An Improvement in Type Writers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1895
An Improvement in Type Writers.
I, ALFRED ASHBY, of Ashdene, Argyll Road, Reading, in the County of Berks,
Bachelor of Medicine, 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
aud by the following statement :—
In the Specification to my Patent No. 19197 of 1893 I have described electrical
apparatus for giving an alarm when the sheet of paper used in a type writer has
nearly ended so that the operator may know when it is necessary to remove the
sheet and supply a fresh sheet. For the apparatus described in these Specifica-
Lions it is necessary to fix a strip of conducting material around one or both of the
rollers between which the paper passes, the apparatus being so arranged that
electrical contact is made when the edge of the paper passes a certain part of the
conducting strip and thus a circuit of a battery and bell is closed.
My present invention relates to a modification of this apparatus such that the
conducting material on the roller or rollers is dispensed with, and that the alarm
apparatus can be at once clamped or otherwise fixed on the frame of a type writer,
which requires no special provision for bringing it into operation, as I shall
describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an end view partly in section and Fig. 2 is a part plan of a known form
of type writer with apparatus according to my invention applied to it.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the spindle
of the alarm apparatus.
Fig. 5 is an end view shewing a modification.
On a column A which is clamped or otherwise fixed on the end frame B of the
type writer is mounted a frame Charing two parallel arms in which are holes
forming bearings for a spindle D made of insulating material such for instance as
ebouite. On one of the arms C is pivotted a lever E one arm of which carries an
adjustable screw e the other arm bends round its point engaging at R' in a notch
of the spindle D. On the spindle D is held by a setting screw between the arms C
a boss F having a notch to receive the end of a screw ƒ by which is fixed on the
frame C a spring G that bears against a pin on the lever E.
On the spindle D is fixed a boss d through which and through a notch at the
end of D pass two of the limbs of a bent wire H having a flattened end
immediately over a metal strip I which is fixed on a bracket i projecting from the
frame C. The paper P passes between the strip I and the end of the wire H.
A battery Q and bell R being arranged in circuit with the end of the boss d and
a stud a projecting from the base of A as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2 the
apparatus operates as follows. M being the pawl which, acting on the ratchet
wheel N of the paper roller advances the paper the space of a line, every time that
this pawl acts it strikes the head of the screw e thus moving the lever E and
causing the spindle D to turn partly round so that the wire h is moved to the
strip 1. So long as there is paper between h and I no electrical contact is made,
but when the edge of the paper P passes beyond, then h makes contact with I,
closing the circuit of the battery and bell which sounds informing the operator
that the edge of the paper has nearly reached the position where printing takes
place. As the pawl M retreats the spring G causes the spindle D to turn back as
ar as is permitted by the slot in which the screw f engages, bringing the parts to

page_text: the position shewn in Fig. 1, h being then out of contact with 1. The bent wire H
may he raised or lowered so as to bring to a higher or lower position according
as it is desired to have a wider or narrower terminal margin of the paper.
As shewn in Fig. 5 the conducting strip I instead of being fixed behind his fixed
in front of it between it and the paper roller, the paper P still passing between h
and I and preventing electrical contact until its edge passes the end of h.
Although in what precedes I have described a bell as the alarm which is to
inform the operator that the margin of the paper is reached, obviously any other
known electrical alarm audible or visible may be employed.
As shewn in the drawings the paper roller is in its farthest back position. When
it is drawn forward to its position for another case of type, the strip I being
supported from the sliding frame B moves forward with it, so that its position
relatively to remains unchanged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
In combination with a type writer, a voltaic battery and alarm connected in
circuit with a strip of metal fixed on the type writer and with an insulated wire
which is adapted to be moved towards the strip at every advance movement of the
paper thus making contact with the strip when the edge of the paper has passed
it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.