A New or Improved Inking Apparatus for Telegraphic Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Inking Apparatus for Telegraphic Purposes.
JOHN FREDERICK MILLS Superintendent Direct Spanish Telegraph Co., Ld.
74 Gracechurch Street London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to an improved lubricating inking apparatus for
supplying & distributing the ink to the circular felt pad of the Morse recorder
telegraphic instrument, the starting & stopping gear of the clock-work being in
connection therewith.
It is constructed as follows:-The lubricator is constructed so as to regulate the
supply or distribution of the ink over the surface of the felt roller pad, by the
means of the insertion of a tube, into which a brush is placed to paint the wheel
or roller pad with ink. Either the tube or brush can be instantly removed for
cleaning or renewal purposes, the arm of the stop cock of the lubricator is so
arranged as to be connected with the lever of the starting & stopping gear of the
clock-work of the instrument, thus :-the ink will flow into the tube or distributor
to the felt wheel or pad when the ink is evenly distributed. The ink flows when
the instrument is set in motion but ceases to flow when the instrument is at rest.
Dated this the Ninth day of September 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Inking Apparatus for Telegraphio Purposes.
I, JOHN FREDERICK MILLS, of the Direct Spanish Telegraph Company,
Limited, 74 Gracechurch Street, London E.C., Superintendent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention, 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 an improved inking apparatus for supplying and
distributing the ink to the circular pad of a printing telegraphic instrument such as
the "Morse recorder" for example.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
describe the same with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inking apparatus constructed in accordance
with my invention,
Figure 2 a sectional elevation of same with the operative parts in the positions
they occupy when the apparatus is in use, and
Figure 3 a similar sectional elevation with the operative parts in the positions
they occupy when the apparatus is not in use.
A is an ink reservoir which may be made of any suitable formn and material; in
the example shown in the drawing it is composed of a glass cylinder A' clamped
liquid-tight between a metallic top A and a metallic bottom A by means of bolts
and nuts A B is a screw cap closing the opening in the top plate A through
which ink is introduced into the reservoir, and is a passage in the said cap to
admit air to the interior of the ink reservoir as the ink flows out. The bottom A'
of the ink reservoir is screwed to or formed with a tap D, the lower end of which
is formed into a stem E, which passes through a hole in the arm F on the top of
the pillar G. The stem E is screw-threaded and a nut H screwed on to it below
The
the arm F secures the ink reservoir with its tap D firmly to the said arm.
pillar G is hollow and is secured at its lower end to a bracket I by the nut J
D
.

page_text: screwed on to the stem G' of the pillar. The bracket I is secured to any suitable
part of the telegraphic instrument. K is an arm fixed on the plug D¹ of the tap D.
L is a rod, the upper end of which is jointed freely to the end of the arm K; it
passes through the pillar G and is screwed at its lower end into the adjusting
socket M which is free to slide up and down in the lower part of the chamber G
in the pillar. N is a helical spring, the upper end of which bears against the upper
end of the chamber G2, and the lower end against the upper end of the socket M,
the constant tendency of the said spring being to press the rod L downwards. P is
an arm or tumbler pivoted at P1 to any convenient part of the telegraphic instrument
and having at its outer end a pin P2 on which the lower end of the socket M bears
under the action of the spring N. Q is a lever pivoted at Q' to any convenient
part of the telegraphic instrument and oscillated by a part Q connected with the
stopping and starting gear of the telegraphic instrument with which the inking
apparatus is connected. The lever Q is provided at its upper end with a pin Q³
which acts upon the inclined part. P3 of the arm or tumbler P. A passage R leads
from the bottom A³ of the ink reservoir A, through the stem E, and receives at its
lower end a tube S, leakage of ink past the outside of such tube being prevented
by the stuffing box T. U is a hollow tube communicating with the tube $ and
forming a stock for a hair brush V, the outer end of which rests on the edge of
the circular pad V1 of the telegraphic instrument for the purpose of applying the
ink to such pad and for distributing it thereon.
When the operative parts of the apparatus are in the positions shown in Figure 3,
that is, with the tap D shut, no ink can flow to the hollow brush stock U the
telegraphic instrument not being in action. But when the telegraphic instrument
is about to be used, its starting gear is moved from right to left in Figure 3, and
the part Q connected with such gear then moves the lever Q into the position
shown in Figure 2. The pin Q3 allows the arm or tumbler P to be pressed down
by the socket M under the action of the spring N ; this draws down the rod L
and arm K turning the plug D' of tlie tap D automatically into the open position
as seen in Figure 2. The ink can now flow from the reservoir A through the
passage R to the tube S, and thence to the tube or hollow brush stock U whence'
it finds its way by the hairs of the brush V to the circular pad V' of the instrument,
keeping the same properly moistened with ink so long as the instrument is in
operation. When the stopping gear of the telegraphic instrument is moved from
left to right back into the position shown in Figure 3, the pin Q³ acts on the
inclined part P³ of the arm or tumbler P, pressing the latter upwards, raising
socket M, rod L and arm K, against the action of the spring N and turning the
plug D' of tap D automatically into the shut-off position, as seen in Figure 3, so
as to prevent the further supply of ink until the telegraphic instrument is again
brought into use.
The length of the rod L and socket M to secure the proper opening and closing
of the tap by the parts P, P2, Q and Q³ can be regulated and adjusted by screwing
the socket M more or less on to the lower screwed end of the rod L.
The brush V with its hollow stock U may be easily removed for cleaning
purposes by drawing them downwards till the tube S is free of the passage R and
stuffing box T, then when they have been cleaned they can be returned into
position by pushing the tube S through the stuffing box T into 'the passage R, the
friction of the stuffing box T being sufficient to retain the 'tube in place therein.
W is an adjusting screw by which the area of the passage R may be contracted as
required, in order to regulate the quantity of ink delivered to the hollow brush
stock U.
Instead of a tap D between the reservoir A and the tube or brush stock U 'any
suitable arrangement of valve may be employed, and in some cases it may be found
convenient to dispense with the mechanism for opening and closing the tap or valve
automatically, when the telegraphic instrument is put into or out of 'action. 'In
such case the tap or valve would be operated by hand when it is required to bring
the inking apparatus into action.

page_text: I desire to have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
arrangements, and details of construction shown in the drawings, as they may be
varied without departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The new or improved inking apparatus for telegraphic instruments which
consists of an ink reservoir, an ink distributing brush, the hollow stock of which
is connected by a passage with such ink reservoir, a tap or valve in such passage,
and mechanism connected with and operated by the stopping and starting gear of
the telegraphic instrument for the purpose of closing and opening the said tap or
valve automatically when the telegraphic instrument is stopped and started,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. In inking apparatus for telegraphic instruments, an ink reservoir, an
ink-distributing brush, the hollow stock of which is connected by a passage with
such ink reservoir, and a tap or valve in such passage, combined, arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described.
Third. In inking apparatus for telegraphic instruments, the use of an ink-
distributing brush having a hollow stock which receives its supply of ink from an
ink reservoir, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the
drawings.
Fourth. An inking apparatus for telegraphic instruments, constructed, arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in the
drawings hereto annexed.
Dated
UALIN |■11■ 17Y UITune LANA
BALLUS DATIN UGLY UTP KANA
W. H. Beck,
J. F. MILLS.
Per S. E. Gunyon,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.