Improvements in or relating to the Paper Carriages of Type-writers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct.. 1892-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1893
TRUVIDIONAL
Improvements in or relating to the Paper Carriages of
Type-writers.
We, EDWARD SMITH HIGGINS of 6 Thorburn Square in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, and HENRY CHARLES JENKINS of 99 Iverson Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the paper carriages employed upon type-writing
machines and has reference to the way in which the paper is carried to the
feeding of the paper at the end of a line and to the means for feeding in, securing
and liberating the paper.
The carriage generally may be described as of substantially ordinary construction
with a usual form of escapement rack-bar, the roller being carried in bearings at
the ends of the carriage in substantially the usual manner. A particular point
of difference however between this invention and the usual mechanisms consists
in the fact of the paper roller being free to turn in either direction preferably
by a knob at either end so that the paper can be rolled forward or backwards
without the necessity for liberating any portion of the mechanism.
The feed mechanism embraces the following features. Upon the axle of the
roller is carried a sleeve provided upon the portion of its periphery with teeth
with which engage the teeth upon the end of a toothed segment connected with
This arm is pivotted
or part of the arm or lever which operates the whole.
upon the carriage and so arranged that its first movement releases the escape-
mment so that the carriage may be moved endwise while its further movement
imparts the rotary motion to the paper roller. Upon the axle of the paper
roiler beside the sleeve already described is a recessed disc or two discs free to
turn upon the axle and embracing between them a toothed wheel or pinion fixed
upon the axle of the paper roller. Between the before mentioned discs is pivotted
a curved arm somewhat like the escapement pallet of a clock with one pallet,
this pallet or tooth being arranged to engage at proper times with the toothed
wheel upon the paper roller axle. The "pallet" carries a short projection or arm
which engages with a slotted segment secured to or forming part of the toothed sleeve
above described in the slot of this sleeve a stop is arranged which can be placed
at any required position in the slot according to the amount of feed desired and
fixed there preferably by screwing. If desired special means such as recesses with
bevelled faces may be employed to cause this stop always to take up one of its
proper positions. The operation of this part of the mechanism is as follows:-
When the lever arm is turned by the operator the segmental rack engages
with the toothed sleeve turning this upon the axle of the paper carriage. Until
the stop in the slotted segment of the first sleeve comes into contact with the pallet
are the only result of moving the operating arm is to disengage the escapement
but so soon as the stop engages with the pallet arm the pallet is turned upon its
centre causing its tooth to engage with one of the teeth of the toothed wheel upon
the paper carriage axle; any further movement then of the operating arm will
cause the paper carriage to rotate. After the full movement of the operating arm
has ceased it can be allowed to return to rest in its normal position which it will do.
under the influence of any convenient spring and as the slotted segment approaches
the end of its backward movement it will engage with the pallet arm and drawing
this back will disengage this tooth from the toothed wheel and thus leave the paper
roller free to be rotated in any direction as required.
Upon the periphery of the dise or discs above described bears a spring preferably

page_text: having a tooth adapted to engage with one or more notches in the periphery of the
discs; this acts as a brake upon the discs and prevents the discs from turning until
the pallet tooth has engaged with the toothed wheel of the paper roller axle and
also by reason of the peripheral slot or slots prevents the discs from turning too
far back.
The back bar of the paper carriage carries an arm at each end to which is
pivotted one of the small rollers for maintaining the paper in its proper position
upon the paper roller and upon the same axial centre are pivotted two arms whose
other ends are connected by the scale bar the whole forming a frame for gripping
the paper.
These arms are extended beyond their pivotal centres so as to operate
as cams the arrangement being such that when the scale frame is lifted the ends of
its arms operating against suitable stops lift the small roller so that the paper can
freely be passed under the scale frame and supporting roller so as to place it in
position upon the paper roller for commencing work or otherwise. The cam ends
of the arms may be controlled by suitable springs which would serve to retain the
scale frame in proper position. In connection with the back bar we employ one or
more springs which serve two purposes namely, to cause the upper small roller to
engage closely with the paper roller and at the same time to exercise similar
pressure upon the lower supplementary roller for the same purpose. The pressure
of these springs can be adjusted preferably by means of suitable screws the spring
being connected with the back bar and the lower supplementary roller being
carried in arms free to turn thereon. By this arrangement accommodation is
provided for various kinds of papers, and various quantities or thicknesses thereof.
