Improvements in the Transmitting and Receiving Apparatus of Type Printing Telegraphs.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in the Transmitting and Receiving Apparatus of
Type Printing Telegraphs.
We ARTHUR LE NEVE FOSTER of 65 Cadogan Square, Chelsea, in the county of
Middlesex, Engineer, and WALTER SAMUEL STELJES of 60 Queen Victoria Street in
the City of London, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention for Improvements in the transmitting and receiving apparatus of
type printing telegraphs relates to improvements on the receiving instrument described
in the specifications filed by Walter Samuel Steljes in connection with his application
for a patent, and numbered 16879 of 1886; and to improvements in transmitting
apparatus for actuating the receiving instrument.
Our invention has for its object to reduce the number of reversals of current
required for each message, and consequently, the time required to transmit each
message and to provide improved means for supplying and distributing the ink and
consists in providing each receiving instrument with two type wheels on which the
different symbols to be signalled are arranged, and either of which can readily be
arranged by the operator at the transmitting instrument to print any symbol on it on
to the traversing tape, which is sufficiently wide to pass under both wheels at the same
time; and in causing a band impregnated with any suitable ink to traverse between
the type wheels and the traversing tape, so that, when the tape is pressed on to the
type it will receive an inked impression; and in causing the unison and spacing key
of the transmitting instrument when depressed to complete a local electric circuit
containing the coils of an electro-magnet, which then operates to short circuit a resist
ance in the line wire and to send an increased current into the line to effect the
spacing and unison as described in the abovementioned specifications.
In the accompanying five sheets of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation
of a receiving instrument constructed according to our invention, and Fig. 2 a plan,
Fig. 3 a sectional elevation, Fig. 4 a sectional plan, Fig. 5 a transverse sectional eleva-
tion, and Fig. 6 a backside elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a plan and Fig. 8 a
sectional elevation of the transmitting instrument constructed according to our
invention: and Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electrical connections of the transmitter.

page_text: The receiving instrument comprises a train of clock-work actuated by means of a
weight or other suitable means. The arbour 1 of the escape wheel 2 projects outside
the frame 3 of the instrument, and has fixed on the projecting part two type wheels 45
usually one being used as shown for letters and the other for figures. The impression
lever 6 is furnished with a movable printing block 7 free to move on a pin or stud S
rigidly fixed to the impression lever. The printing block 7 is furnished with two
limbs 9 and 10, one under each of the type wheels and at a slight angle to one another.
It will thus be seen that when the limb 9 is standing in a vertical position, and is
raised by the impression lever, it forces the paper against the type wheel 4 and so
prints on the paper tape a character from that, type wheel only, as the other limb 10
would then be clear of its wheel; but that if now the printing block be first slightly
turned so as to bring the limb 10 vertical, then the printing would be done by the type
wheel 5. In order to alter the position of the printing block it has pivotted on the
side facing the impression lever two pins 11 and 12 with their upper ends working
through two holes in a projection 13 upon the impression lever. A projecting pin 14
fixed upon the arbour of the type wheel when opposite either of the free ends of the
pins 11 and 12 will, on the impression lever being raised, cause that pin 11 or 12
opposite to it to be pressed down and slightly rotate the printing block, so as to bring
the corresponding limb 9 or 10 into a vertical position under its type wheel. On the
lower face of the movable printing block 7 is a projecting stud 15 which, by means of
the locking spring 16 attached to the impression lever holds the printing block in
whichever position it is made to take up. A pin stop 17 fixed in the impression lever
at the back of the printing block limits its movement.
The impression magnet 18 arranged between the frames of the instrument has its
armature 19 connected to the axis 20 on which the impression lever is fixed. The
impression magnet when influenced by the line current attracts its armature and
causes that limb 9 or 10 which is then vertical, to force the paper tape against its
type wheel, and thus print on the tape the letter or symbol then opposite to it.
A pawl 21 on the end of the impression lever engages with a ratchet wheel 22 fixed
to the roller 23 over which the paper passes. A jockey roller 24 is pressed by means
of a spring 25 on the top of the paper roller 23, and thus grips the paper tape, so
that, at every return movement of the impression lever the paper roller is made to
rotate and so draw the paper tape forward: A click 26 fixed to the frame of the
instrument prevents the roller from turning back. An adjustable tension spring 27
fixed to the impression lever effects the return movement of the impression lever to
actuate the paper roller.
An endless band of inking ribbon 28 is moved continuously between the type wheels
and paper tape by means of a pulley 29 geared into one of the wheels of the clock-
work train. After passing over the pulley 29 the inking ribbon is led over the roller 30,
down round the tension pulley 31, up over the roller 32; and under the type wheels
to the pulley 29, thus forming a continuous band which is advanced slowly under the
type wheels at every movement of the train. The inking ribbon is of silk or other
suitable material, and is impregnated with any of the ordinary descriptions of ink such
as are used for manifold writing. By the use of this arrangement in the place of au
inking roller running on the type wheel the inking requires less frequent attention;
and the friction caused by the ink roller running on the type wheel is obviated and
thus renders the instrument less liable to error.
The escapement and unison arrangements are the same as described in the before-
mentioned specifications.
- In the transmitting instrument the keys are arranged on a circular keyboard 33
round a dial 34 upon which are marked the various symbols. Each key, excepting
the three keys hereinafter described, corresponds to a symbol on each type wheel of
the receiving instrument, and thus represents two symbols. The three keys above-
referred to are, two transposing keys 35 36 for turning the movable printing block so
as to print from the required type wheel, and the third 37, for effecting the unison
spacing when printing from either type wlieel.
The shaft 38 driven from any suitable motor by means of a pulley 29 drives, by

