Improvements in and relating to Perforators for use in comme with Automatic Telegraph Transmitters.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Perforators for use in comme
with Automatic Telegraph Transmitters.
We, ANGUS FRASER, of 11, Old Broad Street, in the City of London, Electrician,
VALTER JUDD, of 50, Old Broad Street aforesaid, Telegraph Engineer, and
EORGE DRAPER, also of 50, Old Broad Street aforesaid, Secretary to The
Eastern Telegraph Company Limited, of the same address, do hereby declare.
he nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to perforators employed to appropriately punch the
paper strip that is intended to be fed into, and to govern the signalling move-
ments of, an automatic telegraph transmitter. It is intended more especially
for use in connection with submarine automatic transmitters, and it is so de-
scribed herein, though by obvious modifications it is adaptable for use with
land-line automatic transmitters.
In perforators as heretofore generally made, the punching has been effected
through the manual operation of three plungers, the central one being the spacer,
and the one on either side thereof upon being operated making one. perforation
on one side or the other going towards the making up of one character or sign
of the alphabet; in some cases as many as six distinct perforations, and there-
fore that number of manual operations, being requisite to form the character
representing one letter of the alphabet. These manual operations involve a
considerable amount of physical labour which rapidly exhausts the operator.
By our invention means are provided whereby the power necessary for effect-
ing the punching, spacing &c. is supplied from a mechanical source, that is to
say a source other than the muscles of the operator, and the operator left to
manipulate mechanism of a directive character only. This power can be con-
veniently supplied by means of a constantly-rotating shaft and fly-wheel. To
5 further minimise the labour of the operator we can so arrange the directive mech-
anism that one depression of a key-lever will bring about all the movements requisite
for the perforations representing a complete letter or character. In this case
each letter or character has a separate key assigned to it and these latter are
naturally banked together in the fashion of a typewriter and can be operated in
In its simplest form, however, the machine is operated by
30 a similar manner.
one key producing the letter "e" and the other one "t," the third

page_text: being the spacing key. By means of these three keys any letter can be built up
by the operator.
The power-shaft carrying a fly-wheel is suitably mounted and may be constantly
rotated by any convenient source of power such as an electro-motor or a clock-
work train. Loosely mounted upon this shaft is a sleeve through which, when
required, the power is communicated to the operating mechanism.
The arrange-
ment is such that the manipulation of any one of the keys causes the sleeve to
become locked to, and rotate with, the shaft for a certain period and then to
again become stationary. By means of cams or their mechanical equivalents
located upon, or in engagement with, the said sleeve the power from the said
shaft is caused to produce the various movements for achieving the object in
view.
The engagement between the sleeve and the shaft may be effected by a clutch
gear consisting of a ratchet wheel formed on, or fixed to, the said shaft and a
pivotally-mounted spring-controlled pawl on the sleeve. Projecting from this
pawl is a spur through which, normally, the pawl is held free of the ratchet
wheel. The depressing of any one of the keys cants a pivotally-mounted rect-
angular bar or frame. This movement may be effected either directly by the
key itself or through the agency of an electro-magnet controlled by a contact on
the key-lever in a well-understood manner. The motion of the said bar or frame
is communicated to a link or other suitable device that directly or indirectly
frees an obstruction which is in engagement with the herein before mentioned
spur. Thereupon the said pawl engages with the ratchet wheel and the sleeve
and power-shaft rotate as one. It is intended that the said sleeve and power-
shaft shall rotate as one for a predetermined period, say for one revolution, and
that then the spur on the pawl should again come into contact with the obstruct-
ing device, releasing the pawl from engagement and bringing the said sleeve to
a standstill. To ensure the stopping of the sleeve in the correct position a spring
bears upon a circular portion thereof and dips into a recess cut thereon. This
recess is so shaped that whilst the spring holds the said sleeve as described it will
be overcome the moment that engagement of the pawl and ratchet wheel again
takes place.
The obstructing device above alluded to may consist of a detent pivoted tan-
gentially to the cam-sleeve in such a way that the free end trips the projecting
spur on the pawl.
It is essential that the cam-sleeve should be prevented from continuing its
motion after one revolution if the depression of a key is prolonged. For this
purpose the link between the rectangular frame and the detent is connected in
such manner as to be released when the cam-sleeve begins to rotate, thus letting
the detent resume its obstructing position before the completion of the revolu-
tion. Accordingly there may be two teeth, one on the link and the other on the
detent. These teeth engage each other, enabling the link to actuate the detent.
Part of the link plays upon a cam surface on the cam-sleeve so that it can be
moved transversely to cause the tooth on the rod and that on the detent to clear
each other.
Through the movement of the cam-sleeve as indicated, the punches are forced
through the paper strip and the said strip is fed through the instrument the
desired amount.
