Year: 1886

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which
has been communicated to me from abroad by the "Writing Telegraph Company"
(Incorporated) of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
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 improvements in autographic telegraphs.
The objects of my invention are first, to secure greater accuracy in the
reproduction of the writing or matter traced by the stylus of the operator, so that
the result may be, as nearly as possible a fac-simile of the original matter traced;
second, to secure greater speed; and third, to simplify the several parts of the
apparatus.
I accomplish these objects by the combination, arrangement and construction of
elements hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of a transmitting and receiving
apparatus embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view partly in horizontal cross section on lines x-x and y-y
of Figure 1, and
Figure 3 illustrates a modification of the transmitting apparatus.
In my present invention I alter the strength of the current by varying the
pressure on a series of carbon disks included in the circuit and by this method the
strength of the current is gradually changed and the result is therefore a perfect
reproduction.
The transmitting instrument embraces in its construction two cylinders, casings,
or holders A, A', containing each a number of carbon disks C, Ct. Said casings or
holders may be constructed of ebonite, or other non-conducting material, or of
metal lined with an insulating substance. Instead of carbon disks powdered
carbon may be used. In front of the open end of each case or holder a lever
as D, D¹, is pivoted, a projection as d, d', of which rests in contact with or engages
a metal plate or follower, as E, E', covering the series or piles of carbon disks.

page_text: Each holder carries a platina or other metal plate. G in its bottom connected with
a battery as H, H¹. The electro-magnets of the receiving instrument are connected
with the said batteries by conductors extending to the standards or bearings of the
levers D, D¹
Two standards I, I, mounted on the base plate carry pivoted guides K, K¹, in
which rods L, L¹, freely slide. Said sliding rods are pivoted at their inner ends to
a sleeve M, in which the stylus or sending tracer N, is inserted while their outer
ends are connected by spiral springs P, P¹, with the levers D, D¹.
The dotted square on the table indicates the field within which the movements
of the tracer are preferably confined though the same may be caused to travel out-
side of the same if desired. The tracer or stylus N in this case is merely any
convenient holder for the hand and may or may not be provided with a marking
point. For convenience the point of the stylus or holder rests on the base plate or
table which may be provided within the dotted square with a metal or other hard
and smooth surface. The stylus is grasped by the hand of the operator and the.
letters, marks, or characters outlined within the said square. Each character may
be separately outlined in the same field, or two or three characters may be outlined
side by side, that is to say, in different fields. If desired, a strip of paper may be
caused to pass under the stylus, and the latter provided with a working point so
that the operator may see the characters traced by him, but this while it may be
considered a convenience is not essential. The stylus though useful may be
dispensed with for the operator may grasp the sleeve M instead, and move his
hand as required to trace the outline of the letters or characters to be written
by the receiving instrument. In fact all that is essential to do is to impart the
necessary movements to the point where the two sliding rods would intersect each
other, if extended.
The effect of the movements given to this point is (by means of the sliding rods,
spiral springs and levers) to increase or decrease the pressure on the pile of carbon
disks in the holders A, A', thereby varying the resistance of the circuits and in
consequence the strength of the currents.
I do not desire to limit myself to the use of carbon disks, or carbon powder as
other material or substances may be used, though carbon is preferred. My
invention consists broadly in varying the resistance of the circuit in such a
manner as to secure a gradual alteration of current strength, an I accomplish
this by varying the pressure on an appropriate substance or material included in
the circuit. This variation of pressure may be secured by mechanical means, as
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or by electro-magnetic means, or magnetic means,
as illustrated in Figure 3. In this modification the sliding rod is made a per-
manent magnet, as 50, which is connected by a rod 51 to the sleeve, by a pivot
as in Figure 1. The lever D' pressing on the carbon disks is provided with an
armature 52 arranged opposite one end of the permanent magnet. As the sliding
permanent magnet is moved nearer to or farther from the armature 52, the greater
or less will be the magnetic force acting on said armature, and the greater or less
will be the pressure exerted by the lever on the carbon disks.