page_text: means of the bevel wheel 40 the heve: wheel 41 running loose upon a vertical shaft 42
passing through the centre of the instrument. To the shaft 42 is attached an arm 43
carrying a spring pawl that engages with a ratchet wheel 44 rigidly secured to the
bevel wheel 41. The shafi 42 carries on its upper end a pointer 45 indicating on a
dial below. A horizontal shaft 46 driven from the lower extremity of the shaft 42
by the bevel wheels 47 48 has mounted on it the commutators 49 50, and contact
maker 51. The contact springs are rigidly fixed to an insulated block 52, upon which
are also the binding screws for making the necessary electrical connections. The
keys, disengaging click, and general arrangement of key board, are similar to the
well known Wheetstone's A B C communicator.
The
Upon the driving shaft 38 being rotated the shaft 42 moves until such time as one
of the keys is depressed, when the lower end of the key is forced into the path of the
arm 43 and also disengages the pawl from the ratchet wheel 44, thus bringing the shafts
42 and 46 to rest, the pointer 45 on the shaft 42 being arranged to point to the key
that is depressed. Upon the depression of a second key the first key is forced up and
allows the pawl on the arm 43 to again engage with one of the teeth of the ratchet
wheel 44, and again carry the arm round until again stopped by the last key depressed.
The shaft 46 driven by the vertical shaft 42 of the transmitter in such a manner,
that for each revolution of the pointer the spindle 46 makes one revolution.
Each com-
mutator is divided into the same number of segments as there are keys on the
transmitter. Each of the commutators 49 and 50 comprises, two separate metal discs
with projecting segments insulated from one another and arranged in such a manner
that they form the alternate segments of the commutators. A separate contact
spring 53 or 54 bears on each commutator. The two inside metal discs of the com-
mutators, and thus the corresponding segments are in metallic contact with the spindle 46,
whilst the outside discs are insulated from it and are connected respectively to
the insulated sleeves 55 56 upon which bear two contact springs 57 58. These contact
springs are in metallic connection and are joined to one pole of a line battery the other
pole of the battery being in connection with the spindle 46.
The discs are so
arranged that the corresponding segments on each are connected, the one to the
spindle 46 and the other to the contact springs 57 58 through the sleeve 55 56.
spring 53 is connected with the earth E through the key 59 and resistance R, and
the spring 54 is joined to the line and so through the receiving instrument I I to
earth E. It will be seen that by this means the contact spring 53 is during the
revolution of the shaft 46 alternately connected to the opposite poles of the line
battery B, and at the same time, the spring 54 is connected to the opposite pole of the
battery to the spring 53. A number of reversals of the current corresponding to
the number of segments on each commutator is thus sent in to the line. These currents
in passing through the coils of the escapement magnets of the receiving instruments
alternately reverse their polarities, and thus cause theni to actuate the receiving instru-
ments by a step by step movement in the ordinary manner, and as described in the
above-mentioned specifications. The type wheels of the receiving instruments are
thus rotated synchronously with the pointer of the transmitter, and stop at the
corresponding letter or symbol to that indicated by the pointer of the transmitter, and
the commutators being also stopped, a current of increased duration is sent into the
line causing the impression magnets of the receiving instruments to attract their
armatures, and thus, the printing levers to print the corresponding letter or symbol in
the ordinary manner. In order to change the printing from one type wheel to the
other, say from the letter to the numeral type wheel, the transposing key of the
transmitter corresponding to the numeral type wheel is depressed which sends a
series of currents into the line in the ordinary manner, which operate to bring the
type wheel into the required position, and then to force the printing block towards
the type wheel and so to effect the transposition as before described.
In order to prevent the printing block from forcing the paper towards the type
wheel sufficiently to make an impression when the unison or spacing key depressed,
a projecting pin in the axis of the type wheel is, when the type wheels are in their
unison or spacing position, brought opposite a pin projecting from the impression

page_text: to
lever which can thus only force the printing block sufficiently towards the type wheels
to rotate the ratchet wheel, and thus to actuate the paper roller to feed on the paper
form the spaces between the words.
In order that the current sent into the line may be strengthened whenever the
unison or
spacing key 37 is depressed, a cam 51 upon the shaft 46 at each revolution
and when the pointer is opposite the unison key makes contact with the spring 60,
and when the spacing or unison key is depressed it also makes a contact, the two
contacts completing the circuit of a local battery b. In this circuit is an electro-
magnet 61 whose armature 62 when attracted acts as a relay, or to short circuit a
resistance R in the line circuit.
A make and brake key 59 is arranged in the line circuit, so that, as the direction of
the line current is not altered by it, symbols may be repeated without movement of
the type wheel, and that sentences or words may be spaced out on the paper tape
of the receiving instrument when the spacing or unison key is depressed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
In the receiving apparatus of type printing telegraphs
:-
1. The arrangement of mechanism whereby either of two type wheels fixed on the
same axis can be printed from at pleasure, the printing block being made to take up
one or other of two positions on the impression lever to force the paper on to the
required type wheel without moving the said wheels in the direction of their axis,
substantially as described.
2. The means for supplying and distributing the ink, consisting of a band
impregnated with any suitable ink, and traversing between the type wheels and the
tape on which the message is to be printed, substantially as described.
3. The general arrangement and construction of receiving apparatus, substantially
as described and shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings.
In the transmitting apparatus of type printing telegraphs :-
4. The arrangement whereby the unison or spacing key is caused to send a current
of increased strength into the line, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
5. The combination of the commutators with the keyboard for sending a series of
currents alternately in opposite directions into the line or local relay circuits,
substantially as described.
6. The general arrangement and construction of transmitting apparatus substantially
as described and shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.
Dated this 5th day of November 1887.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
156, Strand, W.C.