Improvements relating to Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1898-Accepted, 4th Feb.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Type-writing Machines.
I, WILLIAM Ross Fox, of North Front and Fourth Streets, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, in the United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
-
My invention relates to type-writing machines of that class in which pivoted
key and type bars are employed, and the type bars are arranged in basket form.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the carriage removed therefrom.
Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the carriage.
Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of the rear of the machine showing the
bell and ribbon feed mechanism.
Figure 5 is a detail front elevation showing the marginal stop device.
Figure 6 is a detail front sectional view of one end of the machine showing the
upper case locking plate, the semaphor, and part of the connecting links between
the key levers and the type bars.
Figure 7 is a detail view of the upper case and supplemental keys.
Figure 8 is a detail end view showing the platen raised for inspection of the
work.
Figure 9 is a similar view showing the platen thrown forwardly of the front bar
of the carriage to expose the type.
Figure 10 is a detail showing the connection between-the horizontal and vertical
parts of the key levers.
Figure 11 is a detail side elevation of the key lever, type bar, connecting link
between the same, the guide bar for said link and the bracket for supporting the
said bar.
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are detail views.
Figures 16 to 21 are detail views of modifications.
The frame 1 is of substantially the ordinary form and it has the parallel
tracks 22 on the top thereof. V shaped ways are formed in the tracks to receive
the balls 3, suitable stops 4 projecting into the ways to limit the movement of the
same. The bars of the carriage 5 are recessed to form ways for the balls 3 similar
to those in the tracks, with the exception that a widened recess is made in the
front bar of the carriage instead of a ✓ shaped recess. The two rear recesses
having the balls between thus align the carriage, the wider recess allowing a
slight movement sufficient to compensate for any difference in alignment between
the recesses in the tracks and those in the carriage.
The front portion of the carriage is held down by a clip 61 engaging a groove 10
in the front track 2. A stop 8 is placed in this groove against which the clip 61
strikes. The rear bar of the carriage has a way 9 on which a roller 10' rides.
This roller is carried by a fixed bracket 11 and serves to hold the rear part of the
carriage down in position.
The platen 12 has a shaft 13 carrying plates 14. Arms 16 are pivoted to the

page_text: shaft 13 and are separated from the plates 14 by suitable collars or space blocks 15
carried by said shaft. The arms 16 are also pivotally connected to the links 17
having enlarged bosses 171 journalled on a rod 18 running longitudinally of the
carriage and fixed in end bars thereof. On these links and arms the carriage may
be displaced from its normal position, Figure 2, to the position shown in Figure 9.
In the latter position the types are exposed and may then be cleaned. The links 17
have pins or lugs 172 upon which the plates 14 rest when the platen is in normal
position. The plates 14 have headed studs 19 adapted to rest in the forked end
of the links 20 pivoted to the carriage. These links 20 have arch shaped slots
which receive the pins 21 to limit their movement and they are at all times in
approximately the position to receive the studs 19 in their forked ends. The
studs 19 are held in the forks of the links by latches 21. Flat springs 22 secured
to the links hold the latches in position. Pieces 23 project laterally from the top
of the latches to provide ready means for throwing them back to permit the
removal of the studs 19 from their seats when the platen is to be thrown into the
position shown in Figure 9.
When the platen is raised or tilted on its shaft 13 to the position shown in
Figure 8, the arms 16 and links 20 are drawn towards each other; a stop may. be
placed so as to project inward from the end bars of the carriage into the path of
the link 20 to limit the movement of said link and thereby the amount the
carriage may be tilted.
The plates 14 have pivoted thereto the side bars 24 carrying the writing scale 25.