Upon the back bar is pivotted a curved shield or guard which serves to direct
the paper in its course around the paper roller.
That portion of the paper not held around the roller may be carried in suitable
scroll guides preferably arranged to come to the front of the roller. These scroll
guides are arranged for a double purpose, a long easy curve is provided in which
the unused portion of the paper may be placed while the inner side of the same
curve of the scroll serves to receive and retain the paper as it is fed off the
roller after the printing. By this arrangement the paper is returned in a scroll
or roll to the front of the machine convenient to the hand of the operator.
We have mentioned the removing of the rack of the ordinary escapement
mechanism but it will be understood that this releasing mechanism may be applied
to any other form of escapement or carriage controlling mechanism.
Dated this 21st day of December 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Paper Carriages of
Type-writers.
We, EDWARD SMITH HIGGINS, of 6 Thorburn Square, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, and HENRY CHARLES JENKINS, of 99 Iverson Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 relates to the paper carriages employed upon type-writing
machines and has reference to the way in which the paper is carried, to the feeding
of the paper at the end of a line and to the means for feeding in, securing and
liberating the paper.
The carriage generally may be described as of substantially ordinary construction
with a usual form of escapement rack-bar, the roller being carried in bearings at
the ends of the carriage in substantially the usual manner. A particular point of
difference however between this invention and the usual-mechanisins consists in the

page_text: fact of the paper roller being free to turn in either direction preferably by a knob
at each end so that the paper can be rolled forward or backward without the
necessity for liberating any portion of the mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings,―
Figure 1 is an elevation of the paper carriage looking from the back of the
machine, part of the apparatus at one end of the carriage being shown in section.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the left hand end of Fig. 1, parts being broken away
the better to illustrate the operative mechanism.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the same end as that shown in Fig. 2 but with parts
removed to show the toothed gearing for turning the platen.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 which latter represents
the paper carriage in plan.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of portion of the platen-turning mechanism.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Upon the axle A' of the platen A is carried a sleeve or plate B provided upon
a portion of its periphery with teeth as at B' with which engage the teeth of
a toothed segment C connected with or forming part of the arm C₁ of lever C₁ C³
which operates the whole mechanism by which the platen is rotated. This lever is
pivotted upon the carriage framing D at c and after being manually operated by
means of the arm C is returned to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by means
of the spring E the tendency of which is always to move the arm C towards
the back of the machine. The lever CC is formed with a cam slot c' which
operates on the screw or projection F of escapement rack F so as to move said
rack laterally into the right hand position shown in Fig. 2 to release it from the
escapement mechanism. If desired a tension spring f2 may be used for taking up
wear between the stud F¹ and cam slot c'. The lever C1 C2 is also formed with an
angular recess c³ with which engages the knife edge or angular projection f formed
on the vertical plate Fat one end of the escapement rack F, this plate F' like
another plate at the other end of the machine (without the projection) serving to
pivot the bar F to the carriage frame D by means of screws. The cam slot c¹ is so
arranged that the first portion of the downward movement of arm C² of lever C' C*
turns the rack F from the left-hand position shown in Fig. 2 to the right hand
position shown in that figure, the platen during this operation remaining stationary,
the latter part of the stroke of the lever C'C' causes the platen A to be rotated
and leaves the rack F stationary in the right hand position shown in Fig. 2, these
operations of course being reversed when the lever C' C2 is returned by spring E
to its normal position shown in Figs. 2 and 3; the projection fitting in the
recess c² serves to retain the rack F in its proper working position.
"
Upon the axle A¹ of platen A is mounted a recessed disc or two discs G free
to turn upon the axle and embracing between them a toothed or ratchet wheel H
secured rigidly upon the axle A'. Although a recessed disc or two discs such as
shown in the accompanying drawings is a convenient and neat arrangement yet
a single plate or disc may be employed to fulfil all the functions of the said
recessed disc or two discs in view of which and for the sake of convenience the
part G is hereinafter referred to as "the disc or plate G." To the disc or plate G
because it
is pivotted a curved arm H' hereinafter referred to as the "pallet
somewhat resembles the escapement pallet of a clock but with one tooth only,
as shown in Fig. 2, this tooth being arranged to engage at proper times with
the ratchet wheel H upon the axle A. The pallet carries a short projection
or bent arm which engages with the curved slot formed in the plate B, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In the slot of plate 13 a block or stop B' is arranged so
that it can be placed in any required position therein according to the amount of
feed desired and fixed in any such position by means of a pinching screw B. The
plate B is hereinafter called the stop plate. The stop B' is of such length in
relation to the length of the slot & and width of the projection of pallet arm H₁
that when its end is against the end of slot the pallet arm H' will be moved

page_text: through a distance sufficient to turn the platen A. a "one line space" and that
when the shoulder 3 is against the end of slot the arm will be moved
through a distance sufficient to turn the platen A a "two line space." If desired
special means such as recesses with bevelled faces may be employed to cause the
stop always to take up one of its proper positions an instead of this device being
arranged for adjustment to only two positions as shown in the accompanying
drawings it may be constructed so that various degrees of adjustment may be
obtained.
