Improvements in Printing Telegraph Receiving Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Telegraph Receiving Instruments.
I, JOHN EDWARD WRIGHT, of 672 Hudson Street, New York, United States
of America, 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 :-
This invention consists of a new column or page printing telegraphic instrument
in the construction and design of which the main object has been to provide a.
compact, simple and effective instrument, more especially adapted for private lines,
or smaller systems where the amount of work demanded of the instruments is
comparatively light, or exceptional speed is not required.
To this end I have devised an instrument involving but few and simple parts and
which, while requiring only a current of uniform strength for its operation, performs
all the functions of a complete column printer with certainty and rapidity.
As my invention resides chiefly in constructive details, I shall refer to the
drawings hereto annexed for the purpose of indicating and explaining the particular
features which I regard as of my invention.
Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of the instrument complete.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the operative parts of the same with the side plate
removed, and looking from the right hand side.
Fig. 3 is a similar view from the opposite side.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the instrument.
Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of a portion of the feed mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the escapement and other parts.
Fig. 7 is a detail of a portion of the paper feed.
Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the type-wheel mechanism.
The several parts of the instrument are supported between the vertical side
plates A, A, mounted on a suitable base A¹.
A transverse bar or plate A" is secured between the side plates A, A, and forms
a guide or way for a carriage B, which is provided with four flanged or grooved
wheels B that travel along the opposite edge of the said plate. Back of the
plate A are two rolls B, C, the latter of which is the printing roll or platen
against which the type-wheel impinges to print a character, and the paper roll or
spool Ci
Beneath the parts named are arranged the several mechanisms that set the type-
wheel, print, and feed the paper to space for letters and lines.
The type-wheel D having an upper and lower row of characters is carried by a
short spindle D' that is mounted in a frame composed essentially of an upright b,
an overhanging arm and two horizontal arms 66".
A plate provided with a stud c that passes up through ears or lugs g on the
carriage B is secured to the ends of the arms 6 by means of pivot screws c¹¹.
The same screws also support pivotally a ring or circular plate E through which
the type-wheel spindle D₁ passes, but to which it is secured against vertical
movement by a set screw d set in the said plate with its point entering a circular

page_text: groove to the spindle. The upper bearing for the spindle D' is afforded by the
arm, that extends through a slot or opening d¹ in the carriage.
The frame comprising, as above stated, the upright b, and the arms 61 and 611, is
capable of being oscillated with respect to the carriage B and plate D" by reason
of its pivotal connection with the latter, and in such movement it carries with it the
type-wheel spindle D' which is pivotally connected as above described with said
plate D. The frame and the type-wheel, however, are connected with the
carriage B in such manner as to move with it in its course forward and back on the
guide bar A¹¹
Between the plate D" and the standard is a spiral springe that tends to maintain
the standard b and through it the type-wheel spindle D¹ in a vertical position, in
which case a block c¹ on stud c will be in contact with the upright b.
The plate D is provided on its under side with a stud F carrying a roller that
runs on a bar F¹ supported by arms F11 extending from a rock-shaft G. In the
normal position of the bar F1, the type-wheel frame, which is connected to the
plate D by pivots on one side and the spring e on the other, and hence supported
by the roller f upon the bar, is in the position which presents to the printing point
the characters on the upper of its two lines of characters. If the bar F' be raised,
the frame and type-wheel will also be raised and the lower row of characters will
be presented to the printing point.
The type-wheel, as will be understood from the above description, has a rotary
movement about its axis, whereby any desired character of a row may be brought
to the printing position; secondly, it has in common with its frame and carriage a
transverse movement with respect to the paper whereby a succession of characters
may be printed in a line; thirdly, it has together with its frame an oscillating
movement with respect to its supports whereby it may be rocked or swung to
impress or print any selected character upon the paper, and fourth, it has together
with its frame and supports but independently of the carriage a vertical movement,
by means of which either of its rows of characters may be brought into alignment
with the impression or printing point. I shall now proceed to describe the means
by which these several operations are carried out.
In the lower part of the frame is secured a polarized electro-magnet H with two
poles. Before the respective poles are pivoted armatures H', joined by a bar H",
the middle portion of which is divided to form a frame between the sides of which
is the escapement wheel X.
Pivoted to opposite sides of the frame are spring-actuated pawls eel that
engage with the ratchet teeth of the escapement wheel. Each pawl is formed with
a tail g in the path of which is a stop g¹.
The play of the armatures is limited by suitable stops g¹¹, and as alternations of
current are sent over the line the polarized armatures impart an oscillation to the
bar or frame H. The movement of the frame in one direction will cause, say, the
pawl e to turn the escapement wheel and the pawl e" to recede from the tooth with
which it rested in engagement. When the frame has moved sufficiently to advance
the pawl e¹ and the escapement through the space of one-half of a tooth, the pawl ell
has passed into engagement with the next tooth, having receded through the same
space that the other pawl advanced, and the opposite action takes place when the
current is reversed. Hence for every reversal of current the frame or bar H" in
oscillating back and forth through the space of half a tooth moves the escapement
through the space of a whole tooth.