These bars have the central portions curved to pass around the shaft 13. Thus
when the platen is raised as shown in Figure 8 the upper edge of the writing scale
will rest against the platen at the bottom of the printing line, the curved part of
the side bar resting on the collars on the shaft 13. When the platen is lowered
the scale is swung away from the platen by the pins 26 on the side bars coming
into contact with the upper edge of the arms 16. The scale can be tilted to make
erasures when the platen is raised. The platen is rotated by a toothed wheel 27
fixed to one end thereof which is engaged and turned step by step by a pawl 28
pivoted to a bell crank lever 29 pivoted on a boss 30 fixed to a rod 31 fixed to the
plates 14. This pawl has an extension 311 that bears against a pin 32 on the
short arm of the bell crank lever. The throw of this pawl is varied by regulator
arm 33 pivoted to the bell crank lever. The pawl engages and follows the toothed
wheel when the bell crank lever is tilted, until the end 31' strikes the. arm 33
when said pawl is locked and prevented from moving further. When the lateral
extension of the arm 33 is moved away from the end 3.1 the pawl is enabled to
follow the toothed wheel until stopped by said end 31¹ striking the side of said
lateral extension and the greatest amount of movement is given the platen, but
when the end 31 strikes the end of the lateral extension the pawl is stopped
earlier than in the former case and the movement of the platen is lessened.
Pins 34, 35, on the bell crank lever limit the movement of the arm 33. The long
arm of the bell crank lever is given a quarter turn and flattened near its end to
present a finger piece 36 that may be readily grasped. A spring 37 holds the bell
crank lever retracted.
The platen is held in position by an elastic roller bearing on the toothed wheel,
this roller being journalfed in the forked end of an arm 38 journalled on a rod 39
extending between the rear ends of the plates 14. A spring 40 is coiled around
said rod and secured at one end to the arm 39 to hold the roller against the toothed
wheel.
Paper guide clips 41 are arranged along the platen, these clips being pressed
into engagement by the flat spring 41' secured to the rod 31 at one end and pivot-
ally connected at their opposite ends to ears bent out of the intermediate part of
the clip. This intermediate connection and pressure of the springs ensures an
even pressure of the clip from end to end of the platen.
The frictional paper roll 42 is journalled in the end of arms 43 pivotally connected
to the plates 14 and held into contact with the platen by light spiral springs 44.

page_text: The paper support is formed in two parts, one part 45 being fixed to the rod 39
and the other part 46 being secured to the rear bar of the carriage.
Short vertical standards 47 extending upward from the top of the frame 1 in
rear of the rear track 2 support the rack bar 48 which is fixed to a rock shaft 49
by extensions 491 of the collars 54, said bar running longitudinally of the frame
parallel to the track. Both edges of said rack are toothed, the apices of the teeth
on the edge nearest to the track being beveled off in a direction opposite to the
main bevel of the teeth, thus forming reversely beveled teeth. A plate 50 is
secured to the carriage which extends out over and beyond the rack. A pawl 51 is
pivoted to the under side of this plate, this pawl having a beveled end which
is held into engagement with the teeth on the rear edge of the rack bar by a spiral
spring 52 connected to a pin 511 projecting from the upper side of said beveled
end, the inward movement of said end being limited by a pin 50¹ depending from
the plate 50. A stationary pawl 53 is screwed to the under side of the plate 50
on the opposite side of the rack bar and this pawl is adapted to engage with the
reversely beveled tooth when the bar is rocked in that direction which occurs on
every depression of a key.
Each of the collars 54 is fixed to the rock shaft 49 and has a laterally extending
arm 55, and to one of these arms a link 56 is connected, the opposite end of which
is secured in a cross bar 57 extending beneath the key bars. On every depression
of a key, the key bar depresses this cross bar which draws down on the arm 55
and rocks shaft 49. This draws the toothed bar out of engagement with the
pawl 51 and allows the carriage to slip forward one step, the stationary pawl riding
over the reverse bevel on the tooth and engaging therewith. Thus as soon as
the escapement begins to take place the pull of the carriage forces the rack bar
onto the pawl 51 which has a slight adjustment. The carriage is drawn forward
by a spiral spring encased in and connected at one end to a drum 56¹ which it
tends to rotate rearwardly, a strap 57 being connected at one of its ends to the
periphery of this drum and at its opposite end to a lug 58 depending from the
plate 50. To move the carriage forward independently of the key levers a lever 59
is pivoted to a bracket 60 projecting from the rear bar of the carriage, this lever
having a laterally bent cam shaped end which rides against the pin 51' and pushes
the pawl 51 out of engagement with the rack bar, when the arm 60' pivotally
connected to the opposite end of the lever 59 is drawn forward.
