Patent GB-185171-A (GB)
Title: Electric coding machine
IPC: G09C3/00
Filed: 1921-05-23
Abstract: 185,171. Hebern, E. H. May 23, 1921. Electric machines for coding and decoding; keyboard operators. - In coding-apparatus of the kind in which a coding- machine is electrically connected to a typewriter through a movable intermediate contact-making device located between stationary members carrying the ends of the circuits from the machines, the contacts on both stationary members are arranged in the same fortuitous order, and in the movable member are arranged in complementary pairs, so that for the same initial setting the coding- machine can be used both for coding and decoding. A code-book for use with the apparatus, based on the above complementary arrangement, comprises four-letter code groups which are each coded into three letters, the first and second letters of a fourletter group being a complementary pair, and the first of the three letters being one of a complementary pair. Each group of code letters is coded separately with its particular initial setting of the code-wheel. The keylevers 7 of the coding- machine are pivoted on a shaft 9 and are held up by springs 10 passing around projections 11 and through the shaft 9. The throw of the key-levers can be adjusted by turning a slotted arm 13<1> on the shaft 9 and locking it by the screw 15. When the keys are depressed contacts 17 on their rear ends make circuit from a source of supply through contacts 18 carried by an insulated angle-bar 19. From thence the current flows by wires 26 to contacts on one of the stationary members of the coding - machine, through the movable code-wheel 59 and leads 23 to solenoids 28 which operate the keylevers 30 of the typewriter. Before any pair of contacts 17, 18 is closed, the main contacts 48, 49 are closed in the following manner. A channel member 73 mounted on the shaft 9 rests on all the key-levers 7 and is provided with an arm 74 connected at 75 to a plate 72, which when a key-lever 7 is depressed moves forward and pushes the plunger 45 carrying the contact 48 into engagement with the contact 49. The plate 72 is then lifted and the main contacts opened by the key-levers 30 engaging a yoke 36<1> secured to a shaft 37 carrying an arm 38, which operates a rod 39 depending from a hanger 41 carried by a rocking lever 42, from which a hanger 43 provided with an extension 44 engages the plate 72. In this operation the main contacts are opened before the key contacts, and the movement of the rocking lever 42 also withdraws the dog 120 from the ratchet-wheel 90 allowing it and the code-wheel to rotate one step under the pull of a weight 52 located under the table of the coding- machine. In this way sparking throughout the contacts 17, 18 and code-wheel contacts is eliminated and can only take place at the main contacts. When pressure on the key-levers 7 is released the plate 72 drops and moves rearwardly just clearing the plunger 45, the rubbing- points of those elements being of hardened steel. The wires of each fortuitous series of stationary contacts are led to lugs 97 embedded in insulating-discs 98 located within each shell 86, 87. Spring conductors 99 from each lug bear against series of balls 27, 77 located in holes in the discs 98, blocks of insulating- material 102 carried by the spring conductors forcing the conductors against the balls by spring pressed plungers 101. The shell 87 is tightened against the code-wheel by nuts 117, 118 and the code-wheel can be readily detached by drawing the shaft 81 to the left until shoulders 82, 83 abut, when the code-wheel drops on to a pillow 84. The pairs of connections through the code-wheel consist of two series of flat-headed screws 79 engaging contact plates 109 to which the wires are connected. Two or more codewheels working together may be included in the apparatus or they may be substituted seriatim with different connections in each. Space-key actions.-For spacing the code obtained into groups of five letters, an adjustable cam 124 geared to wheels 96, 122 has four depressions 126 which are engaged by a wheel 127 carried on a spring-controlled arm 128, which is pivoted at one end of a shaft 129 having at its other end an arm 131 extending over the ordinary spacing-lever of the typewriter, so that the spacing-lever operates after each group. Instead of printing the code horizontally it may be printed vertically as shown in Fig. 7, where a strip of paper is fed around a roller 146 operated by the dog 62 pivoted on an extension of the hanger 43.