Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
A communication from CHARLES SPIRO, of 116th Street, 5th and Lennox
Avenues, City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in type-writing machines particularly of
the well-known "Bar-lock" type and will be best understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings in which there is represented only those parts of a type-
writing machine to which this invention appertains..
Figure 1 is a section of a machine constructed according to this invention showing
the
paper carriage in front elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 with the platen and paper scale broken away.
Figures 3 and 4 are sections taken respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of
Figure 2, and
Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views, drawn to a larger scale of portions of the
device for regulating the line-spacing or the extent to which the platen shall be
rotated when the paper carriage is moved back for the commencement of a fresh
line of writing.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the frame and B the bar secured thereto, on which the paper carriage C is
guided in the usual manner the ends of the bar B in the example represented
(which is adapted for writing on sheets of large size such as brief) being secured
by screws or otherwise to the outwardly extending arms A¹ and one or more
intermediate posts A'. In existing machines it is usual to support the carriage C
by rollers mounted on it and provide the roller track on the frame A but this
necessitates a long roller track a portion of which in a machine for writing on
sheets of brief size projects to a considerable extent beyond the sides of the
frame A; to avoid this the arrangement according to this invention is reversed by
mounting the rollers A³ upon the frame A and providing the roller track C¹ upon
the lower part of the paper carriage C.
D is the platen whose spindle D¹ is mounted so as to rotate in open bearings (³
in the paper carriage in the usual manner being retained therein by spring
controlled hooks or catches E which may be turned back against the action of their
springs El when it is desired to remove the platen D from the carriage C.
Care bearings preferably formed in one with the paper carriage C and in which
are supported shafts F¹ on which the paper guides or roller-carrying-plates Fare
pivotted by means of their ears or lugs F. The upper part of each plate F is
curved as shown in Figure 4 so that its upper edge F may be close to but not in
contact with the platen D, the lower end of said plate being bent outwards
(towards the front of the machine) and acted upon by one or more springs F
which tend to press the edges F' nearer to the platen D; the extent to which the
lower end may be forced outwards by the springs F is adjustable by means of a
screw F which passes through a slot in plate F and may be screwed more or less
into the framing of the carriage C.

page_text: On the outer ends of each of the shafts F¹ are loosely mounted rollers G which
are retained thereon by nuts F and G' are similar rollers of somewhat smaller
diameter loosely mounted on the outer ends of shafts G supported in lugs F
formed on the upper part of the plates F, each roller G' being retained on its
shaft by means of a nut F. G³ are rollers retained by nuts on shafts G rigidly
secured, as by screws G³, Fig. 2, to the paper carriage framing at the underside of
the platen D.
•H are indiarubber or equivalent bands one. encircling each group of three
rollers G G and G³ and prevented from moving sidewise on said rollers either by
the rollers G being of smaller diameter at their ends than at their middle as shown
in the drawings, like ordinary belt pulleys, or by means of the bands H being each
formed with one or more beads adapted to engage with one or more annular
grooves in the rollers G G¹ G' or by said beads, fitting over the ends of the
rollers.
Each band H fits tightly around its appropriate set of rollers G G¹ G when the
platen D is not in the machine so that when the platen is placed in position, the
portion of said band extending from the roller G to G₁ exerts considerable
pressure against the platen and serves to securely hold the paper introduced
between the platen D and the bands. An important feature in connection with this
device is that the bands H are, by the action of the springs F and through the
medium of the rollers G¹ pressed firmly against the platen D close to the line of
writing of the machine so that the paper may be firmly held while the writing is
being done close to the bottom of the sheet without fear of its shifting its position;
the advantage of this will be readily recognized when it is explained that in other
machines the paper must generally be held straight by hand when the writing is
done near the bottom of the sheet.
