elevation of the ribbon mechanism:
Fig. 15, a plan of the same, part in section in the plane of line :
Fig. 16, a section of the ribbon-shaft, in plane of line a:
Fig. 17, rear elevation of a ribbon lever, part in section in plane of line i:
Fig. 18, a perspective view of the feed escapement, part in section in the place of
line a and
Fig. 19, an end elevation of the back shafts.
Referring to Figs. 1, 7, 11, and 12, the usual circular line of type-bars 6 is
journalled in notched plate 2, the type-bars being retained by cover-ring 7 which is
notched, as in Fig. 12, so it may be turned to permit any given type-bar to be
removed through the notch. Plate 2 is radially slotted underneath to guide the
type-bars, and the journals of the type-bars are in upwardly open notches guarded
by ring 7.
Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 13, 15 is the usual sliding carriage pulled forward
by usual barrel spring 37, step by step, as permitted by the feed escapement. In
this carriage is journalled the spider 19 bearing an elastic lower rib 21 to resist
the type-blow. The spider is held in normal position by detent. 36 and may be
rocked to present the writing in front. The spider carries a fender 22 reaching
under the rear of rib 21 and a feed roll 25 lies to the rear of the rib. The
feed roll is operated by pawl and ratchet mechanism of the usual form geared
to it. The spider also has clips 24, shiftable along the length of the spider, to
support the paper at the front part of rib 21. The paper is inserted down
within fender 22 and under the feed roll 25 which, being turned, carries the
paper under rib 21 and up over clips 24, which clips are to be pulled down till after
the paper is started.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, and 17, two shafts 88 are arranged under the
. top frame of the machine and on these shafts are the ribbon spools 104 and 105, in
pairs, say one black and one red, either of which can be brought into action.
The spools are turned by pawl and ratchet mechanism operated from the type
mechanism and reversible, as usual. On the two spool shafts is carried a ribbon
table 101, mortised at the striking point of the type, and supporting the ribbon as
it runs across the machine, this table forming a fore and aft sliding structure to
shift the ribbon spools end wise, this shifting being effected by hand lever 113.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 7, the base of the machine contains a lot of fore and
aft shafts 9one shaft for each type-bar. These shafts are arranged in vertical
rows and each has an arm 12 from which a link 13 reaches to the heel of its
appropriate type-bar. At the front of each of these shafts is an arm 10 to which
is connected its finger-key, the entire group of finger-keys 8 being arranged as usual
in the form of a key-board. Therefore when one of the type-keys 8 is depressed it
rocks its one of shafts 9 and causes its appropriate type-bar to strike. In Fig. 1
the keys at the extreme right and left are for various degrees of spacing, without
operating the type, and central key 126 is the word key.
The feed of the paper is to correspond with the width of the various characters.
Choosing a unit of feed the thinnest characters may call for one unit and other
characters may call for from one to seven units. Seven variations in feed are
provided for in the exemplification, though more may be arranged for on the same
principle. Word key 126 is arranged to effect a feed of four units without type
action. Keys 117 116 115: 114: 123: 122 and 121 produce feeds of one,
two, three, four, five, six, and seven units, respectively, without type action. These
may be called spacing keys. These spacing keys are for securing various spaces
between words in lieu of the uniform space produced by word key 126.

page_text: Referring to Fig. 3, the carriage 15 carries a rack 60 engaging a gear 62, on
feed shaft 61. The carriage spring 37 will feed the carriage as much as permitted
by feed shaft 61. Gear 62 is connected with shaft 61 by pawl and ratchet, see
Fig. 18, to permit the carriage to be moved backward by hand. Ratchet wheel 85
on feed shaft 61 prevents retreating or dragging back of the carriage by the feeding
mechanisin accidentally. The degree of feed of the carriage is regulated by
adjusting the degree to which feed shaft 61 may turn at each impulse of the
machine.
