IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING. TRANSMITTING. AND RECEIVING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Little, of Rutherfurd Park, in the State
of New Jersey, United States of America, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING. TRANSMITTING. AND RECEIVING
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS."
Sealed the 15th February 1870, and dated the 7th September 1869.

page_text: transmitting machine and causing the paper to break an electric circuit
between the pulsations of electricity that pass at the time the circuit
is closed through the perforation in order that the pulsations of
electricity may be in accordance with the perforation's in the strip of
paper. This portion of the apparatus is also adapted to use with a
strip of properly prepared paper at the receiving end of the line.
And, 3rd. My Invention relates to means for causing the speed of
the instruments to be regular and uniform at the two ends of the line,
the same consisting in an electro-magnetic motor.
To more fully set forth the particulars of said improvements I will
describe the different portions of said apparatus.
1st. The punch that perforates the paper is moved by one electro-
magnet. The punch is withdrawn by a second electro-magnet, and the
paper is moved along by a third magnet. The magnet that operates the
punch acts upon a lever so as to afford the necessary power for effecting
the perforation. This lever in moving gives motion to a circuit changer
that directs the current away from the first magnet and through the
second; thereby one pulsation of electricity effects the perforation, and by
the second magnet draws the punch instantly away, so that it cannot
remain through the paper to interfere with the movement of the strip.
The third magnet that effects the movement of the paper acts upon a
feed roller having a roughened surface or fine serrations to give adhesion
to the paper. This roller may be of iron to form part of the armature.
The armature of the magnet swings upon the axis of this roller as its
centre of motion, and acts by a friction clamp or by induction to move
the roller in one direction, but on the reverse movement the roller
remains stationary. It will now be understood that the perforation of
the strip of paper (or raised portions if the communication is formed by
embossing) are effected at the proper distances apart by regulating the
pulsations of electricity to the different magnets, for instance, if the first
magnet is charged a perforation is produced, then the third magnet
moves the paper but a short distance, and the second perforation cuts
into the first, forming a long opening, or what is known in telegraphing
as a dash. If the third magnet has two or more pulsations directed
through it the paper is moved more or less so as to form the spaces
necessary in groups of characters, forming letters, or between the letters,
or between the words of the communication. The armature lever has
its fulcrum upon one pole of the second magnet that draws back the

page_text: lever and punch, and the paper is passed between the feed roller afore-
said and a small friction roller near the perforating punch and its die.
The pulsations of electricity are directed through the first and third
magnets by what I call an alphabet tablet; this is a non-conducting
surface having grooves, and in those grooves are conductors formed of
metal screws, tongues, or pins inserted from the under side or in grooves
obliquely, and dressed off smooth with the bottom surfaces of the stylus
grooves. A groove is allotted to each letter or character, and the con-
ducting wires connected with one pole of a battery and with the first and
third magnets are arranged so that the operator by taking a metal
stylus with a flexible conductor to the other pole of the battery and
drawing it along the groove for the given letter closes the circuits to the
respective magnets in the proper order to produce the perforations and
spaces of the particular letter or character and move the paper for the
space between one letter and the next. This apparatus perforates the
paper with the proper openings at the required relative distances, so that
the communication composed is perfect according to the letters of the
alphabet tablet to which the stylus is applied.
2nd. In order to transmit a telegraphic communication from one
station to another the said strip of paper is drawn through an instrument
formed with a metallic roller in communication with one portion of
the electric circuit, and a small disc with an edge of platina or similar
metal is kept upon the strip of paper by a spring, and being connected
with the other portion of the circuit gives the pulsations of electricity
when the metallic surfaces touch through the perforation. A brush is
employed, beneath which the strip of paper is drawn by the said metallic
roller, to cause the strip to remain in contact with the metallic roller
by giving to the same the requisite tension. The same character of
mechanism is employed to receive the communication, a strip of
chemically prepared paper taking the place of the perforated strip.
3rd. The electro-magnetic motor employed to drive the receiving and
transmitting instruments consists of a vertical revolving spindle, upon
which are three (or more) iron ribs forming armatures, and a pair of
magnets facing each other are alternately charged by circuit breakers
operated by the revolving shaft so as to give motion to these armatures
and the said spindle on which they are mounted. A pair of balls are
mounted at the upper end of the said shaft and acts to regulate the
speed. When the speed becomes too great the governor balls produce