For the purpose of operating the punches the sleeve carries a cam or eccentric
(preferably the latter). This cam is connected by suitable rods to the means
employed for forcing the punches through the paper. When the machine is
operated by a key-board the said means may consist of a strong rectangular frame
pivoted at its two longest opposite corners, the connection being such as to cause
the frame to rock on its pivots. The free or moving side of this frame crosses
above the bank of keys transversely, the pivoted side being best underneath.
top side alluded to above is arranged to force the ends of a series of bars which
are arranged at right angles to it and laid horizontally in the direction of the
The

page_text: ** selectors.
LI༦}
eys. These bars may be conveniently designated
nally held up to clear the top side of the rectangular frame by means of a per-
endicular link connecting them near their ends to the key-levers. Sometimes
t may be convenient not to connect this link directly to the key-lever but in-
tead thereof to the armature of an electro-magnet controlled by the key-lever
which is provided with a contact and electrical connections for that purpose.
When a key is depressed it brings the end of the selector opposite to the top side
of the rectangular frame (which we may conveniently designate the "forcing-
bar") and the said forcing-bar moving horizontally and transversely thrusts the
selector in the direction of its length. Under this series of selectors, and trans-
verse to them and to the keys, is a set of shafts pivoted at their ends which
are caused to move on their pivots by means of teeth on the under side of tho
selectors engaging with spurs projecting from the transverse shafts. In this way
a selector can move one or more or any of the shafts according to the presence or
In order to ensure that the selector
absence of corresponding engaging teeth.
may remain in engagement with the forcing-bar until the stroke is finished, a
transverse bar is provided above the selectors and on each selector in proximity
to this bar is a projection which passes under this bar preventing the selector
from rising before the return motion is completed. In case this projection should
be forced against the top bar the latter can be arranged to give way under strong
pressure and so prevent accidents.
Conveniently located upon the machine is a set of punches and plates for per-
forating the paper strip somewhat resembling those of the ordinary manually-
operated perforators. When the machine is operated by a key-board the number
of punches is, however, say six on either side of the centre line of the paper
strip. These punches are individually connected to the transverse shafts in
such a way that when a selector gives motion to one of them its corresponding
punch is forced through the paper. The shafts are in two series of six each,
one sories being connected to the lower punches and the other series to the
upper punches. A set of rods is provided the ends of which are presented to the
ends of the punches and held thereto by a plate with slits or holes to guide these
ends opposite to their respective punches. The other extremities of these rods
are jointed to straight levers pivoted about their middle and generally at right
angles to the rods themselves. The other ends of these pivoted levers can be
5 made to engage with a spur projecting from the transverse shafts herein before
referred to. When one of these last moves, it causes the opposite ends of the
pivoted levers to move in the opposite direction carrying its connected rod for-
ward against the end of the punch thus effecting the required perforation.
A spacer key, bar, or frame may be provided adjacent to the key-bank as in
40 an ordinary typewriter to effect the spacing on the paper strip between each
completed word. This spacer operates in a similar way to the other keys but it
has no selector connected to it.
Inasmuch as the number of perforations required to be made for the various
letters, signs, or signals varies, so the paper feed must be variable and propor-
45 tionate to the space the previously-punched character occupies.
According to our invention we make the paper feed so variable. This may be
conveniently effected in the following manner for example. The paper strip is,
as is usual, perforated with a central line of equidistant holes which serve for
engagement with a spur or pin wheel which pulls the paper along either through
5C the perforator or through the automatic transmitter as will be well understood
This central line of equidistant perforations may either be effected by our per
forator or the paper strip may have previously been so perforated. In either cas
our, instrument is provided with such a spur wheel which is formed on, or secured
to, a shaft or spindle that is caused to be rotated an amount corresponding t
55 from one to (say) seven teeth of the said wheel. This motion of the spur whee
is effected by the movement of a segmental toothed rack which engages with
wheel. This pinion wheel
suitably-mounted and
located pinion

page_text: an
. attached to
the
arm carrying a pawl which engages a ratchet on
spindle effecting the feed, the said ratchet being adjustably fixed on the
said spindle. The arm or arms that carries or carry the segmental rack is or are
at its or their opposite extremity or extremities mounted upon a pivoted arbor.
This pivoted arbor has a connecting rod which is connected to it by means of a
fixed arm.
The other end of the connecting rod is connected to an arm which
plays upon a cam on the cam-sleeve in such a way that the cam can exert a pull
or push on this connecting rod and thereby cause the segmental rack to be moved
in one direction, a spring connected to the latter causing a retrograde movement
when the cam just mentioned allows it to fall back. Upon the extent of this
retrograde movement will depend the amount to, which the feed wheel is moved.
