Improvements in Typewriter Ciphographs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Typewriter Ciphographs.
I, EUGENE ALBERT BOFINGER, of 140, East 42nd Street, in the City of New
York and State of New York, U.S.A., Inventor, 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 a ciphograph for typewriters or key-operated instru-
ments, and which can be placed over the key-board of such machines as the
Remington typewriter and the like, whereby messages in the ordinary language
may be written in cipher by the operator of the machine, which cipher message
or communication can be re-translated into the original language or text on
another typewriter in possession of the receiver. The object of the present in-
vention is to provide the attachment with interchangable keys so that each
transmitter may have his or her own individual cipher arrangement at pleasure.
The invention consists of a ciphograph-attachment for key-operated instru-
ments, which comprises a suitable frame, and interchangable keys or finger-pieces
suitably mounted or supported in said frame so that the keys or finger-pieces
can be removed, and any combination or different arrangement of the same
effected, as desired. The invention also consists of certain other features of
construction and parts all of which will hereinafter be described and then finally
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of my improved ciphograph applied to the key-
board of a typewriter.
Fig. 2 is a broken plan view, partly in section, showing one of the oscillatory
cylinders of the main form of the invention,
Fig. 3 is a transverse section, through one of the cylinders showing an
auxiliary key or finger-piece passing through the same,
Fig. 4 is a side-elevation of one of the keys or finger-pieces,
Fig. 5 is a side-elevation of a modification of the ciphograph, applied to the
key-board of a typewriting machine,
Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of said modification,
Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the side rails of the machine, showing
also one of the shiftable supporting-bars.
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are sectional and perspective details of the different parts
of the shiftable supporting-bars of the modification showing how the guide-blocks
for the shanks of the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces are adjusted, and
Fig. 11 is a detail plan view showing more clearly the construction of the
guide-blocks for the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces.
Referring to the drawings, A indicates the key-board of a suitable typewriting-
machine provided with ordinary keys a. B indicates the frame of the ciphograph-
attachment, which is applied over the key-board of a type-writing-machine and
which is constructed to support a series of auxiliary keys or finger-pieces which
may be arranged to act on the keys of the typewriting machine.
In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive there is arranged a number of cylindrical key-supports C
which are provided at each end with trunions C¹ turning in suitable bearings of
the frame B. There key-supports correspond in number with the number of
transverse rows of keys of the typewriting machine and are adapted to be held in

page_text: the position to which they are oscillated, by means of a suitable adjusting
mechanism to be referred to hereinafter.
At diametrically opposite points of the cylindrical key-supports C the same are
provided with key-holes d, said key-holes being so arranged as that the enlarged
portions thereof are diametrically opposite, while the narrower portions thereof
are also diametrically opposite. These key-holes d are formed at a distance apart
corresponding to the distance apart of the keys over which the cylindrical key-
support C is arranged. In the narrower portions of the key-holes dare guided the
thin shanks E' of the finger-pieces or auxiliary keys E. The lower portions of
each of the shanks E' is enlarged at E and carries an anti-friction roller e which
is journalled on a pin e¹. When the cylindrical key-supports are in the position
shown in Fig. 3 so that the narrower portions of the key-holes will be arranged
vertically in line with each other, the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces can be
pushed down directly upon the keys of the typewriting machine over which they
are arranged. By imparting a partial rotation to the cylindrical key supports, in
the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, the keys or finger-pieces of the oscillated
support can be detached, inasmuch as the enlarged lower ends E2 of the shanks
can be drawn up through the enlargements of the key-holes. It is evident that,
when the cylindrical key-supports are rotated, the keys or finger pieces with their
shanks remain in substantially normal position, and that the keys a of the key-
operated instrument would interfere with the removal of the auxiliary keys or
finger-pieces and their shanks, should it be attempted to remove the same without
rotating the key-supports, inasmuch as the lower ends of the shanks would come
in contact with the next keys a to the rear, or in contact with each other. There-
fore, in this form of the invention it is necessary that the cylindrical key-supports
be rotated so as to avoid interference.