When a pawl has advanced through the determined space, its toe engages with
the stop in its path and locks the escapement against further movement thus pre-
venting overthrowing. Moreover, since the movement of the pawls is bodily in a
straight line, there is no lost motion or inequality of movement such as rotary
movement involves, and the full force of the magnetism is exerted in the most direct
and effective manner.
The rotation of the escapement thus secured is imparted to the type-wheel by..
means of an extension rod I connected by universal or gimbal joints 11 to the

page_text: escapement and type-wheel spindles respectively. The connecting rod I being
composed of two parts, one of which slides within the other, permits the type-wheel
to move with its carriage from side to side of the instrument in printing the lines.
The final impulse of current that brings the proper character on the type-wheel
into position being somewhat prolonged energizes the slow acting printing
magnet J sufficiently to raise its armature J. Said armature carries a standard Jii
having an adjustable stop thereon that engages with an arm K extending from a
rock-shaft K and turns said shaft through a certain arc.
This shaft supports by
means of arms K" a plate or bar h' in front of which moves the lower end of the
upright 6 of the type-wheel frame and which is provided with a roller ", so that
when the shaft Kis turned the bar h¹ tilts the frame and type-wheel about the
pivot screws c¹¹ and prints the selected character. The same action takes place
whether the type-wheel be in its lower or upper position.
By each complete oscillation of the printing magnet armature the type-wheel
carriage is advanced one step, through the following instrumentalities: L is an
arm fixed to the rock shaft L₁ that carries the armature lever. This arm is
connected by a bar L" with a lever pivoted to the frame of the instrument, and
carrying a pawl that engages with a ratchet-wheel j, hence by each upward
movement of the arm L the pawl 1 is lifted through the space of one tooth, and
when the arm L drops, the lever is drawn down by a spring i connected at one
end to arm L and at the other to the stud that is set in the lever i¹ and extends
through the bifurcated end of the bar L". This turns the ratchet-wheel j through
the space of one tooth.
On the same shaft with the ratchet-wheel ; but fixed thereto is a drum M
containing a spring or connected by a cord with a spring drum M¹. The drum M
is normally held by a spring k¹ acting upon its shaft " in such position that a
stud k set in its side will engage with the teeth of a crown-wheel or ratchet jon
the side of the ratchet-wheel j. Normally, therefore, the drum M is prevented
from rotating but is turned step-by-step by the movement of the ratchet j.
A cord M is wound around the drum M and after passing around a series of
pulleys m its ends are connected to opposite sides of the type-wheel carriage B
which it moves step-by-step forward after each impression to space for characters.
When the type-wheel carriage has reached the forward limit of movement or
any other desired point in its travel, it may be returned to the starting point, but
no injury will result to the apparatus by the continuance of impulses through the
printing magnet J after the carriage has reached the limit of travel, for in such
case, although the pawl i would be lifted by the lever L, the ratchet j and
drum M would not be turned by the action of the spring i.
I employ the following means for restoring the type-wheel carriage after it has
traversed a part or the whole of its path.
An arm N extends from the rock-shaft L' and rises and falls with the movement
of the shaft whenever the printing magnet is energized. The arm is connected by
a link N' with a lever N one end of which is free, while the other end is pivotally
connected with a bar R passing through suitable guides up to the printing roller C.
On this latter is a loose pinion r that engages with a rack on the bar R and a
ratchet which is engaged by a pawl carried by an arm that moves with
the pinion so that the latter when turned in one direction carries the paper roll
with it.
The free end of the lever N" works in a slot in a plate s secured to a platform o¹
and over its end lies the end of a lever S pivoted to a standard on the platform and
having a retracting spring s'.
The escapement shaft t carries an arm t¹ projecting horizontally, and in the end
of this arm a loose pin p is supported by means of a light spring 1. In one of the
positions of the escapement this pin is directly under the end of the lever S and it
is brought to this position whenever it is desired to send the type-wheel back to
begin a line.
Although the arm N rises whenever a current impulse energizes the printing

page_text: magnet, no effect is produced upon the lever N" beyond raising its free end and
rocking the lever S, but is this be prevented by the presence of the pin p under the
lever, then the lever S becomes the fulcrum upon which the lever N is turned
and the bar R is raised.
This effects two operations,-the feed of the paper for a line space and the return
of the type-wheel and its carriage. The first operation is performed by the rack,
pinion and pawl above described; the latter by the devices shown in detail in
Figs. 3 and 4.
T is a lever pivoted to the frame and provided with a spring that tends to
depress the end that lies in the path of a stud z on the bar R. When the said bar
is raised the short arm of lever T is depressed carrying with it one arm of a
pivoted lever T. The other arm of this lever engages an arm T" on a rock-
shaft w which carries a second arm V against which the end of the longitudinally
movable and spring-actuated shaft impinges.
The upward movement of the lever Ti turns the shaft to and moves the shaft All
until the tooth k on the drum N is disengaged from the crown tooth ratchet j¹..
The drum is thus free to turn backward, and in so doing it restores the type-wheel'
carriage to its position at the start.