The periphery of the disc or plate G is formed with a notch or stop g with which
engages a tooth i formed on the end of a spring arm I; by bearing upon the smooth
portion of the periphery of the disc or plate this acts as a brake upon it and
prevents it from turning until the pallet tooth h engages with the ratchet wheel H
and also by reason of the peripheral notch or stop g prevents the disc or plate from
turning too far back.
Upon the axle A is mounted the usual star wheel J with which engages the
spring detent J' for offering sufficient friction to prevent the platen from being
accidentally turned. A pawl or detent J secured to the arm C¹ lever C C
prevents the platen from being turned too far by the before described mechanism
by engaging with the teeth of the star wheel at the time that the arm C¹ is
brought into its foremost position by the depression of the arm C². K is an arm
secured by screws k to the paper carriage D and serves for facilitating the operation
of the lever C C² the operator for this purpose placing the finger below the arm K
aud the thumb upon the front end of C2.
The back bar L of the paper carriage carries an arm L' at each end between
which is pivotally mounted a roller L2 for maintaining the paper in its proper
position upon the platen A and upon the same axial centre are pivotted two
levers M M the forward ends of whose arms M are connected by the scale bar M²
the whole forming a frame for gripping the paper. The arms M as shown extend
beyond the pivots of levers M M and operate as cams by bearing upon springs N
secured to the carriage D these springs being adjustable as to the position to which
they may descend by screws n which may be screwed more or less into the framing
of paper carriage D, the effect of this arrangement being such that when the scale
bar M2 is lifted the arms M' operate upon the springs N and depress them until
they reach the stops when upon further raising the scale bar M2 the ends of the
arms M serve as a fulcrum and the roller L2 is raised out of contact with the platen
or paper thereon. The springs N by acting on the arms M' when the scale bar is
in its lower position press said scale bar into contact with the platen A. The ends
of arms and springs N are preferably so shaped and arranged that they will
retain the scale bar M2 and roller L2 in their elevated positions against the pressure
of the springs hereinafter described which tend to lower roller L². When the
scale bar M2 and roller L are raised in this last mentioned manner the paper may
readily be placed into position upon the platen A for commencing the working or
otherwise. In connection with the back bar L we employ one or more springs (
(two are shown in the accompanying drawings) which serve two purposes namely
to cause the upper small roller L to engage closely with the platen A as herein-
before described and at the same time to exercise similar pressure upon the lower
supplementary roller P for the same purpose. This roller P is supported in
bearings formed at the ends of plates pf loosely pivotted as at p on the back
bar L and the springs O are rigidly secured to the back bar L as by pins o. In the
free ends of the springs O are mounted pressure screws of the inner ends of which
bear upon the bearings p of the roller P so that by screwing the screws o' more or
less through the springs O the pressure exercised. by the rollers P and L2 upon the
platen A. may be increased or decreased. By this arrangement accommodation is
provided for various kinds of papers and various quantities or thicknesses thereof.
Upon the back bar L is also pivotted a curved shield or guard Q against the lower
part of which a spring Q¹ presses so as to hold said shield at that part in contact

page_text: with the platen A and the upper edge away from the platen so that the paper may
easily be inserted. This shield or guard serves to direct the paper in its course
around the platen.
"
That portion of the paper not held around the platen A may be carried in the
scroll guides R arranged in front of the platen. These scroll guides serve for a
double purpose.
A long easy curve as at is provided in each guide in which the
unused portion of. the paper may be placed while the inner side of the same curve
of the scroll serves to receive and retain the paper as it is fed off the roller after
the printing. By this arrangement the paper is returned in a scroll or roll to the
front of the machine convenient to the hand of the operator and may be drawn out
at the side of the machine from within the circular portions R' of the scroll guides.
