Patent GB-383802-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to cryptographic apparatus
IPC: A43B21/34
Filed: 1932-01-22
Abstract: 383,802. Typewriters. BEYER, P. G. G., Valby R. R. Station, Copenhagen. Jan. 22, 1932, No. 2052. [Class 100 (iv).] Machines for coding and decoding. -In a ciphering-machine having a keyboard connected to an electrically - operated recording- mechanism through transposing- mechanism for varying the relation between the keys and recording- elements comprising two commutators, the sections of which are respectively connected to the keys and the recording-elements, and a member actuated from the keyboard to alter the relative positions of the commutators, a movable element, having transposing cross connections, is interposed between the commutators and is connected to the commutator moving member so that its position is altered from time to time. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9, actuation of any key 86 of the keyboard closes a circuit from a source 90 through spring contacts 87, lead 89, and solenoid 97, and a circuit through the lead 88, plug contact 91, brush 85, ring on a rotating drum 25, members 22, 21, 20, ring on a rotating drum 26, brush 84, plug contact 92, solenoid 93, contact 94, contact 95 on the arm of the solenoid 97, and contact 96. The solenoid 93 effects the ope a ion of the type-bar 99 of the recording-mechanism, this type-bar being allowed to fall back to rest position when the circuit is broken by the sliding of the arm of the solenoid 97. In a modification, two keyboards and recording-mechanisms with corresponding connections are provided, together with a change-over switch to enable the device to be used for ciphering and deciphering. The transposing-mechanism is actuated from an arm 1 connected to the arm of the solenoid 97. The arm 1 is provided with pairs of pins 35, 36 and 37, 38, Fig. 1, adapted to move levers 2 different amounts. Pawls 4 carried by the levers 2 are in engagement with ratchet wheels on casings 3, Fig. 7, enclosing springs 5 which, in consequence, are wound up on each movement of the arm, reverse rotation of the casings 3 being normally prevented by pawls 43, 44. One end of each spring is attached to a corresponding escapement wheel 13, 14 carrying, respectively, pin-discs 11, 12. The discs 11, 12 are provided with ten and nine pins respectively which are preferably unequally spaced and cooperate with pairs of pins on a slide 8. Normally one of each pair of pins on the slide 8 engages with a pin on each disc, but on movement of the slide, the'springs 5 rotate the discs until the next pin on the discs is stopped by the second pin of each pair on the slide, return of the slide to normal position permitting the completion of the movement of the discs until the following pins on the discs are stopped by the first pins on the slide. The slide 8 is actuated by a lever 7 engaged by a pin 6 on the arm 1 near the end of its movement, and after the contacts 94, 95, 96 have been disengaged. The arm 1 and slide 8 are returned after operation by springs 31, 32. A gear wheel on the escapement wheel 13 meshes with teeth carried by an annular member 15, Fig. 2, mounted to rotate about a shaft 48, and a gear wheel on the escapement wheel 14 actuates a gear wheel 19 on an annular member 17 carried by the shaft 48. The gear wheel 19 also meshes with the large gear wheel of a change gear 18, Fig. 4, while the small gear wheel of the gear 18 drives an annular member 16. The members 15, 16, 17 are each divided into thirty sections, those of the member 17 being provided with a letter and a numeral, and those of the member 15 with a letter. Mounted on the members 15, 16, 17 are the members 20, 21, 22 formed of ebonite. The members 20, 22 are divided into thirty sections each carrying a contact element connected respectively to the corresponding ring in the drums 26, 25. The member 21 carries two sets of thirty contacts connected together arbitrarily in pairs so as to connect the sections on the two members 20, 22. Before commencing a ciphering or deciphering operation, the apparatus is set to a code symbol. A member 45, pivoted on the axis of the apparatus, is moved so that a tooth 47 thereon engages the teeth of the wheel 14 and an arm raises the pawl 44. The arm 1 is then actuated a number of times until the disc 11 brings the first of the code symbols opposite an index mark 41. The member 45 is then swung into engagement with the wheel 13, and the disc 12 is set with the second of the code symbols opposite an index mark 42. The spindle 48 is then turned to rotate the drum 25 until scales on the drums 25, 26 bring the third and fourth of the code symbols into register. The change gear 18 is then disconnected from the gear wheel 19 and rotated until the last of the code symbols, which is shown on the member 16 rotating with the gear 18, is opposite an index 81 on the gear wheel 19. In use depression of a key 86 results in the printing of a character determined by the positions of the various parts, and then adjustment of the relative positions of the parts 20, 21, 22 as a result of the movement of the bar 1. In a modification, the springs 5 are replaced by spiral springs connected to levers on the shafts of ratchet wheels driving the escapement wheels 13, 14, the levers carrying pawls for rotating the ratchet wheels and being rocked by the arm 1. The members 15, 17 may be turned separately or simultaneously in the same or opposite directions and in a regular or irregular manner. The ciphering mechanism may be detached from the apparatus for hand use.