The arm 60 is guided by slots and screws 61. The hangers 6 are held in place
by a ring 61. Bolts 62 extend through the ring and between the sides of the
hangers into the top of the frame to secure the hangers in place. Each hanger
comprises two side plates held together by a rivet 63 extending through the center
of the same. A hole is made in each plate near the rear end and one hole in each
pair of plates is threaded to receive the threaded end of a bolt 64 having its
opposite end held against transverse movement on the opposite side plate, and a
suitable opening made in its body to permit of the insertion of a tool for turning
the same.
Each plate is provided with a forward extension of reduced width and
when placed in position the reduced extensions of one pair are arranged in staggered
relation to those of the next pair. In the ends of these extensions conical openings
are made to receive the ends of the pivot pins 65 of the type bars 66. These pins
are journalled in each pair of plates, the ends being conical to correspond to the
opening. The conical sockets are pressed onto or off of the ends of pin 65 by
turning the bolt 64. The type bars are connected to the key levers 66 by a link
which is formed in two parts, the upper part 67 being a wire rod, and the lower
part 68 being formed of sheet metal and being connected to the parts 67 and key
lever. The key levers 66 are supported by spiral springs 69. The lower parts 68
of the links are all pivotally connected to the same relative point on all the key
levers to give a uniform dip. This lower part consists of a sheet metal plate
having a lower extension 691 embracing opposite sides of the key lever to which
it is pivoted, a body portion 681 and a lateral extension 70 pivotally connected to
the section 67 of the link.

page_text: The upper part is compressed to form a cylindrical extension 72 that slides in
a guide bar 73 extending across the machine and supported in brackets depending
from each side of the ring 74, supported by arms 75. The plates that connect with
the type bars directly at the sides of the machine are given a right angular bend
as shown at 75¹, and the extension thereof extends parallel to the guide bar. The
extensions of the two end pairs of plates pass through the openings 71 in the
succeeding pairs.
The upper case key 76 is connected by a link 77 to the arm 78 extending from
the collar 79 fixed to the shaft 80 that is journalled on the short vertical stan-
dards 81 extending from the top of the frame 1. This shaft has two integral teeth
or ribs extending along its full length which mesh with the teeth 82 projecting
from the collar 83 fixed to the rod 18. It will thus be seen that each depression
of the upper case lever will depress the arm 78 and rock the shaft 80 rearwardly
and the collar 83 and rod 18 in an opposite direction, thus throwing the links 17
and arms 16 pivotally connected thereto forwardly, and as the opposite ends of
said arms are connected to the shaft of the platen said platen will also be drawn
forwardly. A supplemental key 84 is provided for depressing the upper case key
and a plate 85 secured to the side standard of the frame 1, has a slit therein in
which this key lever is guided. A shoulder or offset 86 is made in this plate
beneath which the key lever is pressed to hold the same depressed when several
upper case characters are to be printed in succession. The supplemental key has
a plate 87 riveted thereto and the end of this plate has a flat horizontal extension
overlapping the upper case key lever, so that while the upper case key may be
operated independently of the supplemental key, the supplemental key will neces-
sarily operate the upper case key whenever it is itself operated.
The ribbon spools 88 are carried on a shaft 89. This shaft has a part thereof
flattened and the bearing in the spool is correspondingly flattened so that while
the spool may be shifted longitudinally of the shaft, it can have no independent
rotary movement. The ribbon is shifted transversely of the ribbon guides 90
(these guides not being shown in Figure 1) by forked arms 91 carried by a rock
shaft 92 journaled in the sides of the frame 1, the forks engaging the grooved
collars 93 fixed to said ribbon spool. A knob 24¹ extends from one of said arms to
provide means for shifting the same.