In the accompanying drawings there are represented three of these scroll guides R
but more or less than this number may be employed on a machine. The scroll
guides may be secured at their back portions to the back bar L and at the front of
the platen to the bar R' secured in the end frames of the paper carriage. In the
arrangement shown the two outer scroll guides are supported in this way and the
middle one is supported at the front of the roller on the bar R² like the others and
at its back portion on the stud R³ on which is also mounted the before mentioned
spring Q
When the lever arm C² is depressed the arm C¹ moves forward and through its
geared connection with the stop-plate B turns said plate on the axle A' so that the
stop B' is moved backwards with the upper part of the stop plate B. Until the
stop B comes into contact with the pallet arın ', the only result of moving
the lever C C up to this point is to disengage the rack F from the escapement
dogs the lower part of the cam slot C serving to impart the necessary motion to
the rack F for this purpose, but so soon as the stop B' engages with the pallet
arm the pallet is turned upon its pivot causing its tooth to engage with one of
the teeth of the ratchet wheel H; any further movement then of the lever C¹ C² will
cause the platen to rotate, the rack Fremaining stationary during this part of the
operation because the upper part of the cam slot c' is concentric with the pivot c.
After the full movement of the lever CC, that is to say during the downward
movement of the orin C thercof, has ceased, it may be allowed to return to its
normal position under the influence of the spring E and as the slotted segment or
plate B approaches the end of its backward movement it will engage the pallet
arm and drawing this back will disengage the tooth from the ratchet wheel H
and thus leave the paper roller free to be rotated by hand in any direction, the
only opposition to such rotation being that presented by the yielding detent J.
Various parts of the before described apparatus may be modified without
departing from the essential features of the invention, for example instead of the
stop plate 13 being operated by toothed gearing other means may be employed, and
if desired the adjustment of the feed of the platen A may be provided for otherwise
than by the arrangement before described.
The before described carriage may be drawn along by the usual spring and chain
or other desired mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is, -
1. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen of a stop plate such
as B loose upon its axle and a lever such as C1 C2 gearing therewith substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen and a ratchet wheel
placed upon its axle of a stop plate such as B and lever such as C C substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen having a ratchet
wheel secured to its axle of a disc or plate carrying a pallet such as H and a plate
such as B for throwing the pawl into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel

page_text: and moving it in conjunction with the ratchet wheel substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. Rotating the platen of a type-writing machine by means of a pallet and ratchet
wheel normally disengaged from each other and caused to engage by the same lever
or piece that rotates the platen.
5. In a type-writer a platen normally secured against rotation by a yielding pawl
and rotated by a pallet arm normally disengaged from the platen substantially as
.described.
6. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen of a ratchet wheel
secured upon its axle a stop plate such as B loose upon its axle a stop such as B1
adjustable in or upon the stop plate B a disc such as G and pallet such as H' with
arm all substantially as and operated in the manner herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a type-writer the combination with the paper carriage of a lever such as C¹ C³
for rotating the platen for line spacing and having a cam slot such as e¹ for liberating
the escapement mechanism substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
S. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen having a ratchet
wheel secured upon its axle and pallet such as H' for engaging therewith mounted
in or on disc or plate such as G of a stop or brake such as I i substantially as and
for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen a ratchet wheel
secured on its axle stop plate such as B lever such as C C and star wheel J also
secured on the axle of a detent J' secured to the lever CC substantially as and
for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen of spring controlled
arms such as L' roller L2 and scale frame such as M M² substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen of two rollers such
as L2 and P carried in arms mounted on the same bar and springs such as O with
screws for regulating the pressure exercised by said rollers on the platen
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen of a roller L2
carried in spring-controlled arms such as L with a scale bar connected to the
roller L by arms such as M M' portions of which serve to raise the roller L from
the platen substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
13. In a type-writer raising the platen presser bar or roller from one part of the
platen by moving the scale bar away from the platen at another part substantially
as described.
14. In a type-writer paper guides such as RR' in front of the paper carriage
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
15. In a type-writer the combination with a rotatable platen of a spring-controlled
curved shield or guard such as Q substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
D
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1000
E. S. HIGGINS.
HENRY C. JENKINS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.