page_text: a friction to check the speed; the spindle is sustained on a spring step
so that it may have an endwise movement, and the parts are adjustable
so that one instrument may be set to rotate isochronous with the other,
if desired. Instead of using the alphabet tablet aforesaid a skilful operator
with two circuits and finger keys might give the pulsations through the
first and third magnets to perforate the paper and produce the spaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Little in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
LITTLE, of Rutherfurd Park, in the State of New Jersey, United States
of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Little, Her special licence, that I,
the said George Little, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Little, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING,
TRANSMITTING, AND RECEIVING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONE," upon the cou
dition (amongst others) that I, the said George Little, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Little do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates,-
First. To means for perforating a strip of paper composing the
communication; this is done by a punch operated by magnets, and
paper is moved by a roller operated by a magnet; the pulsations to
these magnets are given from an alphabet tablet by a metal stylus
and flexible conductor.
the
Second. To transmitting by a roller and platina edged roller to close
the circuit through the perforations.
And, third. To a magnetic motor to give motion to the transmitting
apparatus, the same being made of armatures on a vertical spindle
acted on by stationary magnets. The speed is regulated by governor
balls, friction, and end motion of the spindle.
In the Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the punching apparatus,
part of the frame being removed; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the
same with the feed magnet in elevation; Fig. 3 shows the reverse side of
the relieving magnets to that in Fig. 1 representing the circuit changer;
Fig. 4 is a plan of the instrument below the line a, a, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is
a plan of a portion of the transmitting tablet; Fig. 6 is a plan (inverted)
of a portion of said tablet; and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the same.
The object of the first part of this Invention is to move the paper
along by magnetism independently of the perforation, which is also done
by magnetism, so that the space between one perforation and the next
is dependent upon one or more pulsations of electricity. By this means
the composing of a telegram for transmission can be accomplished by
the working of two electric circuits, by finger keys or otherwise, the one
to perforate or emboss, the other to space. It also enables me to employ
a composing tablet, formed with a series of conductors passing to the
punching and feeding magnets in such alternations that the drawing of
a stylus or conductor over said composing table at the part allotted to
the particular letter will cause the respective magnets to be operative
in such a manner as to produce the proper perforated or embossed
characters with the requisite spaces for correctly designating the letter
or character.
In the Drawing the frame a carries the feed wheel b that is made of
iron or other material, with serrated edges or other surfaces to feed the

page_text: paper; and between these edges is a deep groove. Below the feed
wheel is a standing column b', having a die c at its upper end. e is the
yielding presser and paper guide that keeps the strip of paper to the
wheel b; 1, 1, are guides on the edges of e to keep the paper to its
proper position. The spring 2 keeps the presser up to its place, and
the presser itself is on the boss or collar 3, so that it may yield and
accomodate itself to the wheel b and paper. A roller may be applied
at one or both ends of the presser e (shown by the dotted lines) to
lessen friction. Around the column b' is a sliding sleeve f with arms f',
that come up on cach side of the paper and connect with a cross bar
that is in the groove of the wheel b and carries the punch i to act with
the die c in perforating or embossing the paper, the upward movement
being limited by adjustable screws 5, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
There is a small spring clearing plate 4 around the die to press the
paper off the die as the latter rises. Through a slot in the column b' the
lever g works freely, but is connected by a pin 6 to the said sleeve f, and
7 is the fulcrum for said lever g, the same being upon one of the poles
of the magnet h; m is the armature of this magnet h, and k, k, are the
armatures of the magnet l. The magnet acts to bring down the
lever g, cylinder f, and punch i, and perforate the paper; the magnet h
acts instantly to raise the parts to a normal position. The last-named
operation is performed by the circuit changer that is made of a lever
acted upon by the lever g, so that when the magnet is charged and
draws down the armatures the lever g moves the circuit changer n
from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and so that the end rises
into contact with the collar 8, and this operation closes the circuit
through the magnet h, as hereafter shown. In order to move the feed
wheel b I employ a magnet and swinging armature. The poles o of the
magnet o stand on each side of the wheel b, and upon the axis 6ª of
the wheel ba yoke p is fitted to swing, the same being drawn back
from the magnet by the spring g, and arrested at the proper point by
the adjusting screw 10 that regulates the amount of the feed of the
paper each pulsation of electricity through the magnet o'. The
yoke p might be drawn back by an electro-magnet, the current being
reversed as in the magnets h, l. In the yoke ? are the armature
clamps formed of iron or steel plates; they are shown as each being
on fulcrum pins s, see Fig. 2, so that when the magnet o¹ is charged
the clamps are swung slightly on the pins s and their edges grip the
feed wheel b, and the yoke p and that move together as the armature