Provision for the simultaneous and corresponding adjustment of all the key-
supports is furnished by means of gear-wheels F, which are arranged at one
end of each support, and these gear-wheels are intermeshed by a rack-bar F1
which is guided under the guide-rail B of the frame of the ciphograph and is
in turn engaged by a gear-wheel G adapted to be turned by means of a hand-
lever G or other suitable operating device. By slightly raising the hand-lever G¹
the rack-bar F¹ is pushed back so that a partial rotation, in the direction of arrow
in Fig. 3, is given to all of the cylindrical key-supports permitting all of the
keys or finger-pieces to be detached and any arrangement to be made as desired.
On adjusting the keys or finger-pieces, according to the desired cipher, the
hand-lever G is depressed and the ciphograph message can be written out.
In the modification, Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive, the further object of the invention
is to provide means for the adjustment of the keys or finger-pieces of the cipho-
graph so that they can be arranged to act upon the keys of a typewriter or
other key-operated instrument, no matter what may be the disposition of the keys
of the latter.
In the modification the rigid main frame B is provided with depending legs h
which are longitudinally slotted at h¹ to receive set-screws h2 whereby the said
main frame is adjustably connected, as to its vertical movement, with the uprights
or standards I which are secured by bolts and nuts I¹ to the main frame of the.
typewriting or other machine, as shown. The main frame B is provided at its
upper part, at opposite sides, with side-rails J which are provided with longitudinal
slots j.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 6, 7, and 9, K indicates the transverse
supports, one for each row of auxiliary keys or finger-pieces, each support K being
composed of a back-bar k provided with end plates and a front-bar which is
hinged to the end-plates at 3. From the end-plates threaded studs project,
which studs pass through the longitudinal guide-slots or ways of the rails J,
and on which nuts are screwed so as to secure the key-supports K at any
suitable point along said rails. The rails J are, as clearly shown in Fig. 7,
channelled so as to receive the end-pieces or plates k¹. Any suitable number

page_text: of these transverse key-supports K are provided, according to the number of
rows of keys or finger-pieces, with which it is desired to equip the apparatus.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 11, as well as to the figs. just
described it will be seen that between the bars k, k, are arranged a number of
guide-blocks L which are composed of sections L', L³, the latter being provided
with a projecting portion Z which fits tightly into a deeper recess in the other
section L so that the two sections L1, L2 are held together, and whereby a
suitable guide-opening is formed, in which the flat shanks E of the auxiliary
keys or finger-pieces E are guided.
The guide-block section L is provided with a spring-tongue & which engages
over the upper edge of the back-bark of the key-supports K, whereby the same
is hung thereon so as to permit the said section L' to be slid along said bar k.
The shanks of the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces are retained in the guide-
openings in the guide-blocks L by means of the movable clamping bar which
presses the movable section L2 of the guide-blocks against the other section L'.
The guide-blocks L are locked into position and may be set or adjusted longi-
tudinally of the key-supports by means of the spring-clamp m which is bent up
from wire and which is hinged at m¹ to the clamping-bar so that its opposite
bent end m³ can engage over the back-bar k and enter a suitable recess 26 in said
bar k. The adjacent faces of the removable sections L¹ of the guide-blocks and
the clamping-bar are toothed or serrated as shown, so that a fine adjustment
may be obtained, and when the clamping-bar is locked into position by means
of the clamp or fastening-device m, the guide-blocks are firmly locked so that
they cannot be shifted longitudinally along the key-supports.
The auxiliary keys or finger-pieces are adjusted according to the diagram of the
key-board of the typewriting or other key-operated machine by first adjusting
the gangs or rows of auxiliary keys or finger-pieces, which is accomplished
by loosening the nuts, shifting the key-supports along to the desired position,
and then again tightening up the nuts against the rails J. The individual
adjustment of the keys or finger-pieces relatively to their key-supports is accom-
plished by unlocking the clamping-bar, then resetting the guide-blocks for the
shanks of the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces, and then locking the clamping-bar
in position, as shown in Figure 8. If it is desired to transpose or interchange
the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces this can be accomplished by unlocking the
clamping-bars and removing the desired removable section of the guide-blocks
so that the shank of the auxiliary key or finger-piece can be pulled out, then
inserting the shank of another key or finger-piece, and re-adjusting and locking
the blocks.