Referring to the receiving instruments the numbers 7 and 8 indicate standards
or supports for armatures 9 and 10. The armature 9 is pivoted to standard 7 so as
to swing across the ribbon of paper on which the writing is to appear, and is made
comparatively short and light. The armature 10 is preferably universally pivoted
to standard 8 so as to swing not only lengthwise of the paper but also to be capable
of moving to some extent at right angles thereto. Both of these armatures are
constructed of soft iron and are polarized by induction from the permanently
magnetized standards. The electro-magnets 14 and 15 for said armatures are
arranged to face the ends of the same and are preferably placed below the table so
as to be out of sight. The armature 10 for example is arranged to swing from one
to the other pole of its electro-magnet and substantially parallel to the face thereof.
It is attracted by the north and repelled by the south poles of said magnet and is
held normally in the inclined position shown by the adjustable spring 16 connected

page_text: by a wire or thread with the marking stylus or pencil 17 and from thence by
connecting thread 18 with armature 10. This armature is short and light, is
rapidly moved about and has a long range of movement. The same is true of
armature 9 to which the marking implement 17 is pivoted. Said armature is held
normally in a rearwardly inclined position by means of the adjustable spring 19
(see Figure 2).
In moving the stylus N in a straight line to the right the pressure on the disks
in holder A is increased by reason of the greater tension of spiral spring P, thus
decreasing the resistance of the circuit and in consequence increasing the strength
of the current energizing the electro-magnet 15 of the receiver. The greater
strength of the current causes the armature 10 to be more strongly attracted by
the north pole and repelled by the south pole of the said magnet and said armature
is therefore caused to move toward the right in opposition to the force of the spring
until the two opposing forces are in equilibrium again.
A further movement to the right of the sending stylus will cause a further
movement in the same direction of the armature 10 and as said armature is
connected to the receiving stylus 17, the latter will partake of all the movements
of the former.
In moving the sending stylus in a straight line away from the operator the
tension of spring P¹ is decreased, the resistance of the circuit thereby increased and
the strength of the current energizing magnet 14 decreased. The spring 19 there-
fore pulls armature 9 and its attached armature 17 toward the standard 7 until
the armature has reached the position in which the force exerted by the magnets
on the same is exactly balanced by the opposing force exerted by said spring.
If the sending stylus is moved to trace a diagonal or curved line the strength of
the current is varied in both circuits and the receiving stylus is therefore similarly
moved.
The paper strip 20 on which the message or matter transmitted is recorded is
unwound from a roll 21, passing over guide rolls 22, 23, between feed rolls 24, 25,
and beneath the receiving stylus as illustrated. The said feed rolls are moved
through the medium of a clock work mechanism, the escapement of which is
operated by an electro-magnet and armature. The said armature is retracted by a
spring when the circuit is broken, which may be done by depressing the spring
switch 30, so as to break contact at the point 31. This spring switch is placed in
a convenient position so as to be within easy control of the operator. The move-
ments of the armature are transmitted to the escapement and the oscillations of
the latter permit the clock work mechanism to revolve the paper feed rolls.
The receiving stylus 17 is pivoted to the armature 9 so that the point of the
stylus, in its lowest position is within about one sixty-fourth (34) of an inch of
the paper, that is, near the same but not in actual contact therewith. A plate 40
of brass or other non-magnetic metal is let into the surface of the table beneath
the stylus and paper. One end of the secondary wire 41 of an induction coil is
connected with said plate while the other end thereof is connected with the metal
standard 7, carrying the armature 9, and its attached stylus 17.
The primary wire 42 includes the battery 44 and circuit breaker 43. A switch 45
is.inserted in the circuit of the primary to enable said circuit to be broken when
desired. The paper used is chemically prepared according to any of the well
known processes and in the operation of the apparatus is discolored or blackened
by the electric circuit passing between the point of the stylus and the metal plate
through the prepared paper. As the receiving stylus is moved by the armatures
over the paper the discoloration will follow the lines of movement of the same,
thus reproducing on the prepared paper the fac-simile of the matter traced by the
operator manipulating the sending tracer. In this construction the receiving
stylus is very light and small and adds very little weight to the armature so that
the latter may be quickly and easily moved and since the stylus is out of contact
with the paper the friction due to contact is eliminated,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
First. The combination with a stylus or holder moved by the hand of the
operator of a pile of carbon disks included in an electric circuit and connections
between said holder, and pile so arranged that the movements of the former may
cause a variation of pressure in said pile and in consequence a variation in the
resistance of the circuit and the strength of the current substantially as described.