I is the usual toothed or ratchet wheel secured on the platen spindle D' and J the
spring-controlled pawl pivotted to one side of the lever J' for engaging therewith
for rotating the platen for line-spacing. J'J' is the hand lever for operating the
lever J and pawl J; hitherto it has been customary to connect the arm J. of
lever J J with lever J1 by means of a link but according to this invention the
link is dispensed with and the end of arm J³ is arranged to engage directly with
the lever J¹ whose rear end as shown in Figure 3, is forked at J for this purpose.
J is a projection on the lever J' for abutting against the gauge L as hereinafter.
described.
K is the spring-controlled pawl which by its projection K¹ (Figure 6) engaging
with the teeth of wheel I in the usual manner holds the platen in position (prevents
it from rotating) during the writing operation, but yields when power is applied to
the lever JJ or milled head or bell D' for rotating the platen. K³ is the spring
which tends always to force the pawl into engagement with wheel I.
L is a preferably hexagonal block or gauge conveniently screwed as by a
nipple L' Figure 5 to the outer side of the pawl K or it may be otherwise con-
nected to the pawl so as to be capable of being rotated independently of it.
The block or gauge L is provided with a central longitudinal hole for receiving
a rod or plunger L' capable of moving longitudinally therein but prevented from
escaping from said hole by means of a screw L' engaging with a reduced part of
the plunger L' as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5; the head of the screw L'
projects outwards from the surface of the block or gauge L and serves as a stop for
limiting the movement (the minimum movement) of the lever J¹ as hereinafter
described and a groove L in one of the faces of the gauge L serves by receiving
the before-mentioned projection J' for limiting the movement of the lever J¹ when
it is to move through its longest or maximum distance. The plunger L' at one end
is preferably pointed as shown in Figure 5 and at the other end provided with a
head La spring L' encircling the plunger and exerting its pressure against the
outer end of the gauge L and the plunger head L' so as to tend always to push the
latter away from the former into the position in which it is shown in the drawings.

page_text: L' is a stop secured in the gauge to prevent its being unscrewed too far from the
pawl K, by abutting against the lever J' or other convenient part.
The gauge L on the three sides respectively opposite those by which the
amplitude of the movement of the lever J' is restricted are marked with the
numbers 1, 2 and 3. to indicate the number of lines the platen will be turned by.
lever JJ when the gauge is in either of its three adjusted positions; thus
when L'is turned into the path of the before mentioned projection J' the number 1
is uppermost, indicating that the platen D at each operation of lever J J³ will be
rotated a one-line space the pawl J moving the wheel I one tooth at each stroke;
when the face L is turned into the path of J' the number 2 is uppermost the
platen D then being rotated a two-line space at each operation of lever J J³ the
pawl J moving the wheel I two teeth at each stroke, and when the groove L' is
presented towards the lever J' the number 3 will be uppermost and the platen will
be rotated a three-line space at each operation of the lever J2 J', the pawl J then
moving the wheel I onward to the extent of three teeth at each stroke.
L8, Figure 5, is a plunger located in a cylindrical recess in the gauge L and
acted upon at one end by a spring L' shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 and at its
opposite end, which is preferably slightly rounded, adapted to engage with either
of the three holes K³ (whose ends adjacent to the gauge L are conveniently
countersunk) with sufficient frictional resistance to hold the gauge L in either of
its three adjusted positions and at the same time admit of its being readily turned
by hand from one position to another, the spring L' yielding sufficiently for this
purpose.
M is the paper table which at its back part is horizontal, at a more forward part,
(at the ends whereof it is secured as by screws M¹ to the paper carriage D) slopes
down to the underside of the platen and at its most forward part where it extends
beneath the platen D is again horizontal and recessed so as to accommodate the
before-mentioned rollers G and bands H. To the underside of the back part of
the paper table M are pivotted one or more arms M' (two are shown in the
drawings) which may either be folded under M as when out of use (as indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in full lines in Figure 4) or may be extended
as shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 3 so as to provide an extended support
for the paper, holding it horizontal so that all the writing thereon may always be
within view.