Besides the above adjustments, which are adapted to all diagrams of key-boards
of key-operated instruments, provision is made in the modification for the vertical
adjustment of the auxiliary finger-pieces according to the height of the keys of
the machine.
In the various forms of the invention it is evident that any alternative form of
cipher can be set up on the ciphograph by simply removing the finger-pieces or
It is evident that various other forms
auxiliary keys and re-arranging the same.
of mechanism for supporting the inter-changeable keys or finger-pieces may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that. what
I claim is:
1. In a ciphograph, the combination with a suitable frame adapted to be
supported on the key-board of key-operated instruments, of interchangeable
auxiliary keys or finger-pieces mounted on said frame and adapted to be depressed
upon the keys of the said instruments, suitably guided shanks on which said
keys or finger-pieces are arranged, and means for detachably connecting said keys
or finger-pieces with their support, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In a ciphograph, the combination with a suitable frame adapted to be
supported on the key-board of key-operated instruments, of auxiliary keys or
finger-pieces, and movable key-supports fixed to said frame and from which the
said keys or finger-pieces are detachable, said key-supports being provided with
suitable means for guiding the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces, substantially as
set forth.
3. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable frame adapted to be
supported on the key-board of key-operated instruments, of oscillatory key-
supports journalled in said frame and provided with suitable guide-holes,
auxiliary keys or finger-pieces, the shanks of which are guided through said guide-
holes and are adapted to be detachably connected with said key-supports, and
means for oscillating said key-supports, substantially as set forth."
4. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable frame adapted to be
mounted on the key-board of key-operated instruments, of oscillatory key-supports
journalled in said frame and provided at one end with gear-wheels, a reciprocating
rack engaging said gear-wheels, means for operating said rack, and interchangeable
keys or finger-pieces, the shanks of which are guided through suitable openings
in said key-supports, substantially as set forth.
5. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable rigid frame adapted to be
supported above the key-board of key-operated instruments, of laterally-shiftable
auxiliary keys or finger-pieces movable to or from each other, and means for
adjusting and setting said auxiliary keys or finger-pieces in position according to
the diagram of the key-board, substantially as set forth.
6. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable rigid frame adapted to be
supported above the key-board of key-operated instruments, of auxiliary keys or
finger-pieces movable to or from each other, means for laterally adjusting said
keys or finger-pieces relatively to the diagram of the key-board, and means for
vertically adjusting the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces according to the height
of the keys on the key-board, substantially as set forth.
7. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable rigid frame, adapted to be
supported above the key-board of key-operated instruments, of auxiliary keys or
finger-pieces adapted to act on the keys of the key-board, and means for vertically
adjusting and setting said auxiliary keys or finger-pieces higher or lower according
to the height of the keys of the instrument, substantially as set forth.
8. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable frame adapted to be
supported above the key-board of key-operated instruments, and guide-rails on
said frame, of transverse key-supports arranged between the guide-rails, means
for adjusting the key-supports along the guide-rails, and auxiliary keys or finger-
pieces, supported by the key-supports, substantially as set forth."
9. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable frame, adapted to be
supported above the key-board of key-operated instruments, of a transverse key-
support supported on said frame, auxiliary keys or finger-pieces, and means for
adjusting the auxiliary keys or finger-pieces to or from each other and longi-
tudinally of said key-support, substantially as set forth.
10. In a ciphograph, the combination, with a suitable frame, adapted to be
supported above the key-board of key-operated instruments, of a transverse key-
support arranged on said frame, laterally shiftable guide-blocks, means for
adjusting the guide-blocks along said key-support, and auxiliary keys or finger-
pieces, the shanks of which are guided in said guide-blocks, substantially as set
forth.