The extent of this retrograde movement is governed in the following way:-A
second arbor is provided parallel to that on which the segmental arm is mounted.
These two arbors are connected by a link so as to cause them to move together
This second arbor carries a number of spurs radiating therefrom in different
planes. Near the ends of the rods which directly impel the punches through the
paper are fixed a number of levers close together and pivotally mounted at their
centres on a common bearing-pin. One set of ends project in between the rods
just mentioned that operate the punches in such a manner as to engage little
studs fixed on the sides of their puncher driving rods so that when the latter are
forced forward the end of the corresponding lever is moved. Both top and bottom
punch-driving rods move the lever in precisely the same way as the studs are
close together. The opposite ends of the levers will now move in an opposite
direction and the number of them so moved will depend upon the number of
pairs of punches operated. These ends are so placed as to obstruct the radial
spurs just mentioned. These latter being radially arranged, it will depend upon
the number of these levers that are withdrawn from engagement so as to clear the
spurs, how much the motion of the arbor carrying the spurs will amount to, and
this latter being connected to the arm carrying the segmental rack, the amount
of retrograde motion of the latter will be determined.
"
We have mainly described the machine in the more complex form in which each
letter or character has a separate key assigned to it.
But it will be obvious that if we
dispense with the majority of the keys leaving only those concerned with the letters
"e and
t" we simplify the machine whilst still retaining the advantage of
operating by auxiliary power. In this latter case manifestly each letter would
require more than one movement of a key-lever but in many circumstances this
would not be a disadvantage and in all cases we should have a machine of simpler
construction. The rectangular frame carrying the forcing-bar would become a
simple lever operating a pair of selectors at one extremity. The selectors would
drive the punches in a more direct way and without the intervention of trans-
verse shafts. The elaborate differentiating device of the spacing-gear would
not be necessary as the spacing cam would simply cause a feed of a tooth at a
time of the feed ratchet. And again two signal punches would be all that would
be necessary.
On the other hand there are some features which it would be advantageous to
add to the machine in its simpler form. First, a centre punch might be added
in order to dispense with the use of paper having the central row of perforations
previously punched. This centre punch might be driven in much the same way
as the other two, only the connecting rod would always be in position to be driven
by the forcing lever. Secondly, in order to avoid the necessity of operating the
spacing key between the letters of a word, it might be arranged that a slight
pause at the end of each letter by the operator should automatically produce the
spacing. For instance it will readily be seen that if the trip action of the clutch
be operated, the cam-sleeve will be set in motion for its prescribed period and
a spacing action result. In order that a pause in the operating should bring this
about a dash-pot would be provided. This dash-pot might conveniently take the
form of a cylinder and piston to work with some fluid such as air or water, the

page_text: iston moving freely in one direction but sluggishly in the other owing
alve opening upon the piston going one way and closing when it returns. Upon
uch return of the piston the fluid would re-enter by an adjustably contracted
the piston might be effected by a spring but
rifice. The return movement
he opposite movement would be caused by the piston-rod receiving a thrust by
means of a suitable connecting lever from the rods, or their attachments, which
would communicate the force of the signal punches. While the machine would
e operated with some degree of rapidity, the sluggish return movement of the
piston would not be allowed to complete itself. A pause on the other hand would
permit this completion. As the return movement approached completion the
piston rod could readily be made to operate the clutch detent in a similar manner
to that of the mechanism provided for enabling the key-levers to set the clutch in
action with the same result and a spacing action thus be produced. Thirdly. This
modification of the machine could be advantageously operated by the armature of
an electro-magnet governed by a contact on the key-lever as has already been
suggested in the case of the key board arrangement; only in this case it would
be of more distinct value. Further, the machine in this form could readily be
operated from the distant end of a telegraph line by means of a relay which would
single-needle" method
close a local contact for one magnet or the other according to whether a positive
or negative current were sent through the line. The
of signalling would in this case be employed.
"
The paper strip to be perforated is carried upon a pivotally-mounted wheel
and it is brought from the said wheel first round a fixed roller or pulley and
afterwards round a similar roller or pulley mounted upon the free end of a bar
or lever which is normally held by a spring against the periphery of the said
wheel. Any increase of tension upon the paper strip between the second roller
or pulley and the herein before mentioned spur or pin wheel will tend to over-
come the pull of the last-mentioned spring and so release the brake action of the
On the contrary upon the sudden stoppage of the said spur or pin wheel
O any decrease of tension upon the paper strip between the said points will allow
the said spring to exert its influence and put a brake upon the said wheel.
arm.
We have described the machine in its typewriter form as effecting, through the
depressing of one key lever, the perforations necessary to make one complete
sign of the alphabet or other character but manifestly by obvious modifications
35 or additions the depressing of one key might effect the total perforations neces
sary for two or more letters or signs or even a whole word or sentence, and in
many other ways the mechanism may be modified without departing from the
spirit of our invention.