Referring to Fig. 18, ratchet wheel 66 is fast on feed shaft 61. Rocker 83 bears
two fingers 69 and 70, finger 70 normally engaging the ratchet wheel and bearing
against fixed stop 73, thus preventing the turning of the wheel. Finger 70 swings
on pivot 71 and is urged backwards by spring 72. If rocker 83 be moved outwardly
finger 69 will engage and lock the ratebet-wheel permitting no movement of the
wheel. Finger 70, being thus released from the wheel, will fly against fixed
stop 74. When rocker 83 returns, finger 69 will be released and the wheel,
tending to turn, will turn till finger 70 reaches stop 73. This represents the
maximum feed, or seven units. Rocker 83 is thus rocked at each impulse of
the machine or whenever a feed is to be produced. If, now, movable stop 75 be
pushed upwardly it, in lieu of stop 74, will limit the back movement of the
finger 70, and the forward movement of the finger, being the feeding movement,
will be only from stop 75 to stop 73. This represents one unit of feed.
Stops 76, 77, 78, 79, and 80 permit, respectively, two, three, four, five, and six
units of feed. The degree at feed will therefore depend on which one of the
movable stops is put in action, the feed being seveu units if no movable stop be in
action.
Referring to Figs. 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 19, at the rear of the machine is a vertical
row of seven shafts, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48. Links 81 connect each of the
movable stops with a shaft, the first or single unit stop being connected with the
lowest shaft, and so on, top shaft 48 being connected to no stop. The rocking of
one of these rear shafts will determine the degree of the feed. The rear shafts
connect with links 81 by cams as shown in Fig. 19. The spacing keys at the end
of the key-board are connected to their appropriate rear shafts as shown in Fig. 8.
A link 57, see Fig. 10, connects with the top shaft 48 and is operated by arms on
all of the rear shafts so that the rocking of any rear shaft will rock top shaft 48.
As seen in Fig. 19 top shaft 48 has an arm 84 which works the rocker 83, so
that the rocker is operated when any rear shaft is rocked. As seen in Fig. 2 this
top shaft 48 also operates the ribbon feeding mechanism through rods 95.
In Fig. 8 collar 125 is seen on the connecting rod of key 114 which is the
four-unit spacing key, and in Fig. 3 it is seen that word key 126 is connected with
this collar. Thus four units of feed may be produced either by striking key 114 or
key 126.
As seen in Figs. 2 and 7 each vertical row of type shafts 9 operates a link 49.
Each of the back shafts is provided with one or more arms 52 which can be
adjusted along its shaft to any row of type shafts. Each link 49 bears a
stud 54. If a vertical row of type shafts pertains to characters calling for five
units of feed, the arm 52 of the five-unit rear shaft will be set to that row of type
shafts and pin 54 arranged to engage that arm. The rows of type shafts may thus
be apportioned as desired among the rear feed shafts.
Referring to Fig. 1, indicator 144 is to show the number of units the carriage has
advanced, indicator 149 showing complete turns of the first indicator. As seen in
Fig. 2, the spindle of indientor 144 is operated by bevel gearing, and a pinion 146
gearing into the carriage rack. Indicator 144 thus shows-carriage position in units
of feed. Arm 151 operates indicator 149.
In Fig. 3 it will be observed that word key 126 operates rod 139. As seen in
Fig. 2 this rod operates word indicator 133 of Fig. I which indicator therefore
shows how many times word key 126 has been used in the line. Rod 139
operates the word indicator by ratchet movement. On returning the carriage

page_text: for a new line, spur 142 strikes arm 141 and releases the ratchet, and spring 135
..returns the word indicator.to zero.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same, is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A typewriter provided with variable-degree feed-mechanism and with a word-
key, and having an indicator to show the total advance made by the carriage in
writing a line and to also show the number of times the word-key has been operated
in writing the line.
2. In the art of producing justified printed matter, the employment of uniform
word-spaces and varying letter-spaces and a registration of the number of word-
spaces and the total line-space consumed as regards one impression of the matter,
and the subsequent variable modification of the word-spaces with reference to the
said registered total consumption of line-space.
3. The circle of type-bars with their pivots engaging open bearings in a radially
notched plate and retained by a notched cover-ring.
4. The perforated ribbon-table arranged to slide back and forth on the shafts of
the ribbon-spools and carry the ribbon-spools with it.
5. The carriage fed by a spring and controlled by a double-fingered rocker
. having one finger pivoted and working between a fixed stop and selective movable
stops controlled by the keys of the machine..
6. The carriage having a rocking spider bearing an impression-rib and provided
with retaining clips and a feeding roller.
7. Vertical rows of type-shafts operated by finger-keys and operating the type-
bars, and a vertical row of shafts operated from the type-shafts and serving to
control the feed-mechanism of the paper-carriage.
Dated this 4th day of February 1896.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.