page_text: clamps are drawn bodily towards the magnet o'. It will be seen that
when the wheel b is of iron the armature is made of three parts, the
feed wheel becoming a central portion to the armature clamps r, one
on each side, the parts becoming magnetised by induced magnetism,
and the clamps » might slide edgewise to clamp the feed wheel by
magnetic induction instead of swinging, if so desired. Where the feed
wheel is not made of iron or steel the armature clamps only act to
clamp and move the feed wheel by friction that is increased by the
induced electricity which causes the armature plates to press upon the
sides of the feed wheel.
The tablet which I employ for transmitting pulsations to the feeding
and perforating magnets consists of a table of non-conducting
material with grooves or ranges of grooves. I have shown four ranges
and a portion of the table, and the respective grooves are allotted to
letters or other characters marked as seen in Fig. 5. Ranges of holes
are bored along these grooves, or ranges of conductors introduced in the
table. I have shown these conductors in the form of screws u, u, v, v,
but do not limit myself in this particular. The conductors u, u, are
connected with the binding screw w, and the conductors v, v, are
connected with the binding screw . The mode of connection by the
ranges of wires will be apparent by inspection of Fig. 5, the wires being
intertwined under the heads of the screws to which they connect and
kept entirely clear of those with which the other wires connect.
Fig. 14 I have shown the manner in which I prefer to arrange the
tablet and its alphabet, and instead of the wires being connected to
screws small metal plates with perforated arms projecting in opposite
directions are employed, the wires being threaded through the respective
arms. In Fig. 15 one of these metal plates is shown with the table in
section.
In
When the current is closed through a screw or plate u a pulsation
goes to the magnet to perforate the paper, and when through the
pulsation goes through o' to feed the paper, and these conductors u and
are so disposed that the proper perforations and spaces are produced to
denote the given character or letter; thus a perforation and then two
pulsations of the feed make two separate perforations, the alternate
pulsations make a dash, and more than two pulsations through o' make
spaces of length proportioned to the number of pulsations.
In order to close the circuit to the conductors u, v, I make use of a

page_text: conductor or metal stylus with a flexible conductor ¹; the lower trap
of this stylus is shown in Fig. 7, at w'. One battery wire and con-
ductor go to the binding screw 20; the other battery wire connects
with the metal frame a at 21; the binder x connects with 22, and the
binder w with 23. The electricity goes from 20, through v', w¹, to the
conductors u or as the stylus is drawn over them. When the current
passes through a conductor u it goes by w to 23, which is insulated,
through magnet 7 to the bed and frame a, thence by 21 to the battery.
The magnet draws down g, punching the paper, lifting the circuit
changer n, causing a current to pass from frame a through g and n,
insulated collar 8, conductor 24, also insulated, through the magnet h,
and insulated binder 20, thus drawing down the armature m, lifting the
punch and restoring the parts to their normal condition, and simul-
taneously also breaking the circuit by moving the changer n to its
normal position, Fig. 1. When the stylus w¹ is in contact with a con-
ductor the pulsations go through v¹, w¹, v, x, to the insulated binding
screw 22, thence through the wire to the magnet o', Fig. 1, moving the
paper by the armature clamp and feed wheel; thence the electricity
passes to the frame a, binder 21, to the battery without affecting the
magnets or . By this means the feed is effected by one magnet, the
punching by another, and the relieving of the punch by a third and self-
acting magnet; and I remark that the tablet is preferred for sending
the pulsations of electricity, but a double-acting finger key or two finger
keys, such as shown in Fig. 8, might be worked by an experienced
operator; or two binding screws, as in Fig. 9, might be used to be
touched by the stylus w' alternately, or the tablet might be employed
with some other arrangement of mechanism for perforating the paper
by the action of magnetism. This tablet can stand on a person's desk,
and the composing machine be in any desired distant place, thus giving
great convenience in composing telegrams. The armature wheel 6 that
moves the paper along by the direct action of the magnetism might
have ratchet teeth at its side acted upon by pawls on the swinging
armature P, or the plates r may be loose to slide in grooves, and attach
themselves to the wheel b by induced magnetism simultaneously with
the movement of the armature as it swings on the same axis as
the wheel b. The axis of the swinging armature and clips may be
located on the line of the axis of the wheel b, but separate from the
same.
The second part of my Invention relates to means for sending the

