Improvements in Autographic or Copying Telegraph Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: e of Application, 5th May, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Autographic or Copying Telegraph Apparatus.
I, SYLVESTER P. DENISON, of Belleville, in the County of Essex, State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of
bis invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained, in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates particularly to improvements upon the apparatus described
in the Specification of United States Patent No. 315,391, granted to me on the
7th day of April 1885.
The objects of the said invention are:-
First. To simplify the transmitting portion of the apparatus in such manner
as to permit of the preparation of a transmitting message fillet of the simplest
possible form.
Second. To devise a simple and efficient transmitting arm, and circuit connections
adapted for use with this improved transmitting fillet.
Third. The construction of adjustable devices for use in connection with the
circuit controlling portion of the transmitter, which shall be more delicate of
adjustment and of a more practical nature than are the corresponding parts
described and shown in the prior Patent.
Fourth. The construction of an improved receiving stylus which will vibrate
over the receiving fillet with as little friction as possible, and avoid as far as may
be unnecessary abrasion or tearing of the moistened fillet.
These several objects are accomplished by the improved mechanism hereinafter
described.
In the invention disclosed in my prior Patent it was necessary to prepare the
transmitting fillet either by the use of a non-conducting ink on a conducting fillet
or strip, or a conducting ink upon a non-conducting fillet, the circuit of the
transmitting generator being either interrupted or made by such conducting or
non-conducting ink over the transmitting line according to the nature of the fillet
or transmitting blank used. Such a form of fillet is open to the objection of imper-
fection in its conducting or non-conducting qualities, and to the further objection of
unnecessary care required in its preparation such as would not naturally be taken
by persons ordinarily preparing their message.
In order to overcome this objection, I have devised the improved form of trans-
mitting fillet which is prepared by simply indenting or marking the message,
character, sketch or other information it is desired to transmit into a fillet of
yielding non-conducting material by the agency of a pointed stylus of steel, hard
wood or the like material and causing the indentations thus prepared to
automatically close the circuit through a conducting vibrating key carried by the
vibrating arm of the transmitter, the impulses thug transmitted to the receiving
station being received through the improved form of receiving stylus, as will be
hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved form of autographic
transmitter, showing the transmitting fillet in position.
Figure 2 represents a plan thereof, and as seen looking at Figure 1, from the top
towards the bottom of the drawing, the box which contains the impelling mechanism
for the fillet being broken away.
Figure 3 represents a sectional view taken through Figure 2, on the line,
and as seen looking from the left hand towards the right hand side of the drawing.
Figure 4 represents a detail side elevation partly in section of my improved

page_text: transmitting needle or stylus, and circuit and other connections therefor, a portion
of the transmitting fillet being shown in position under the vibrating needle or
stylus.
Figure 5 represents a side elevation partly in section of my improvement in the
adjustable contacting devices which regulate the connection of the transmitting
battery and avoid the production of tailings on the receiving stylus.
Figure 6 represents a side elevation of the vibrating receiving arm with the
receiving stylus in position, resting upon the receiving fillet.
Figure 7 represents a plan of the same parts, without the receiving fillet.
Figure 8 represents a vertical sectional view taken through the receiving stylus
and its sustaining case or holder.
Figure 9 represents a perspective view of the improved receiving stylus.
Figure 10 represents a diagrammatic view illustrating a transmitting instrument
at one station, a receiving instrument at a distant station, and the circuit
connections, generators, controlling electro-magnets and transmitting and receiving
fillets in position, showing also a message in the act of being transmitted and
received.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
D designates the box of the transmitting instrument which incloses clock-
controlled mechanism, not shewn, for feeding the transmitting fillet F forward
through the agency of a feeding roller R and tension roller r.
M designates a permanent magnet, one pole of which is secured to some portion
of the box D as shown, the other pole thereof being in connection with the rear
poles of the electro-magnets C, C¹.
a designates a vibrating armature permanently magnetized by the free pole of
the magnet M, and lying in the magnetic field of the free ends or poles of the
magnets, C, C¹
A designates a transmitting arm carried by the shaft which supports the
armature a, and d, d' designates adjustable springs connected to adjusting screws
for regulating the throw of the lever A. All of the parts so far described are
disclosed in my prior Patent, there being by preference a transmitter and a
receiver at each station, the vibrating receiving arm A', see Figure 10, at the
receiving station being controlled by a polarized, electro-magnet like that shown
in Figure 1.