1 of December 1899.
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicants.
CUMI DET
Improvements in and relating to Perforators for use in connection
with Automatic Telegraph Transmitters.
We, ANGUS FRASER, of 11, Old Broad Street, in the City of London, Electrician,
WALTER JUDD, of 50, Old Broad Street, aforesaid, Telegraph Engineer, and
GEORGE BRAPER, also of 50, Old Broad Street aforesaid, Secretary to The
Eastern Telegraph Company Limited, of the same address, 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 relates to perforators employed to appropriately punch the

page_text: paper strip that is intended to be fed into, and to govern the signalling move-
ments of, an automatic telegraph transmitter. It is intended more especially
for use in connection with submarine automatic transmitters, and it is so de-
scribed herein, though by obvious modifications it is adaptable for use with
land-line automatic transmitters.
In perforators as generally made, the punching is effected through the manual
operation of three plungers, the central one being the spacer, and the one on
either side thereof upon being operated making one perforation on one side or the
other going towards the making up of one character or sign of the alphabet;
in some cases as many as six distinct perforations, and therefore that number of
manual operations, being requisite to form the character representing one letter
of the alphabet. These manual operations involve a considerable amount of
physical labour which rapidly exhausts the operator.
By our invention new or improved means are provided whereby the power
necessary for effecting the punching, spacing etc. is supplied from a mechanical
source, that is to say a source other than the muscles of the operator, and the
operator left to manipulate mechanism of a directive character only. This power
can be conveniently supplied by means of a constantly-rotating shaft and fly-
wheel. To further minimise the labour of the operator we can so arrange the
directive mechanism that one depression of a key-lever will bring about all the
movements requisite for the perforations representing a complete letter or
character. In this case each letter or character has a separate key assigned to
it and these. latter are naturally banked together in the fashion of a type-writer
and can be operated in a similar manner. In its simplest form, however, the
machine is operated by three keys, one key producing the letter "e" and the
other one "," the third being the spacing key. By means of these three keys
any letter can be built up by the operator.
One of the features of our invention consists of a means to automatically cause
a spacing action after each letter or character in cases where the operator con-
trols the elements of the character, a pause in the operating bringing the said
spacing about and thereby avoiding the irksomeness of using a spacing key.
Another feature is concerned with cases where a plurality of signalling holes
is caused to be punched by the single movement of a single key lever.
In contrivances heretofore employed to punch groups of holes combining
elements of a character preparatory assembling devices have been requisite to
place parts to direct a secondary operation to apply the punching force to the
punches; thus making, in some cases, two distinct and successive operations,
and in other cases entailing the movement of many parts of the key levers. We
dispense with preparatory assembling devices and cause a single bar, selectable
from others, to interpose itself in the line of punching force and, by means of
parts intervening between the bar and punches, to cause the punching to be done
at a single stroke thus simplifying the action and reducing complication in the
mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation,
Figure 2 is a plan of a three-key perforator constructed according to our in-
vention, and
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are detail views thereof. Figure 3 being a section on the
line A B Figure 2 and showing a detail of the trip-clutch; Figure 4 being a
section on the line C-D in the same figure and showing other details herein-
after referred to, and Figure 5 being a section on the line E-F Figure 1 and
illustrating a detail of the paper feed mechanism.
Figure is a side elevation,
Figure is a plan,
Figure 8 is a front elevation, and
Figure 9 is a vertical section
on the line GH Figure 7 of a kor-board

page_text: Figures 10 to 16 are detail views thereof, Figure 10 being a pran
tuated by the power shaft, Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 being respectively cross
etions on the lines I-J, K-L, MN, and O-P of Figure 10, Figure 15 being
cross section on the line Q-R of Figure 6, and Figure 16 being a cross section
the line S-T of Figure S.
Like letters and numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout
e drawings.
Upon a plate a, mounted upon a base are located the various parts of our
nproved perforator comprising, among other parts, three keys c, d and e which,
hen depressed, cause a loosely-mounted sleeve f located upon a constantly-
riven shaft g to become engaged with it to make one complete revolution by
hich one cycle of operations is performed. The keys c and e each control a
ignalling punch, and the depression of any of the said three keys causes the
entral feed punch and spacing mechanism to be operated. These keys c, d
nde are pivoted upon a stud h and each key is provided with a downwardly-
xtending finger i which rests upon a T-shaped arm of a rocking member k
which is also provided with a second arm 7. The arm 7 is normally held by a
spring m against a stop, and to the end of the said arm is pivotally connected
barn by means of which a trip lever o is forced out of engagement with a
The trip
spring-controlled catch carried by the sleeve f, whereupon the said catch
secured to the shaft g.