page_text: telegraphic communication, and for this purpose the strip of paper
containing the perforations, as before referred to, is employed. The
paper is drawn along over a roller, to which is applied a small platina
edged disk or wheel.
The motor that drives the rollers that draw the paper along is
operated by magnetism, and forms the third part of my present Inven-
tion; these devices being connected together the description will not be
separated.
In the Drawings Fig. 10 is an elevation of the said motor; Fig. 11 is
a plan of the same below the line x, x, Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a vertical
section of the spindle of the motor and parts connected therewith; and
Fig. 13 is an inverted plan of the armature, circuit closer, and magnets.
In these Figures the same parts are designated by like letters and
numbers.
I employ a revolving armature mounted upon a spindle, to which an
end movement can be given by the action of a governor, so as to increase
friction upon said spindle when the speed becomes too great, and to
lessen that friction when the speed is slower, thereby regulating the
speed of the motor by the friction applied to the same from a governor.
In Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13 the frame a carries the magnets b and c,
I have
and also sustains the spindle d, upon which are the armatures e.
shown said armatures in the form of a three-sided head, and 1 remark
that with two magnets (which number I prefer) there should be three
armatures, as shown, but the number might be varied. I arrange the
circuit closers in such a manner that the circuit is closed to one magnet
as one of the armatures is approaching that magnet, and then the circuit
is closed to the next magnet in order that there may be a rotation of
the armatures, resulting from the attraction of the magnets acting in
one direction; and said attraction ceases as the armature arrives at its
nearest point to the magnet, tlic circuit being broken at that point. 1
make use of pins 2. 2. 2, projecting from the respective armatures, and
closing the circuit when in contact with one of the springs 3 leading to
the respective magnets. The battery wires are lead to the binding
screws f, g; from the screw f the wire passes to the switch h, and when
that is closed the current goes by the wire 13 or 14 to the magnet b or c,
thence by one of the insulated circuit closing springs 3, 3, to the
armature spindle and frame a, thence to the binding screw g.

page_text: Having described the means for giving rotation to the armatures and
spindle, I now proceed to state the manner of applying friction to
regulate the speed.
q
The spindle d is provided with a collar or disk 5 within the cylinder k,
and the step for said spindle is made adjustable, and contains a
balancing spring 6; this step is screwed up until the spring 6 sustains
the spindle and parts carried thereby, and the disk or collar 5 is relieved
from friction at the bottom of the cylinder k. Around the spindle d
is a spring 7 above the collar 5, and also a sleeve n fitted on a feather
or with a key in a slot in d, and this sleeve n carries the joints of the
arms o, o, for the governor balls p. q is a sleeve around the cylinder
to which the lower ends of the links of the governor are connected,
and this sleeve q revolves freely with the governor around the cylinder /,
and said sleeve q is fitted with a groove taking the forked ends of the
lever t, and this lever t is on a fulcrum 10, and the forked end can be
raised or lowered by the screw 11. It will now be understood that when
the sleeve remains at its lowest point the rotation of the motor throws
out the governor balls at a comparatively slow speed, sufficiently to cause
the sleeve n to descend upon the spring 7, and thereby the collar 5 will
be pressed against the lower end of the cylinder k, and the friction
thereof increased in proportion to the speed and consequent pressure
from the governor balls; this tends to slack the speed and secure
uniformity of rotation. The adjustment to any required degree of speed
is effected by raising or lowering the sleeve y by the lever t, for when
the said sleeve q is raised the governor balls will have to revolve more
rapidly before the centrifugal force will be sufficient to throw them out
and cause the sleeve n to press upon the spring 7 and collar 5. By this
construction of motor an instrument for telegraphic or other purposes
can be driven with the required speed, and two or more instruments in
one line can be made to revolve with uniformity. The shaft wis
rotated by means of a worm pinion and gear w or other convenient
mechanism connecting the same to the spindle d. Upon the shaft w' is
the roller b', and the shaft w' is sustained by the cross bar c' between the
columns d¹, e¹. The column d' carries a frame and roller f' that is
of non-conducting material, and can be swung into contact with the
strip of
that
paper
around the roller b' and between the flanges
passes
thereof, so that said paper is fed along by the action of the rollers b¹
and f', and g' is a spring formed and applied so as to act to hold the