As soon as the arm T" is raised, a pivoted lever V₁ acted upon by a spring VI
(Fig. 4) and formed with a step at its end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, passes under
the said arm and maintains it in an elevated position until a pin on the drum M
strikes against a pin on the lever V₁and throws the lever out of engagement
with the arm Ti
Printing from the upper row of letters and characters on the type-wheel requires
merely a rotary adjustment of the wheel by the escapement for the selection of
the desired characters, but as I provide two rows of characters the adjustment of
the type-wheel vertically is necessary in printing successively characters from
different rows. The shifting of the wheel from one position to another is effected
in the following manuer:
and
From the rock-shaft L' extends an arm O which is connected by a link O¹ with
a lever O. One end of this lever lies under the end of a lever o pivoted in a
standard on platform o¹, while to the opposite end is hinged a bar of that passes
upward through suitable guides and ends immediately under the bar F. Every
impulse of current that energizes the printing magnet J causes the arm
link O' to rise, but as the lever o is prevented from oscillating only by a light
spring it permits the free end of lever O" to rise. This lever, therefore, turns
about its pivotal connection with the rod o¹. But if the escapement be set so as to
bring the pin under the lever o then the free end of lever O" is held down and
as the link O rises it forces up the rod o". This lifts the bar F' and with it the
type-wheel and its frame so that the lower row of characters is aligned with the
printing point.
When the bar F is raised it is engaged by a spring-actuated catch or detent P
which maintains it in the second position until by some special mechanism it is
restored to the first. I employ for this purpose the arm O on the rock-shaft L¹
connecting with it lever P", which by means of a lever pl and the pin p, similar to
those above described, raises a rod p₁ which coming into engagement with a pin.
or arm extending from the detent or lever P, disengages the same from the
bar F and permits the latter to fall into its normal position.
When any one of the levers S, o or p¹ becomes the fulcrum for its corresponding
levers N, O or P", considerable load is imposed upon the pin p. To relieve
the escapement shaft of this load I have employed in conjunction with the pin p
and its supporting spring a table W. Normally the pin p is held up by the
spring so that it sweeps over but just escapes touching the table. When
encountered by one of the levers, however, it is pressed down upon the table upon
which practically all the weight rests.
In practice, I employ in connection with the devices above specifically described
proper means for effecting the necessary adjustments for supplying ink to the type-

page_text: wheel, and for synchronizing the instruments or bringing them to unison, but as
these devices form no part of my present improvements and are well understood I
have given no detailed description of them.
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 :-
I
1. In a column printing telegraph instrument, the combination with a type-wheel
and carriage for the same movable transversely for printing lines of characters, an
escapement and a connection between the escapement and type-wheel capable of
universal movement with respect to both.
2. In a column printing telegraph instrument, the combination with a type-wheel
and carriage for the same movable transversely for printing lines of characters,
an extension rod and universal joints between the two members of the same and the
type-wheel and escapement respectively.
3. The combination with the escapement wheel of a printing or similar instru-
ment, of an electro-magnet, two polarized armature levers, a divided bar or frame.
connecting the same and pawls carried thereby and engaging with the escapement
wheel on opposite sides of the center.
4. The combination with the escapement wheel of a printing or similar instru-
ment, of an electro-magnet, two polarized armature levers, a divided bar or frame
connecting the same, pawls carried by the bar or frame and engaging with the
escapement on opposite sides of the center, said pawls being provided with
extensions beyond their fulcrums and fixed stops in the paths of said extensions,
whereby the pawls are caused to bind the escapement and prevent overthrowing.
5. The combination with an escapement wheel, of two pivoted and polarized
armatures, a bar connecting their ends and stops for limiting the oscillation or play
of the saine and pawls carried by the bar and engaging with the escapement
wheel on opposite sides of its center.
6. In a column printing telegraph instrument, the combination with any or all
of the several devices for feeding the paper, restoring the type-wheel to begin a
line, and adjusting the type-wheel vertically, of levers oscillated by the printing
magnet and connected at one end to the said mechanism but having the other end
free, a stationary support or table under the free ends of said levers and a pin or
stud carried by the escapement and adapted to be interposed by the same between
any one of the levers and the table, as set forth.
7. In a column printing telegraph instrument, the combination with the type-
wheel carriage of a plate connected therewith and movable vertically with
respect thereto, a frame pivotally connected with the plate, and a type-wheel
mounted in said frame.
8. The combination of a transversely moving type-wheel carriage, a spring-
actuated drum, cords connecting the carriage and drum, a shaft having longitudinal
play and carrying the drum, a ratchet-wheel turning loosely on the shaft and
adapted to be rotated intermittently by the operation of the printing magnet, a
spring for maintaining the ratchet and drum in engagement and means for moving
the shaft longitudinally and disengaging the ratchet and drum to restore the
type-wheel carriage to the starting position.
9. The combination with a transversely movable type-wheel carriage and
stationary escapement, of a type-wheel carried by a spindle capable of rotary,
angular and vertical movement with respect to the carriage, and an extensible
connection between the said spindle and the escapement capable of universal
movement with respect to both.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.