engages one of the teeth of the catch wheel
lever o has a laterally extending projection which is engaged by the bar n and
the said lever is normally held in a position to engage a spur on the catch
means of a spring s. The bar is provided with a finger which is engaged by
a cam mounted upon the sleeve f
by
When one of the keys is depressed, the rocking member k thrusts the bar n
against the trip lever which releases the catch p, causing the sleeve f to be
driven and the cam to force the bar downwardly so that it shall no longer
hinder the return of the trip lever o to a position which will enable it to arrest
the catch and disengage it from the wheel g after it has made one complete
revolution whereafter the sleeve and its supported parts are brought to their
position of rest and there retained by a flat spring carried by a bracket w which
spring enters a recess r formed in the sleeve f.
The eccentric
is provided with suitable straps 1 and rod 2 which latter is jointed to one arm 3
of a bell crank lever 4 journalled upon a stud 5. To the other arm 6 are pivoted
two thrust bars 7 and 8 which lie in the same plane as the three punches 9, 10
These thrust bars are supported at their outer ends by rods 12, 13 which
extend through a guide bracket 14 from the signalling key levers c, e respec-
tively to which they are suitably connected.
The sleeve also carries an eccentric y and a spacing cam z.
and 11.
The key lever is in the same plane as the thrust bars 7 and 8 the lower one
of which is slotted to allow the rod 12, that operates the upper thrust bar 8, to
Next to this key is the spacer d and then the other signalling
pass through it.
key which operates the lower thrust bar 7 through a laterally extending
wing 15 with which it is provided.
The thrust bars are normally supported by the means described. in such posi-
tions that the lower one 7 will operate the spacing punch 10 when the eccentric
reciprocates the bell crank lever 4, while the upper har S is held clear of the
punches. This represents the position of the parts when the spacing key dis
30 depressed.
When either of the other keys e ore is depressed, the effect is to lower its
thrust bar 7 or 8 so that it will be in a position to operate its punch
when the bell crank lever 4 is reciprocated.
or 11
In order that the spacing punch may also be operated when either of the
55 signalling punches are forced in, the latter are provided with shoulders 16, 17
which engage a cross bar 18 which is made fast to the said spacing punch.
The punches are carried in a suitable frame 19, provided with guide plates 20

page_text: and
21 and die plate 22 between which and the punches the strip to be perforated.is
fed. The central punch 10 is surrounded by a spring 23 which keeps
the signalling punches 9, 11 which are engaged by the cross bar, withdrawn
from the die plate 22.
The thrust bars 7 and 8 are also provided with laterally extending projections
24, 25 which are adapted to engage a lever 26 whenever either of the signalling
punches are operated but in their normal positions such engagement does not
occur. The lever 26 which is of the form shown, is pivoted to the plate « at a
point 27 and any movement imparted to it by the projections 24 or 25 is trans-
mitted through a link 30 to a depending lever 28, pivoted at 29. Near the lower
extremity of the lever 28 is pivoted a rod 31 whose other end is provided with
a plunger 32 adapted to operate in a cylinder 33.
Normally a spring 34, acting through the levers 26 and 28 and their connec
tions, forces the plunger 32 towards the bottom of the cylinder, but the operation
of the signalling punches causes the projection 24 or 25 to constantly force the
said levers and the plunger through their connections in the reverse way, in
which direction they are free to move owing to air being freely admitted through
a ball valve 35 to the space behind the plunger. When, however, the move-
ment is in the opposite direction, the ball valve 35 closes and the closetted air
escapes through the ports 36 and 37 at a rate that may be adjusted by the screw
valve 38.
When a pause of sufficient duration is made, the spring 34, acting upon the
lever 28, through the intervening parts causes the said lever to engage a bar 39,
whose other extremity is of similar form to the bar and operates in a similar
Both these bars pass through a guide comb 40 and are normally held
in their highest position by springs 41 and 42 the bar 39 being also supported by
a link 43..
manner.
After the punching operation has been effected, the spacing mechanism is
actuated by the cam which reciprocates a lever 44. This lever which is held
in engagement with its cam by the spring 45, is fulcrumed upon a stud 46 and
provided at its opposite extremity with a connector 47 whose other end is pivoted
to a pawl plate 48 loosely mounted upon a vertical shaft 49 journalled at 50
and 51. Upon this shaft is fixed a ratchet wheel 52 which is engaged by a spring-
controlled pawl 53 carried by the plate 48 by which it and the paper feed
wheel 54 are rotated tooth by tooth. A correcting wheel 55, adapted to co-
operate with a jockey wheel 56, is also provided. The angular adjustment
of the wheel 55 on the shaft may be effected by means of a set screw 57 and the
position of rest of the feed wheel thereby regulated.