L (see Figure 10) designates the transmitting or electrolytic line over which
the message is transmitted, and L' designates the main or synchronizing line over
which currents of alternating polarity are transmitted by a pole changer P, C, and
battery B', or preferably by any well known equivalent form of alternating current
electric generator.
"
F designates the transmitting fillet which consists preferably of paper or other
pliable or yielding non-conducting material adapted to receive the message which
is written upon it with a pointed stylus in the same manner as one would write
a message with a lead pencil, the writer simply pressing upon the paper with the
stylus with sufficient force to clearly indent the message to be transmitted in the
upper face of the fillet, as shown by the word "telegraph on the transmitting
fillet F in Figure 10. The receiving fillet is prepared by moistening a strip of
paper similar to the transmitting fillet, with any of the usual well known materials
which readily decompose under the action of an electrical current. This receiving
fillet F¹ rests on the upper surface of a conducting plate N, and is drawn forward
by a feed roller controlled by clock mechanism, as is the transmitting fillet F, see
Figure 1.
Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, I will describe my improved form of
transmitting stylus which is carried by the vibrating arm A of the transmitter T.
To the end of the arm A is attached by screws s, a short metallic bar G, in the
outer end of which is located a vertically-disposed shoe g having a vertical opening
throughout its length, in which is situated a sliding needle or stylus pointed at its
lower end and provided with a rounded head at its upper end. Upon the upper

page_text: end of the rounded head rests a yielding spring & which is attached by screws s¹, s'
to an adjusting block T¹ carried also by the arm A. Near the outer end of this
yielding conducting spring is a contact point e adapted to contact with a
corresponding contact point el carried by a yielding conducting spring d¹¹ secured
to the metallic bar G by a screw s³.
Through the free end of this contact spring d extends a screw into the
metallic bar G. The several screws s, ss, and are for the purpose of manipu-
lating the adjustment of the parts described. The lower end of the needle or
stylus is of such nature that as the arm A vibrates and carries with it the
shoe 9, the needle or stylus will fall into the depressions in the indented message
strip or fillet F, while the shoe g will ride easily back and forth over the surface
thereof, as will be more clearly pointed out in connection with the description of the
mode of operation.
As the arm A of the transmitter vibrates back and forth, it carries with it a
contacting point p, which alternately strikes against the adjustable conducting
contact screw o and non-conducting contact o', carried by a vertically disposed
lever F, the lower end of which is pivoted to the box D by a pivot extending into
the plate and its lateral surface rests against a yielding disc of cloth, felt, or
other equivalent material.
p³ designates a spiral spring, and n an adjusting nut the joint function of which
is to regulate the adjustment of the friction between the pivoted portion of the
arm and the disc f. With such a device, and through the agency of the
adjustable screw o, I am enabled to almost entirely annihilate the tailings sent over
the transmitting line from the battery B and to therefore effect a clear and well
defined message upon the receiving fillet.
My improved form of receiving stylus, which is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9,
consists of a conducting wire S¹, of hardened steel, and is surrounded with a
coating of paraffine, wax, or other equivalent material. I prefer to make the
conducting portion of this stylus of the hardest steel, as I find that with such
a stylus the record is but little blurred, while with an iron or soft steel stylus,
it is appreciably blurred. I am unable to account for this difference, but such is
actually the fact.
The stylus S is placed in a casing or holder K, which is provided with an
expansible adjustable spring t adapted to force it forward as it is worn away. The
conducting portion of the stylus S is allowed to rest squarely upon the receiving
fillet F and the waxed or cylindrical portion will have a sliding bearing thereon,
thereby acting simultaneously as a lubricant, and as a preventative against the
abrasure or rupture of the surface of the moistened fillet paper.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
-
The message having been indented as before indicated, upon the fillet F by
a stylus, said fillet and the receiving fillet having been placed in position shewn in
Figure 10, the pole changer PC is set in motion, thereby causing rapid reversals
of current from the battery B', to be transmitted over the main line L', through
the polarized magnets C, C¹ at the transmitter T and receiver R. The transmitting
arm A will therefore vibrate in unison with the receiving arm A¹. As the stylus
or needle j and shoe g carried by the metallic block G and arm A are vibrated
back and forth, and as the fillet is fed forward under the movement of the fillet
feeding roller R, see Figure 1, the stylus or needle j will fall into the depressions
each time it passes over any portion of the indented record, while the shoe g will
ride smoothly back and forth and act as a guide for the needle, as will be clearly
understood on examination of Figure 4. When this needle or stylus j falls into
such depressions therefore, the contact points e e¹ will be united. At the same time
as the vibrating arm A is being carried, say, from right to left, looking at
Figure 10, the contact point p will be in contact with the adjustable contact screw o
carried by the pivoted lever F. Consequently an impulse is sent from battery B
in the direction of the arrow through the arm F', contact screw o conductor w¹
yielding conducting spring d", see Figure 4, contact points e e', yielding conducting

page_text: spring k, electrolytic line L to the receiver R, thence through the stylus S',
chemically-prepared fillet F¹, conducting plate N, conductor w³ to earth at E'.
