Patent GB-189922542-A (GB)
Title: A Method and Machine for Writing in Cipher.
Inventor: DUDLEY GEORGE WILSON
Filed: 1899-11-11
Granted: 1900-11-10
Abstract: 22,542. Dudley, G. W. Nov. 11. Type-writers.-Relates to a machine for writing in cipher and for translating therefrom. Fig. 3 shows the machine in sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 in sectional plan. Four precisely similar typerings 2 are secured by a pin 3 in " staggered " relation to one another, the order in which the type are arranged on the central vertical line which normally faces the rubber band or platen 99 constituting the key to the cipher. The type-wheel 1 so constituted is carried by a sleeve a adapted to slide on a hollow shaft 9, with which it is connected by a finger 11 entering a for 10. To the shaft 9 is secured a notched disc 15, Fig. 2, with which engage pins carried by two horizontal levers pivoted at 17. With these levers are rigidly - connected arms or plates, in front of which are the downwardly - extending rear vertical arms 20<a> of the key levers 20. The depression of a key lever causes a movement of one of the arms 19 and the consequent rotation of the type-wheel, the accurate positioning of which is determined by the depression of one of the spring-controlled pins 22, Fig. 3, into the path of the arm 21 carried by the shaft 9. The impression is made by the action of a hammer 13 connected by an arm 25 to a rock shaft 26. The rock shaft 26 is actuated by a rod 30, arm 31, Fig. 2, and rock shaft 32, which is turned by the spring barrel 46 whenever the shaft 32 is released by the movement of the escapement-pawl of the carriage-feed escapement-wheel 38. The hammer is thus operated by the depression of the spacebar 76 as well as by the character keys, an impression being made from the type normally facing the platen when the spice-bar is depressed. The escapement pawl is pivoted to a lever loosely carried on the shaft of the escapement-wheel and provided with a tail-piece 36', Fig. 3, into the path of which can be lifted an arm 87<1> operated by a special space-key 82, which serves therefore to feed the carriage without actuating the hammer 13. The escapement mechanism is actuated by a lever 43, secured to a rock-shaft which carries also the universal space frame 45. The escapement-wheel has a ratchet connection with the pinion 55 which engages with the carriage feed-rack 56. The machine is designed so as to bring the four type-rings 2 into action successively at regularly-recurring intervals, so that each character is represented in the cipher by a different character depending on the typering which happens to be in use at the moment it is printed. The periodical raising and lowering of the type-wheel 1 is effected by connecting the sleeve a to a rod 56<1> resting on a lever 57 secured to a rock shaft 58, which bears at its left-hand end an arm 60 linked to a lever 59. The lever 59 has stepped shoulders at its rear end, adapted to rest on catches 63 pressed laterally by springs so that, as the pins 66 on the drum 67 successively engage with and lift the lever 59, the catches 63 successively take position beneath the stepped shoulders. When the lever 59, and consequently the type-wheel, has reached its highest point, the pins 66<a> come into play, and successively press back the catches 63 so that the type-wheel is again lowered. The relative position of the pins 66, 66<a> determines the time during which each type-ring is in use. The drum 67 is driven by toothed gearing from the spring drum 57 which drives the carriage. The paper-carriage comprises the rack-bar 56, uprights 88, pivoted and spring-pressed arm 90 carrying the paper roll 91, and spring-pressed arms 93 carrying the paper roll. The paper-roll frame can be swung back on the rod 89 to inspect the writing. The paper-roll frame is somewhat shorter than the distance between the uprights 88 of the carriage, and would be free to slide on the rod 89 relatively to the carriage but for the engagement with a rack 107 of the arm 106 of a locking dog on the rod 104. The locking-dog can be actuated by raising the link 111 so as to engage the portion 103 with a rack 101 on the machine frame and release the arm 106 from the rack 107. The paper-roll frame is then absolutely locked against movement, while the carriage is still free to move. When translating a message the arm 116 is moved down so as to lock the pin 114, the link 111 being by this means positively connected with the special space-key 82. Whenever a space occurs in the cipher message the special space-key is depressed, with the result that, although the carriage and its associated mechanism move in the usual way, the space is eliminated by the temporary locking of the paper-roll frame. The spaces in the cipher message are produced irregularly by the occasional depression of the special space-key as described above, and also at periodic intervals by the omission of teeth from the escapement-wheel so that the carriage-feed is occasionally twice the normal amount. When translating the message a non-mutilated escapement-wheel is locked to the other one, and the carriage-feed is rendered uniform, the spaces being eliminated as above described.