A spring-controlled lever 58 is hinged to the plate 59 in proximity with the
feed wheel 54 and is adapted to insure the proper engagement of pins 60 of the
said feed wheel with the central row of perforations in the paper strip.
The shaft which supplies the power to operate the various parts is journalled
in a bearing in the plate a and a plummer block 62. mounted on the base b,
and is driven by means of a grooved pulley 63, which receives its motion from
an electro-motor, or clockwork train. A fly wheel 64 is provided to give the
shaft the necessary momentum and the loose sleeve f is retained in its place by
a collar 65.
In some cases it may be advantageous to cause the automatic spacing gear to
ring a bell or give some audible or other indication of its action. This may be
conveniently effected by causing the bar 39 to operate the tongue of a bell (not
shown) when it is forced down by the cam u.
As hereinbefore stated, our invention may be so modified as to effect a plurality
of signalling and sometimes spacing perforations by a single depression of one of
two or more keys and, after such perforation has been effected, the strip may be
automatically fed forward to an extent dependent upon the length of the strip
last perforated.
Referring to the construction shown in Figures 6 to 16 of the drawings a series

page_text: of key levers *, each representing a different combination of perforations, is
arranged side by side between two side frames a, a. These key levers are re-
tained in their respective positions by guide combs 66, 67, and 67* and are ful-
crumed at their rear ends upon a bar 68 which lies in a hooked portion 69 formed
in each of the said levers by means of which longitudinal movement is also pre-
vented. Springs 70 normally keep the front ends of the levers c* raised.
Above each of the levers ex is a toothed bar 71 the front end of which is sup-
ported by a pin 72 which is adapted to slide in holes 73 formed in the ribs 74
of the guide comb 67 and rests upon the key lever immediately beneath it. The
toothed bar thus caused to descend whenever the corresponding key lever is
operated. Each bar 71 is provided with a number of teeth 75 arranged at con-
venient distances apart and adapted to co-operate with an equal number of trans-
verse shafts 76 which are journalled in the side frames a, a.
Each shaft 76 is located beneath one tooth 75 of the bars 1 and the said
shafts are themselves provided with teeth 77 in such positions that different
groups will be engaged and rotated when longitudinal movement is imparted to
any of the toothed bars, while those which have not teeth in the path of the
toothed bar operated will remain stationary. The said shafts have springs (not
shown) which return them to their normal positions when the toothed bar which
operated them is returned to its position of rest by one of the springs 78. Each
shaft 76 is also provided with an arm 79 and each arm 79 has a pin 80 which
engages the slotted end of a lever 81 fulcrumed above it on a stud 82. These
levers 81 are at their opposite ends jointed to a thrust bar 7 or 8 the operative
ends of which are supported by guide plates 83 opposite their respective punches 9
or 11.
Beneath the key levers is located the transverse rocking member k, which is
supported at the ends of arms extending from a shaft 84 journalled in the side
frames a and a. This rocking member is engaged by the downwardly-extend-
ing finger of the key levers whenever any one of them is operated and a rocking
motion is thus imparted to the shaft S4. This shaft extends through the side
frame a and is there provided with a lever to the extremity of which the bar n
is pivoted. This bar passes through a guide plate 85 and possesses a tooth 86
adapted to engage a projection extending from a lever o which is secured to a
short shaft 87 journalled in the side frame a and cock 88, and to which is secured
5 the trip lever 0.
Upon any of the key levers being operated, the rocking member k, its supporting
shaft 84, and the lever / are turned in the direction of the arrow 89 and the
barn caused to operate the lever o and trip lever o, which in turn releases the
spring-controlled catch enabling it to engage the catch wheel secured to the
0 constantly-rotating shaft g.
The shaft is journalled in the side frames a, a* and is provided at one end
with a pulley 63, by which it may be driven, and a fly wheel 64. Upon the
other end of the shaft g the sleeve f is loosely mounted and is maintained in the
position shown in the drawings by means of the flat spring supported by the
15 bracket w and adapted to enter a recess (see Figures 10 and 11) formed on a
collar 90 which is secured to the sleeve f by a set screw 91.
Upon the sleeve f is also mounted a collar 92 (see Figures 10 and 12) having
a laterally-extending arm 93 between which and the said collar the spring-
controlled catch is pivoted. Next to the collar 90 is located the spacing
50 cam (see Figures 10 and 13) which co-operates with a roller 94 mounted upon a
lever 44 by which motion is imparted, through the connector 47, to the paw!
plate 48 of the spacing mechanism hereinafter described.