Second. In the transmitting instrument of an autographic telegraph the com-
bination with a pile of carbon disks of a lever arranged to exert a pressure on the
same, a stylus or holder pivoted so as to move freely in a lateral direction and
adapted to be held and moved by the hand of the operator and connections
between said lever and holder so arranged that the movements of the stylus will
cause a variation of pressure on said pile substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a pile of carbon disks of a lever arranged to exert
a pressure on the same, a stylus or holder, and a sliding rod and spring sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with two piles of carbon disks, of a stylus or holder
pivoted to move freely in any lateral direction and adapted to be held and moved
by the hand of the operator and connections between said holder and piles so
arranged that the movements of the stylus will cause a variation of pressure on
said piles substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with two piles of carbon disks of two levers arranged to
exert a pressure on the same, a stylus or holder and connections between said levers
and holder substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination with two piles of carbon disks, of two levers arranged
to exert a pressure on the same, stylus or holder, two sliding rods connected
with said holder and two springs connecting said rods and levers substantially as
described.
Seventh. The combination with two piles of carbon disks of two levers arranged
to exert a pressure on the same, a stylus or holder, two sliding rods pivoted to said
holder and arranged to slide in pivoted bearings at substantially right angles to
each and springs connecting said rods and levers substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with the electro-magnets of the receiving instrument
of a stylus or holder moved by the hand of the operator, two piles of carbon disks,
included in the circuits with said electro-magnets and connections between said
holder and piles so arranged that the movements of the former may cause a
variation of pressure on said piles, and in consequence a variation in the resistance
of the circuits and the strength of the current substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of the receiving stylus with an electro-magnet and a
depending armature arranged with its end facing said magnet and pivoted to swing
over the same substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of the receiving stylus with an electro-magnēt and a
polarized armature pivoted to swing over and from one pole to the other of the
said electro-magnet the latter being arranged below the free end of said armature
substantially as described.
Eleventh. The combination of the receiving stylus with an electro-magnet, a
permanently magnetized standard, an armature polarized by induction from said
standard and pivoted to swing over and from one pole to the other of said electro-
magnet, the latter being arranged below the free end of said armature-substantially
as described.
Twelfth. The combination of the receiving stylus with two electro-magnets
arranged below the free ends of their armatures, two armatures pivoted to swing
at right angles to each other over said magnets and connected with the said stylus,
and retractile springs acting in opposition to the force of said magnets substantially
as described.

page_text: Thirteenth. The combination of the receiving stylus with two electro-magnets,
two polarized armatures pivoted to swing over said magnets from one pole to the
other thereof and connected with said stylus and retractile springs acting in
opposition to the force of said magnets substantially as described.
Fourteenth. The combination of the receiving stylus with two electro-magnets,
two depending armatures pivoted to swing at right angles to each other over said
magnets, one of said armatures carrying said stylus and the other connected
thereto and retractile springs acting in opposition to the force of said magnets
substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The combination of the receiving stylus with two electro-magnets,
two polarized armatures pivoted to swing over the same from one pole to the other
thereof, one of said armatures carrying said stylus and the other connected thereto
and retractile springs acting in opposition to the force of said magnets substantially
as described.
Sixteenth. The combination with an electro-magnet and armature, of the
receiving stylus connected to and moved by said armature, a conducting plate
arranged below the same and at such distance from the point thereof as to permit
the passage of chemically prepared paper between said plate and stylus without
contact of the latter with said paper and an induction coil provided with a circuit
breaker, and connected with said plate and stylus substantially as described.
Seventeenth. The combination with two electro-magnets and two armatures
arranged to swing at right angles to each other of a stylus connected with said
armatures, a conducting plate located below said stylus and at such distance there-
from that chemically prepared paper may pass between said plate and stylus
without coming in contact with the latter and an induction coil provided with a
circuit breaker, and connected with said plate and stylus substantially as described.
Eighteenth. The combination with an electro-magnet and an armature carrying
the receiving stylus and pivoted to move above the surface of chemically prepared
paper without contact with the same, of a conducting plate arranged below said
stylus and paper and an induction coil and circuit breaker substantially as
described.
Nineteenth. The combination with two electro-magnets, their armatures and
a receiving stylus connected therewith, of a conducting plate located below said
stylus, a strip of chemically prepared paper arranged to pass between said stylus
and plate and an induction coil and circuit breaker substantially as described.