Patent GB-214313-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for composing and/or translating cipher orcode messages
IPC: G09C3/00
Filed: 1923-01-12
Abstract: 214,313. O'Reilly, W. E. Jan. 12, 1923. Strip-controlled machines for coding and decoding; pneumatic driving-mechanism; keyboard operators; type-wheel actions.-Relates to ciphering-apparatus in which manually-operated typewriting-mechanism is employed and the cipher obtained is determined by a, perforated key-strip, the perforations in the key-strip bearing no regular relationship to the cipher characters produced. According to the invention apparatus of this kind comprises a keyboard, connections between the keyboard and the typewriting- mechanism, and mechanically, pneumatically, or electrically actuated means controlled by a perforated strip for varying these connections to determine the selection of the cipher type in relation to the keyboard. Specification .12001/15 is referred to. In one construction, Fig. 1, applied to a type-lever machine, a movable keyboard 3 slides over the key-levers 2, its position being determined by the perforated band x in conjunction with stops. The strip passes over elastically coupled rollers 8, 9 and over a driving-roller 14 provided with peripheral recesses, forming bevelled collars 15, and with studs 16 engaging marginal perforations in the strip. The roller 14 is provided at one end with ratchet teeth 29a engaged by a toothed escapement on a plate 28. When the keyboard is moved to the right for ciphering, a pawl 24 on a plate 23 engages one of the fortuitous perforations in the strip and drops behind a collar on the roller to prevent further forward movement of the keyboard. After each letter is ciphered the keyboard is returned, the plate 28 is rocked by a cam-plate 19<b>, and the roller is rotated, the pawl 24 riding over the bevelled faces of the collars 15 in the backward movement of the keyboard. The types on the type-levers may be duplicated and reversed as compared with those on the keys to enable deciphering with the apparatus. In a type-wheel construction, Fig. 9, the cipher text is determined by the normal stops 35 raised by the keylevers and also by the fortuitous perforations. The strip is mounted over rollers in a frame 37<b> and passes over a perforated plate 37, a lever 36 with spring stops 36<x> engaging the perforations. Step-by-step feed is imparted to the strip by a ratchet-wheel y and escapement operating the toothed feed-roller y'. An articulated arm 38 provided with a roller 39 is pivoted to the lever 36 and engages slots 39a in an arm 39b operated by a rock-shaft z<3>. The arm 38 is pivotally connected to an arm 40 moving over the stops 35, a second articulated arm 41 carrying a roller engaging a slot 39<c> in the arm 39b. The arms 36 and 40 are thus independently movable, the one movement being determined by the perforations and the other by the usual stops, the total movement of the type-wheel through the lever system described being the sum of the two movements. The frame 37b is pivoted at 37<c> to allow of its being swung clear of the keyboard for ordinary typing. The ciphering-mechanism may be distinct from the typewriter and in one construction, Fig. 19, using Bowden wines, pivoted levers 42 are connected pivotally with transverse levers 43 carrying keys 44, the levers 43 being pivotally connected with levers 43a freely mounted upon a shaft 45. Below the levers 43 and at right-angles thereto are bars 50 provided with spring pins 50<a>. Below the bars 50 are located bars 52 connected to levers 53 operating Bowden wires connected to the type-levers. The perforated strip is fed over a perforated plate 59, the perforations being engaged by forward projections on levers 57, the lever engaged then tilting and raising its rearward end, allowing one of the bars 50 to shoot forward under the action of a spring 50b, thus positioning a spring pin 50<a> between the levers 43, 52. The bars 50 are returned by a universal bars 61 and the strip is fed by a pawl and ratchet also operated from the universal bar. In another construction the spring pins complete an electric circuit through solenoids operating the key-levers, and in another construction pneumatic power is employed to position the ciphering-mechanism between the manually-operated key-levers and the typewriter.