Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Type-writing Machines.
I, LUTHER ADelbert Barber, of Gioton, New York State, United States
of America, Physician, 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, and more particularly to the
carriage thereof, the machine being of the type commonly known as centre
strike."
"
My object is to produce an improved mechanism for mounting the carriage upon
its traversing ways, upon or adjacent to the top-plate of the machine, concave
rollers fitting the periphery of the rod, connected together in pairs, and bearing
upon three or more sides of the rod, and a casing enclosing the rod rollers, and
forming the outer trackways for the rollers, said casing having lugs to which the
frame carrying platen is hinged; and an improved line spacing mechanism operated
by a push button, upon the front of the carriage at one end, which operates the
push and check pawls simultaneously, to release and partially rotate the platen,
and then to lock it as soon as the pressure is released upon the button.
My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation
hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereunto
annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1, is a top plan of part of the carriage and platen of a type-writing
machine.
Fig. 2, is an end elevation thereof showing the platen locked.
Fig. 3, shows in end elevation, the platen, its carriage and the pawl mechanisms
for rotating the platen for line spacing, and locking it as shifted, the parts being
in the position they occupy just as the platen is rotated the distance of the line
space and just before the push pawl is retracted.
Fig. 4, is a like view of the same parts, showing the push and locking pawls
thrown out of engagement with the rack, to permit the platen to be rotated by
hand.
Figs. 5 & 6, are details of the push pawls and locking pawl, respectively.
Fig. 7, is an elevation of part of the carriage showing the inner face of the
platen shifting bar, the line spacing mechanism for single or double spacing, and
part of the carriage shifting bar.
Fig. 8, is a rear elevation of the carriage frame, and its mounting in the track-
way around the rear rod.
Fig. 9, is a like view of the same, with part of the trackway casing broken out
to show the rollers and their action by the dotted lines.
Fig. 10, shows, respectively, a top plan and side elevation of one of the roller
carriages which carry the main carriage.
Fig. 11, is a vertical, transverse, sectional elevation of the platen, its carriage,
the carriage mounting the hinge permitting the platen to be raised and the scale
bar under the platen.
Fig. 12, is a front elevation of the front paper guide, showing the scale upon the
front rail of the platen frame.
A, is the platen mounted upon end trunnions in a rectangular frame, of which
1 is one end bar, and 2 and 3 are, respectively, the front and rear bars, the rear
bar being cylindrical, and the front bar of substantially the form in cross section.
shown in Fig. 11.

page_text: A single wheel or roller 4 is mounted below the front bar of this frame, and
travels upon the top plate of the machine.
In the rear of this frame, in posts 5, erected upon said top plate, we mount the
carriage rail 6, consisting of a rod, parallel with the rear bar of the carriage
frame and with the top plate.
This rail is enclosed on the sides, front, rear and top, by a casing 7 the inner
surface of which constitutes these trackways 8, 9, 10, and the auxiliary carriages 11
travel thereon, outwardly, and inwardly upon the rail 6.
Each carriage comprises two concaved rollers 12 and a connecting bar 13 which
carries their arbors. These carriages all stand at substantially the same angle to
the rail and together create a bearing substantially enclosing the rail as shown in
Fig. 11.
As shown in Fig. 9, we use two or more sets (of three each) of these auxiliary
carriages, and the dotted lines indicate their travel.
This casing is provided on its front face with two lugs 14, which are perforated
and fit over the rear bar of the platen frame, and constitute the hinge upon which
the carriage is raised, to permit inspection of the writing.
These lugs are provided with downward arms 15 upon which the letter-spacing
rack-bar 16 is mounted, standing vertically, (Figs. 8, 9 & 11).
Upon the rear of the platen frame I mount the apron 17.
I also secured thereon, near each end, an arm 18 in which the paper roll 19 is
journaled, and which also carries the end of the scale bar 20, which is normally
in rear of the printing line on the platen; and when the platen is lifted upon the
hinge joint, this scale is also lifted and remains in the same relation to the platen
and the printing line thereon.
This apron extends down to and meets the scale, and is provided with a longi-
tudinal slot (not shown) through which the paper roll protrudes upward, the main
body of said roll being under the apron and in the angle between it and the scale.