"
In former " Bar-lock type-writing machines the paper-scale N or the
supporting-bar thereof had one or more rollers mounted on it for bearing on
the paper and was held down in its operative position by a helical spring at
each end; in this improved machine these rollers are dispensed with and a single
plate spring N¹ acting on the heel of one of the arms N' is found sufficient for all
purposes.
When the plunger L' is pushed inwards towards the platen D its pointed end
and force the pawl K
causes it to pass to the underside of the adjacent hook
downwards so that its projection K¹ is disengaged from the wheel I after which the
platen D by means of the milled head or bell D' may be rotated smoothly to any
fractional extent, the plunger L' being retained in this last mentioned position by
the pressure of the spring K' which tends to bind it between the wall of the
nipple L and the hook E; it may be released from this position by merely
pressing L downwards when its spring L'immediately withdraws it into L L'.
The upper edges F³ of plates F serve for adjusting the paper in the machine said
edge being preferably in such position that if a line on the paper be adjusted to it
when the pawl K K' is properly in engagement with the wheel I and the platen be
rotated a one-line space the line will be brought into proper position to receive the
writing thereon.
The before described apparatus may be modified without departing from the
spirit of the invention; for example the gauge L may be arranged for restricting
the rotation of the platen for more or less than three different line spaces. Though

page_text: the location of the plunger L' is considered to be most convenient in the position in
which it is shown in the drawings it will be understood that instead of passing
through the gauge L it may be fitted in any other suitable part of the pawl K and
its pointed end arranged to engage with any surface or projection other than the
underside of the adjacent catch E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a type-writing machine the combination with a rotatable platen of one or
more spring-controlled pivotted plates such as F substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a type-writing machine the combination with a rotatable platen of one or
more spring-controlled pivotted plates such as F each carrying one or more rollers
such as G substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a type-writing machine the combination with a rotatable platen and wheel
such as I of one or more paper-guiding plates whose upper edges are at such
distance from the printing line (a line passing through the printing point parallel
with the axis of the pluten) that a particular part of the paper adjusted to them
will be moved to the said line when the platen is rotated to the extent of one or
more teeth of the wheel I substantially as described.
4. In a type-writing machine the combination with a rotatable platen of one or
more spring-controlled pivotted plates such as F and one or more sets of rollers
such as G G¹ G' each set encircled by a band such as H substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a type-writing machine the combination with a rotatable platen and one or
more spring-controlled plates such as F of one or more adjustable stops such as F'
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a type-writing machine preventing the paper-feeding bands from lateral
displacement by the employment of rollers of different diameters at different parts
of their length substantially as described.
7. In a type-writing machine a paper-feeding band having one or more beads or
ribs for engaging with one or more of the rollers around which it passes for securing
it against edgewise displacement.
8. In a type-writing machine the combination with a rotatable platen of one or
more sets of three rollers such as G G G³ two being laterally-immovable and the
third laterally-movable towards and from the platen substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a type-writing machine the combination with the platen wheel I of a spring-
controlled pawl J lever such as J J and hand lever such as J2 J³ directly
connected together substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
10. In the line-spacing mechanism of a type-writing machine the employment in
combination with a pawl-carrying lever such as J₁ of a pivotted block or gauge
such as L substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. In the line-spacing mechanism of a type-writing machine the combination
with a pawl-carrying lever having a projection such as J' of a pivotted block or
gauge such as L having parts or faces such as L L L presentable towards the
projection J at different distances from the axis of the pivot of the gauge
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. In the line-spacing mechanism of a type-writing machine the combination
with a pivotted block or gauge such as L of an engaging device such as L* L* K*
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
13. In a type-writing machine the combination with a platen wheel and pawl
such as I and K K' of a spring controlled plunger such as L' substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 14. In a type-writing machine the combination with the paper table of one or
more arms such as M' pivotted thereto substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of December 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT.
Agents for the Applicant.