page_text: roller to the roller b', or to keep it in position when moved back by
the handle to allow for introducing or removing the strip of paper.
The strip of paper passes in through a trough ', over which is an inclined
brush 20 made of bristles set in a metal head, which metal head is in a
slot in a projecting stud 21, and a screw 22 holds the said brush in
position when placed, so that it gives the desired pressure upon the
paper for detaining the same sufficiently to cause said paper to set smooth
against the surface of the metal roller b'. The end of the column e'
projects beyond the cross bar c', and carries the arm n¹ for the non-
corrosive stylus p", there being a cylinder of hard rubber or other non-
conducting material intervening between the end of the column and the
cylindrical base of the arm so as to insulate the arm n'. The connection
between the cylindrical base of the arm n' of the stylus p" and the
binding screw p is effected by the spring o', and the binding screw p
is insulated from the column e', so that the electrical circuit passes from
the binding screw p' to the arm n' and stylus, thence to the roller b',
and by the bar c' and column d' to the binding screw 2 of the line or
battery wire. The arm n' carrying the stylus p is made with a joint ¹,
so that it can be turned back, and the spring t¹ presses the stylus to the
paper. I make use of a disk-formed stylus 2 with a platina or other
non-corrosive metal edge, and said stylus is held by jaws that slip into
the end of the arm n¹. By the use of a disk stylus injury to the paper is
prevented, the mechanism runs with less power, and instead of the stylus
wearing out rapidly by contact with the paper the disk remains in
constant working condition.
In the telegraphic instruments heretofore employed for transmitting
by perforated paper a brush of fine steel wire has been used to penetrate
the perforations and close the circuit through the roller b'; this brush
is apt to become worn or injured by the electricity when in use, and the
same is liable to wear or injure the paper. This apparatus when used
for transmitting a message is to act with a strip of paper perforated as
aforesaid but when it is used for receiving, a strip of paper properly
prepared with chemical substances is used so that the pulsations of
electricity passing through the paper will mark the same.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. A wheel for feeding along a strip of paper to be perforated, in
combination with an armature swinging on the same axis as the feed
wheel and an electro-magnet, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. The punch i and presser plate e in combination with the
feed wheel b, die c, and sleeve f, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The magnets h and arranged as specified in combination with
the lever g on the fulcrum 7, that is, one pole of the magnet h, and
with the circuit changer n, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Fourth. An apparatus for composing telegraphic communications,
consisting of a magnet, lever, punch, and die to perforate or emboss the
paper, in combination with a feed wheel and an electro-magnet to move
said feed wheel progressively, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. Mechanism for feeding the paper by magnetism, and inechanism
actuated by an electro-magnet for perforating the paper, in combination
with mechanism for closing the circuits to the respective magnets in
such alternate manner as to compose a telegraphic communication on a
strip of paper, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The tablet t formed of conductors arranged substantially as set
forth, in combination with a movable stylus or circuit closer that is to
be moved in contact with the conductors of the tablet to produce
alternate pulsations of electricity for feeding the paper and punching the
same by magnetism.
Seventh. An electro-magnetic motor formed with armatures upon a
spindle in combination with stationary magnets and governor balls
applied in substantially the manner specified to communicate an end
movement to the spindle, and regulate the speed by the friction resulting
from such end movement, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The cylinder k, collar 5, sleeves n and q, and governor balls p,
arranged and applied substantially as set forth, in combination with the
spindle d, armatures e, and electro-magnets b, c, substantially as set
forth.
Ninth. The adjustable step and spring 6 in combination with the
spindle carrying the armatures e and friction collar 5, so that the
spindle d and its parts are sustained or balanced by the said spring 6
for the purposes and as set forth.
Tenth. The adjustable brush 20 in combination with the roller b' and
stylus, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Eleventh. The stylus formed of a disk with a platina or non-corrosive
edge in combination with the arm n' and roller b', for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Little, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witnesses,
CHAS. H. SMITH,
121, Nassau St.,
New York.
GEO. D. WALKER,
121, Nassau St.,
New York.
GEORGE LITTLE.
(C.S.)