In this construction a narrow piece of paper, or an envelope cannot pass down
between the apron and scale or apron and roll while being introduced.
To the platen-frame bar 1 or upon the projecting ends of the bars 2 and 3, we
secure the carriage shifting handle 21 of substantially the form shown in Fig. 2,
which is integral with the end bar 1 and extends to the rear of said frame.
An upright lever 22 pivotally connected to this handle, and a push pawl com-
posed of two sections, 23 and 24 is pivotally connected to this lever. These pawl
sections are each cut away so as to create a bearing shoulder 25 on each, so that
when placed together these shoulders constitute a bearing for both and both
sections stand in the same vertical plane.
'
From the bearing, cach section is beveled outwardly substantially as shown in
Fig. 5, so that when in the position shown in Fig. 2, they stand apart, and when
in position shown in Figs. 3 & 4 are close against each other.
The inner ends of both are beveled so as to properly engage with the ratchet
on the platen, which ratchet is of the ordinary form, encircling one end of the
platen.
The push lever 26 is pivotally connected to the lever 22 and extends partly
alongside of the shifting lever toward the front, and on its outer end bar a
head 27.
•
A slot 28 and screw 29 (Fig. 7) operate to retain it in position and also the
slot regulates the extent of the throw of the lever and the push of the push pawl.
The full length of the slot is for full line spacing and when the pawl 30 is dropped
down, it closes part of the slot, and then the push lever can only be operated for
half spacing.
In Fig. 6 we show the locking pawl 31 having a point 32 to engage with the
ratchet teeth, having a wedging front face so that the platen can be rotated one
way by hand without lifting this pawl which will then soap from one tooth to
another under the tension of the spring 33, which engages with the arm 34 of the
pawl. This pawl is loosely mounted upon the rear bar 3 of the platen frame.

page_text: Thus when the push lever is pushed inward, the lever 22 will swing back, the
pawl section 23 will rotate the platen the space desired, single or double, and the
point of the other section will aid therein and will also prevent the platen from
flying over too far when a quick blow is given to the push lever.
A pawl lifter 35 consisting of a flat piece of metal, having its rear end secured
to the vertical bar 36, which is pivotally connected to the handle 21, and this bar
projects above the lifter and has its upper end beveled and provided with a hook,
substantially as shown; so that when this lifter is raised the top of the bar 36
will engage with a pin 37 on the pawl 31 and raise it out of its engagement with
the ratchet and the hook will control the extent to which it is raised, and at the
same time the outer end of the lifter has engaged with the pin 38 on the push
pawl section 23 and raised this out of its engagement, all of which leaves the
platen free to rotate in either direction, as shown in Fig. 4.
A spring 39 upon the push lever (Fig. 7) which engages with the bar 2 of the
platen frame, retracts the push lever and pawl as soon as the pressure upon the
lever is released.
The front paper finger or guide 40 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 41
mounted upon the bar 2; 42 is a set screw through the bracket which regulates
the tension of the roller 43 in the loose end of the guide, against the platen; and
44 is a tension spring secured to the guide and bearing against said bar.
The upper scale 45 is secured upon the front of the bar 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the platen, its frame and the front roller under said
frame, of a casing to which the platen frame is hinged, a trackway within said
casing, and grooved independent rollers within the casing, substantially embracing
the trackway and travelling upon it and upon the inside of the casing.
2. The combination with the platen, its frame and the front roller under said
frame, of a casing to which the platen frame is hinged, a stationary trackway
within said casing, multiple rollers bearing upon and substantially surround said
trackway, each roller having a track within said casing.
3. The combination with the stationary trackway, of multiple auxiliary
carriages within and upon which the casing travels, consisting of rollers coupled
in pairs bearing upon the trackway and inner faces of the casing, and a platen
frame hinged to said casing.
4. The combination with a platen, a frame carrying it, of a stationary trackway
in rear thereof, multiple auxiliary carriages consisting of rollers coupled together
and travelling upon and embracing said trackway, and a casing provided with
inner tracks and traversing said auxiliary carriages.
5. The combination with the push pawl, the ratchet upon the platen, of the
lever actuating the pawl provided with a slot, and an adjustable stop adapted to
Jimit the stroke of the push pawl, to vary the line spacing.
Dated this 25th day of April 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.