The shafts 29 carry bevel gears 94 which are adapted to mesh with either of
the gears 95 carried on opposite ends of the shiftable shaft 96, to first cause one
of the spools to wind up the ribbon and then the opposite one. This shaft 96 is
rotated by a pinion fixed thereto which is moved by a pawl 97 pivotally connected
to the arm 55 of the collar 54, before mentioned, which is fixed to the rock shaft 49
and is operated on every depression of a key.
The shaft 96 is shifted by means of the shaft 971 having a forked plate 98 secured
thereto, a collar 99 on the shaft 97 resting in said fork. To indicate to the operator
when the end of the ribbon has been reached a semaphor 98¹ is arranged at each
side of the machine. These semaphors are rigidly fixed to the ends of the shafts 99¹,
journalled in the side standards of the frame 1, from which wire loops 100 extend
inwardly. The ribbon passes between the shaft 991 and the loop 100. The ribbon
is secured to the tape that is permanently fixed to the spools in such a manner
that the end of the tape of either spool will strike and raise said loop on the side
nearest thereto when the ribbon has become wholly unwound from its spool, thus
raising the semaphor on that side. The bell 101 for indicating when the side of
the paper is reached, is secured to an arm 102 which carries the hammer arm 103.
This hammer is operated by a hanger 104 pivoted to a disk 105 journalled on the
shaft of the drum 56' and adjustably held thereto by a thumb nut 106 extending
through an arc shaped slot in said disk into the face of said drum.
The hanger 104 has a weighted beveled laterally extending end that engages
with the upper end of the hammer arm as the drum rotates and tilts the same and
then releases it and as the drum continues to rotate, the weight of the hammer on
the end of said arm causing it to then swing against the bell and ring. I have

page_text: provided means for regulating the return of the carriage after it has been fed
forward and thereby the width of the margin that is left along the edge of the
paper. This consists of a pawl 107 pivoted in a recess in the rear face of the front
bar of the carriage that is adapted to engage with one of a series of teeth 108
made in the face of the front track 2. A plate 109 is provided which slides on
the upper face of the track 2 and is designed to cover any number of these teeth.
This plate is adjustable and is held in place by a thumb screw 110.
A modification of the paper clip is shown in Figures 20 and 21. This clip has
a longitudinal boss c, at the central portion thereof, over which a socket formed by
pressing a corresponding boss out of the spring 42" fits. A rivet extends through
these bosses and secures the parts together.
A short cylinder d adjustable on the bar 31 and having a rectangular slot to
receive the same carries a tube e, which is encircled by the curved end of the
spring 42
A screw extends through this spring and through the tube e, in to
the cylinder d to hold the parts together. A handle g is provided for shifting
these parts, this handle having a shank which also projects through the tube and
into the cylinder d. These connections are made in the duplicate, and only two
clips are used, one being placed near each end of the bar 31. In addressing
envelopes or the like either one or the other of the clips can be moved towards
the center, suitable stop pins being preferably projected from the rod 31 to limit
the movement thereof. The advantage of this arrangement is that if there are a
number of cards or the like to be addressed it is not necessary to make a separate
adjustment for each card.
In Figures 16 to 19 a modification is shown of the type bar and pivoted pin. In
this form aligning openings are made in the forked ends of the type bars into
which a shouldered bushing is fitted, the ends thereof projecting out beyond the
sides of the forks and being upset to force the metal onto the forks to clamp and
securely lock the same together. The pivoted pin extends through and is held
in this bushing and the metal of the bushing is also forced against the pin to hold
it against displacement when its ends are upset.
The angularly extending parts of the forked ends are brought together as shown
at b and an opening made therein to receive the hooked end of the link 67.
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 combination in a typewriter, a non-tilting carriage, a revoluble laterally
shifting platen and the front and rear pivoted supports therefor between the platen
and the carriage, the shifting of the platen changing from lower to upper case,
substantially as described.
2 In combination in a typewriter, a non-tilting carriage held against shifting
from front to rear, and a platen with means connecting it with the carriage, said
platen having a limited lateral shifting movement to change from lower to upper
case and having an additional lateral movement to displace it entirely to one side
of the type basket to leave the same with all the type completely exposed, sub-
stantially as described.