An eccentric y (see Figures 10 and 14) is also secured to the sleeve f which
reciprocates a forcing bar 95 through the eccentric rod 2 provided with straps 1
55 and the lever 3 depending from a shaft 5. This shaft is journalled in the side
frames a and a* and is provided with arms 6 by which the forcing bar 95 is
supported just beneath the ends of the toothed bars 71 in such a position as to

page_text: engage any one that is lowered by the operation of the key levers. The eccentric y
has a pin u which engages the bar n so as to force its tooth SG out of the path
of the projection r of the lever of thus enabling the trip lever o to be returned by
its springs to its normal position in the path of the spring-controlled catch p
immediately after the sleeve f begins to rotate, so as to enable it to disengage
the said catch from the wheely upon the completion of one revolution.
Thus, the first effect of depressing a key lever is to lower the front end of its
corresponding toothed bar into the path of the forcing bar 95, and to turn the
rocking member k, its shaft S4, and depending lever 1, by which the bar n
is caused to operate the trip lever o which in turn releases the spring-controlled
catch penabling it to engage the wheel q by which the sleeve is now driven.
At the moment the sleeve is thus put into engagement with the shaft g, the
eccentric begins to operate the forcing bar 95 by which the lowered toothed har
is forced forward thereby rocking those transverse shafts 76 which are provided
with teeth in the path of the said bar. The said shafts 76 thereupon actuate
their respective thrust bars 7 and 8, through the arms 79 and levers 81, and thus
thrust the corresponding punches 9 and 11 forward to produce the desired per-
forations. At the same time as these operations are being performed, the pin
engages the bar which then enables the trip lever o to return to its operative
position, and the feed cam recedes from its lever 44, which only follows it
under the influence of a spring 45, to take up its position preparatory to feeding
until its further movement is arrested by an automatically adjustable stop herein-
after described. Besides operating the forcing bar, the eccentric rod 2 also
actuates a lever 96 (see Figure 14) which is fulcrumed on a stud 97 screwed to
the side frame a and provided with a roller 98 at one end and a link 99 at the
other. The roller 98 is kept in engagement with the eccentric rod 2 by a
spring 100 which causes that end to rise when the eccentric begins its rotation.
This period occurs immediately after a key lever has been depressed into the
position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9 when a pivoted locking frame 101
is rocked forward by the link 99 and its rib 102 caused to enter a notch 103 in
the finger of the key lever, where it remains to prevent the said
key lever and its toothed bar from rising, until the eccentric rod 2
returns to its starting position after the completion of one cycle of opera-
tions. The pivoted frame 101 extends beneath all the key levers and is pro-
vided with an arm 104 (see Figures 9 and 14) from which a stud 105 projects,
through an opening in the side frame a, to which the link 99 is connected.
When in its operative position the frame 101 lies in the path of the fingers i of
all the other key levers which are thus locked.
The upper and lower punches 9 and 11, of which there are as many pairs as
perforations to be made at a single operation, are arranged side by side (see
Figures 7 and 8) and are carried in the frame 19 secured to the side frame a.
Guide plates 20 and 21 are provided and a die plate 22 between which and the
punches the strip to be perforated is fed.
Each punch is provided with a projection or shoulder 16 or 17 which is engaged
by a spring-controlled finger 18* that extends between the two rows and serves
to return the punches to their normal positions when their thrust bars are with-
drawn. The finger 18* projects from a plate 106 which slides in a guide formed
in the punch frame 19, and is provided with a pin 107 which slides in a block 108
also fixed to the side frame a. A spring 109 normally urges the plate 106 and
finger 18 in the direction to withdraw the punches from the die plate.
At their operative ends the thrust bars 7 and 8 are reduced in thickness (see
Figure 7) and shoulders 110 are thus formed. Into the spaces thus formed extend
the upper ends of a series of vertical levers 111 (see Figures 6, 7 and 15) which
are pivoted at or near their centres upon a stud 112. These levers are urged by
springs 113 in the direction that causes their upper extremities to rest against
the shoulders 110 of the thrust bars and their lower ends form a series of stops
when their corresponding thrust bars are in their rearmost positions. These stops

page_text: co-operate with a series of steps 114 formed on a part 115 which is reciprocated
y the pawl plate 48 of the spacing mechanism through a connecting link 116
and serve to curtail the retrograde movement.of the pawl 53 under the influence
of the spring 45, preparatory to feeding the paper strip forward after it has been
perforated.
The levers 111 thus constitute the means by which the amount of feed is con-
trolled, and the greater the number of punches operated, the greater will be the
number of the said levers deflected and consequently the greater the distance of
the step corresponding with nearest non-deflected lever.
When the first punch (that is the one most remote from the side frame a) is
alone operated, its thrust bar will only deflect the first lever which is opposite
the nearest step on the part 115 but if two perforations are made the first two
levers will be deflected by the thrust bars that actuated the two punches and so on.