When the arm A of the transmitter reaches its extreme limit and starts back,
the circuit is interrupted between the contact screw o and the contact point p
carried by the arm. On the return stroke of the arm A, the contact p comes into
mechanical contact with the insulating point o', and the circuit is interrupted during
this entire portion of the stroke thus allowing the receiving stylus to make a record
during one-half of its complete stroke only. I find that for the purpose of obtaining
a clear and well defined record, the best results are obtained by allowing the
transmitting battery to be thus connected through the transmitting line to the
receiving stylus during one-half only of the complete movements of the vibrating
arms A and A', and that tailings and other unnecessary blurrings of the record are
completely avoided by this arrangement of parts.
It is obvious that any kind of message which can be transmitted indented or
embossed on the message fillet F may be transmitted over the line and received
upon the receiving fillet F'. In this way I may transmit sketches, maps or any
type of pictures or information which may be thus placed upon the surface of the
fillet.
I do not limit myself to the special form of fillet herein described and shewn, as
it is obvious that the message might be embossed or raised by writing it upon the
rear side of the fillet, and using the raised portions to make the circuit between
the contact points under the influence of the vibrating key or stylus. I am aware
that a transmitting fillet has heretofore been devised of non-conducting material, as
paper, with a message indented in its surface and I make no claim hereinafter to
such a fillet other than as claimed in combination with my improved transmitting
apparatus herein before described.
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 :-
1. In an autographic or copying telegraph, a transmitting stylus or needle
carried by an arm controlled in its movement by electro-magnetic means, and
having motion in a lateral direction, said needle or stylus being located in a
vertically disposed shoe and adapted to move simultaneously in a vertical direction,
substantially as described.
2nd. In an autographic or copying telegraph, a message blank having the
message indented in one face thereof, in combination with a sliding stylus or
needle carried by a vibrating arm controlled by electro-magnetic means, said
stylus having motion also in vertical direction, and operatively connected with a
circuit making and breaking device, and to a transmitting battery, the circuit
making and breaking device being also carried by the vibrating arm, substantially
as described.
3rd. In an autographic or copying telegraph, a vibrating transmitting arm carrying
a sliding stylus operatively connected with a circuit interrupter also carried by the
transmitting arm, in combination with a second circuit interrupter adapted to .close
the circuit of the transmitting battery during one portion only of its complete
vibratory movement, substantially as described.
4th. A receiving stylus for autographic or copying telegraphs made of con-
ducting material surrounded by a coating of wax or paraffine, substantially as
described.
5th. A receiving stylus for autographic or copying telegraphs, consisting of a
metal core surrounded by a cylinder of paraffine or wax, substantially as described.
6th. A receiving stylus for autographic or copying telegraphs consisting of a
metal core surrounded by wax or paraffine, and inclosed in a case or holder,
substantially as described.
7th. A receiving stylus for autographic or copying telegraphs, consisting of a
metal core surrounded by wax or paraffine, and inclosed in a holder or case,

page_text: and provided with means for forcing it forward as it wears away substantially as
described.
8th. In an autographic or copying telegraph, a message fillet or strip having the
message indented or depressed on one of its faces, a vibrating transmitting arm
carrying a sliding shoe, and a transmitting stylus having sliding movement through
the shoe, and operatively connected with a circuit breaker carried by the same arm,
the arrangement being such that the sliding shoe carries the stylus over the face
of the message and allows it to drop into and rise out of the indentations in the
record surface, substantially as described.
9th. A transmitter for an autographic or copying telegraph having a vibrating
arm provided with a sliding shoe, adapted to ride over the surface of the message
fillet, in combination with a stylus or needle having sliding movement through the
shoe and a circuit breaker having operative connections with the sliding needle,
substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of Mov 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.