3-In a typewriter, pivotal connections between the platen and the carriage to
permit the platen to have lateral shifting movement to change from lower to upper
case, said platen having also a turning movement on said connections to expose the
printing, which movement actuates the connections to raise the platen in relation
to the carriage, substantially as described.
4-In a typewriter, pivotal connections between the platen and the carriage to
permit the platen to shift laterally from lower to upper case, said platen having
also an upward and a turning movement to expose the printing and an additional
lateral movement to expose the type, substantially as described.
5 In a typewriter, connecting means between the platen and carriage including
a detachable portion, which, when detached will permit the platen to be laid to

page_text: one side of the type basket where it will be held by the attached portion of the
connecting means, substantially as described.
6-In a type writer, the combination of a non-tilting carriage, a laterally shifting
platen having a connection at front and rear therewith, one of which connections
is detachable, said platen being adapted when the connection is detached to be
displaced and to rest directly upon the carriage to one side of the type basket
where it is held by the attached connection, substantially as described.
7-In a type writer, pivotal connecting means between the platen and carriage
to permit limited lateral shifting movement of the platen, said means including
detachable parts to permit the platen to have additional movement to displace the
same from over the type, substantially as described.
8-In a type writer, a non-tilting non-shifting carriage, a shifting platen to
change from lower to upper case, plates connected with the platen, pivotal links
connecting the plates with the carriage, pivoted arms, and pivoted links connecting
the arms with the carriage, substantially as described.
9 In combination, the carriage, the platen, supporting means for the platen
comprising a link pivoted to the carriage and pivotally connected to one side of
the axis of the platen, an arm pivoted on the platen shaft at one end and pivotally
supported at its other end, the said link and arm being arranged so that upon
turning the platen the upper end of the link will swing under the platen shaft
and the platen will be lifted, substantially as described.
10 In combination, the carriage, the platen, supporting means for the platen
comprising the frame with the end plates 14 on the platen shaft, the links con-
nected with the carriage and pivoted to the plates eccentrically of the platen and
the arms pivoted axially of the platen at one end and pivotally supported at the
other end whereby upon turning the platen the upper ends of the links will swing
under the platen shaft and the platen will be lifted, substantially as described.
11 In combination, the carriage, the laterally shifting platen, the eccentrically
arranged link supporting the platen from the carriage, the axially pivoted arm
and the link connecting the said arm pivotally with the carriage whereby the
platen may have laterally shifting movement relative to the carriage and by turn-
ing the platen the eccentric link will swing under the platen shaft to elevate the
platen, substantially as described.
12 In combination, the carriage, the platen, a pair of swinging supports for
each end of the platen, one member of each pair being pivoted axially of the platen
and the other member being pivoted eccentrically thereof whereby on turning the
platen it will be lifted to expose the printing, said eccentric connection being
detachable whereby the platen may be swung aside, substantially as described.
13-In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the shiftable supporting
means therefor to move the same forwardly in substantially a horizontal plane
said means being secured to a rocking bar, a second rocking bar supported in
the frame and engaging the first bar, and means for rocking the second bar
operated from the key board whereby the first bar is rocked and the platen drawn
forward, substantially as described.
14-In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the arms connected
therewith, the links connected to said arms, the rod carrying the links, the toothed
collar fixed to said rod, a second rod journalled in standards in the frame, said
rod having ribs or teeth running longitudinally thereof and interlocking with
the teeth on the collar, the collar fixed on the second shaft having a lateral exten-
sion or arm, and the link between said arm and the upper case key lever, sub-
stantially as described.
15 In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the upper case key
lever, the connection between the same and the platen, the supplemental key for
operating the upper case key lever and the plate extending from the frame trans-
versely of the key having the guiding groove therein and a shoulder to one side
of the groove, said supplemental key being adapted to be pressed laterally beneath
said shoulder, substantially as described.

page_text: 16-In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the upper case key
lever, and the key for operating the same, the connection between said lever and
the platen, and the supplemental key lever carrying a projection for depressing
the upper case key lever when the supplemental key is depressed, substantially as
described.
17 In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the shaft thereof, the
plates thereon, the writing scale having its side bars pivotally connected thereto
in proximity to the platen shaft, said bars being intermediately curved and adapted
to rest on said shaft when the platen is raised, substantially as described.
18 In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the plates 14, the
supporting arm 16, the pivoted scale having its end bars pivotally connected to
the plates, and the projection extending from said bars adapted to rest upon the
arm 16 to support the scale away from the platen, substantially as described.
19 In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen and shaft, the writing
scale freely suspended having lateral ends pivotally connected to said platen and
adapted to extend across the said shaft, said ends being adapted to rest thereon
when the platen is lifted to position said scale, substantially as described.
20 In combination, the frame, the non-shifting carriage, the platen, the frame
carrying the same consisting of the end plates 14, and the rods connecting the
plates, the link connections between the platen and the carriage to permit the
shifting and the raising of the platen, and the line space mechanism comprising
the bell crank lever pivoted to the platen frame and adapted to move in a hori-
zontal plane, the ratchet on the platen, the horizontally moving pawl pivoted to
the bell crank lever and the regulator carried by the bell crank lever adapted to
have a variable engagement with the pawl, substantially as described.
21-In combination with the frame, the shiftable carriage, the platen, the
toothed wheel carried thereby, the horizontally arranged bell crank lever carrying
a motion limiting pawl pivoted thereto and also moving horizontally and adapted
to engage with said wheel, said lever being adapted to be moved in a horizontal
plane to feed the platen and return the carriage, substantially as described.
22-In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen carrying the wheel with
lateral teeth, a pivoted bell crank lever having a horizontally extending part, and
a horizontally extending pawl pivoted thereto to move across the lateral face of
the toothed wheel and the limiting means for said pawl carried directly by the
bell crank lever, substantially as described.
23--In combination, the frame, the non-tilting carriage mounted thereon, the
platen adapted to be raised and lowered and line spacing mechanism comprising
a pivoted lever and pawl, said mechanism being movable with the platen to main-
tain its engagement therewith, substantially as described.
24 In a type writer, the escapement, comprising a rocking rack bar having
teeth on opposite sides and the pivoted and rigid pawls supported on the moving
carriage and on opposite sides of the rack, one or both of said pawls being arranged
parallel with the said rack to receive the impact longitudinally, substantially as
described.
25-In combination with the escapement of Claim 24, the supporting plate for
the pawls carried by the carriage and extending over the rack bar, the spring
and stop means for the pivoted pawl and means for rocking the rack bar, sub-
stantially as described.
26 In a typewriter, a hanger for the type bar formed of flat side pieces con-
nected by a central rivet and having sockets to receive the type bar pivot pin in
the front ends, and a bolt extending at right angles to said side plates between the
same, said bolt being adapted to be turned to spread or contract said ends, sub-
stantially as described.
27 In a type writer, a pivoted type bar and a hanger therefor, said hanger
having flat side pieces intermediately held together by a horizontal rivet and
having a conical bearing for the pivot pins of said type bars in the forward ends
thereof, and openings in the rear parts of said plates, one of said openings being

page_text: threaded and a bolt having a threaded end fitted to said threaded opening and
having its opposite end held against movement transversely of the said plates in
the opposite opening, said bolt being adapted to be turned to spread or contract
the rear and forward ends of said side plates, substantially as described.
28 In combination, the frame having a toothed portion, the carriage, the
pawl carried thereby for engaging said teeth and an adjustable plate adapted to
cover said teeth, substantially as described.
29 In combination, the frame, the carriage, the platen, the ribbon spools, the
ribbon feed, the horizontal shafts mounted in the side standards of the frame
above the ribbon spool, the semaphors secured to the ends of the same, the loops
secured to said shafts, the ribbon being adapted to pass between said shaft and
the loops, the tape for securing the ribbon to the spools having its ends projecting
and adapted to raise the loops when the end of the ribbon passes therethrough and
thereby move the semaphors inwardly and upwardly, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1898
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.