By the foregoing means the cam lever 44 is only permitted to follow its cam z,
as it recedes, to an extent controlled by the number of perforations produced,
but is always driven forward (to feed) positively, from the position at which its
retrograde movement was arrested.
The pawl 53 is pivoted to the plate 48 and co-operates with a series of ratchet
teeth 52 formed on the periphery of a crown wheel 117 which is mounted upon a
short horizontal shaft 118 journalled in the side frame a and bracket 119, and it
is also upon this shaft that the pawl plate 48 is reciprocated. The pawl plate is
provided with a cannon bearing 120 from which rise an arm 121 to which is
attached the spring 45, whose function is to urge the parts actuated by the cam z
in the opposite direction, and an arm 121* by which motion is imparted to the
Upon the forward movement of the pawl 53
part 115 through the links 116.
the crown wheel is turned through an equal angle and motion transmitted to the
vertical shaft 49 upon which is mounted a pinion 122 that is engaged by the said
crown wheel. This vertical shaft is journalled in bracket 59 and cock 123 and
carries at its upper end the pin wheel 54 by which the perforated strip is with-
drawn from between the punches and die after perforation. Upon this shaft 49
is also mounted a correcting wheel 55 which co-operates with a jockey wheel 56
whose purpose is to accurately stop the pin wheel in such a position, relatively
with the punches, that the distance between the perforations shall always be
uniform. To facilitate the adjustment of the correcting wheel it is provided with
5 a long boss 124 which has two conically pointed set screws 125 adapted to enter
two conical holes (not shown) in the shaft 49. These holes not being quite in
register laterally with the set screws 125, enable an efficient angular adjustment
to be made by slackening one of the said set screws and tightening the other.
Upon the bracket 59 a spring-controlled lever 58 is pivoted in proximity with
0 the pin wheel 54 with which it co-operates in order to insure the proper engage
ment of the pins 60 with the feed perforations of the strip. The lever 58 is
provided with a T-shaped slot at its operative end (see Figure 8) whereby the
perforations are not obscured and the strip permitted to pass through the said
lever.
15
A spacing key d is provided which is similar to the others except that it does
not operate a toothed bar, but only actuates the rocking member k. This key
lever is not provided with a finger plate but is operated by the spacing frame 126
that surrounds the whole bank of character keys e* and is secured to a shaft 127
which is journalled in the side frames. The spacing frame has a finger 128
50 which, when depressed, engages the spacing key d and is normally held in its
elevated position by a spring 129.
When the spacing key is operated the only effect is to engage the sleeve f with
During this revolution the forcing bar does no
the shaft g for one revolution.
work because no toothed bar has been lowered and for the same reason no signal-
55 ling punch is operated, and therefore none of the vertical levers 111 are operated.
The result of this is that the lever 44 is only permitted to follow the receding
cam za minimum distance.

page_text: We have described the machine is its typewriter form as effecting, through the
depressing of one key lever, the perforations necessary to make one complete
sign of the alphabet or other character but manifestly by obvious modifications
or additions the depressing of one key might effect the total perforations neces-
sary for two or more letters or signs or even a whole word or sentence, and in
many other ways the mechanism may be modified without departing from the
spirit of our invention.
In some cases it may be convenient to manipulate either form of apparatus
through the medium of electromagnets. The finger levers may be linked to the
armatures of the electromagnets which are suitably located so that upon the
magnets being energized the key levers are depressed. The circuits of the
electromagnets would be closed by contact finger keys in the usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a telegraph perforator having a constantly rotating power shaft and a
trip-clutch mounted thereon, means, substantially as set forth, serving to bring
the operated parts to a definite position of rest.
2. In a telegraph perforator having a constantly-rotating power shaft and a
trip-clutch mounted thereon, electromagnets energized through contact keys and
serving to control the perforating and feeding devices.
3. In a manually-operated telegraph perforator, a retarding device so arranged
that a pause in the actuation of the signalling levers automatically effects addi-
tional spacing.
4. A telegraph perforator having auxiliary power to act on a punch-forcing
device, so arranged that one of a number of key-selectable toothed bars is, upon
the depressing of its associated key, aligned to receive a longitudinal thrust from
the said punch-forcing device for the purpose of conveying such thrust to punches
in particular groups determined by the engagement or non-engagement of the
teeth on the selectable bar with parts intervening between the punches and the
sai selectable-bar.
5. In a telegraph perforator having a constantly-rotating power shaft and a
trip-clutch mounted thereon, a feed-regulating device comprising a shaft pro-
vided with a series of helically-arranged radiating pins or steps which are obstructed
by space-levers to a variable amount.
6. The telegraph perforator constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
7. The key-board perforator constructed substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 11th day of October 1900.
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicants.