IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPH PRINTING AND TIME REGULATING APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John Imray of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TELEGRAPH PRINTING AND TIME REGULATING APPARATUS communicated
to him from abroad by Adolphus A. Knudson of Brooklyn in the United
States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1882.
JOHN IMRAY of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County.
of Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPH PRINTING AND TIME REGULATING
APPARATUS [Communicated to him from abroad by Adolphus A. Knudson of
Brooklyn in the United States of America.]
"
This Invention relates to a combination of telegraph printing instruments with
time pieces corrected and controlled in their movement so that a number of these
instruments connected by conductors to a transmitting instrument shall act in
unison to print upon a moving strip at each station a letter or other symbol and a
succession of such symbols as determined by the transmitter.
For this purpose the time piece at the transmitting station by means of a scape
wheel and anchor works a reciprocating commutator which transmits along one
line wire alternately positive and negative electrical currents, and these currents at
each of the receiving stations exciting electro magnets cause a polarised armature
to reciprocate and this by an anchor and scape wheel movement gives step by step
rotation to a type wheel, which is thus moved synchronously with the scape wheel
of the reciprocating commutator of the transmitter. This scape wheel by its
rotation carries a rotating arm round a dial around which are arranged a number of
keys each for a particular letter or symbol. On depressing one of those keys an
arm jointed at the end of the rotating arm meeting the obstruction presented by
the depression of the key is for a moment arrested and in moving backwards
relatively to the rotating arm in opposition to a spring it makes a contact by which
an electrical impulse is sent along a second line wire. This impulse at each receiver
•

page_text: excites an electro-magnet which attracting its armature causes a pad to press the
travelling strip against the type of the type wheel at that moment presented towards
it. Thus there is printed on the travelling strip the letter or symbol determined by
At intervals the transmitter
the particular key depressed at the transmitter.
when it is at the zero point of its movement makes a contact by which a special
impulse is transmitted, and this impulse by the action of an electro-magnet at
each receiving station releases a clutch and presents a stop so that such of the
receiving instruments as may happen to be out of adjustment are brought to their
respective zero-points, and are thus restored to coincidence with the transmitter
and with each other. This correcting action is arranged to take place only when
the printing mechanism is for a time inactive. There is also a farther adjustment
effected at longer intervals as for example once every twelve hours, the minute
hands of all the receiving timepieces being then by similar means brought to the
·same point.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th November
1882.
JOHN IMRAY of No 28. Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPH PRINTING AND TIME REGULATING
APPARATUS A communication to me from abroad by Adolphus. A. Knudson of
Brooklyn in the United States of America
"
This invention relates to a combination of telegraph printing instruments with
time pieces corrected and controlled in their movements so that a number of these
instruments, connected by conductors to a transmitting instrument act in unison
to print upon a moving strip at each station a letter or other symbol and a
succession of such symbols as determined by the transmitter. I will describe
the construction and arrangement of the receiving and transmitting apparatus
referring to the accompanying drawings. Fig 1 is a front elevation of the printing
mechanism at a receiving station. Fig 2 is a side elevation of the same partly
in section, shewing certain details of construction. Fig 3 is a plan view of the
transmitting apparatus with a diagram Fig 3 exhibiting the connection of the
same with the receiving, printing and time regulating mechanism. The other
figures shew details hereafter referred to.
The transmitting mechanism shewn in Fig 3 consists essentially of a pole-changing
device driven by a train of clockwork transmitting alternate positive and negative
pulsations over the main line. This apparatus is controlled by a series of keys
manipulated by the transmitting operator.
The pole changing mechanism consists of two metallic contact plates wand w₁
which are mounted upon a rectangular block W¹ of non-conducting material, and
are made to oscillate between two contact springs w³ and w. The spring w³ is
connected directly with the earth by means of the wire 1, and the spring w¹ is
connected with the first line wire by the wire 5. The contact piece w¹ is con-
nected with the positive pole of the main battery O by wires 4 and 3, and the
remaining contact piece w is connected with the negative pole of the same battery
by the wire 2.
When the apparatus is in the position shewn in Fig 3, the circuit may be traced
from the earth through the wire 1 to the spring w³, thence by the contact piece w
and wire 2 to the negative pole of the battery O, and from the positive pole of said.
battery by wires 3 and 4 to contact piece w and thence through the spring w* and
first line wire 5 to the receiving instrument By the oscillation of the pole
changing apparatus the poles of the main battery O are interchanged with respect;
to the line and earth wires, thus reversing the direction of the line current in a
well known manner. The pole changer W₁ is oscillated by means of a star wheel V
which acts upon an anchor each revolution of the wheel V causing a number of
successive pulsations to be transmitted alternately of positive and negative polarity,
which, taken together are equal in number to twice the number of teeth. The
rotation of the star-wheel V is controlled by an arm S mounted upon a shaft S³,
geared to the shaft of the star-wheel, which rotates synchronously therewith,
receiving its motion from the same source of power. This rotating arm S is rigidly
secured to the shaft S but carries an extension S₁ which is pivotted to it at 8 and
is moveable to an extent limited by adjustable stops 83 and st upon the arm S².
The extension S¹ of the arm S revolves beneath a circular range of keys S3 which
are normally held up and out of its path by spiral springs placed beneath them in a

page_text: manner well understood. The pivotted extension S' is held in its normal position
against the stop by a spring &¹ and if permitted to revolve freely will perform
a complete revolution in the same time as the star-wheel V.
The number of keys equals the number of the teeth and spaces taken together
upon the star wheel V and this number may be varied in Instruments designed
for different classes of business. If the arm Š is permitted to make one complete
revolution as many electric pulsations will be transmitted over the line as there
are keys, and these will be alternately of positive and negative polarity. These
pulsations serve to control the position of the type wheels of the receiving
instruments as will be hereinafter more fully explained.
The printing of a particular letter at the receiving station after the type wheel
has been brought into position, is effected by means of an electric pulsation trans-
mitted from the battery O over an independent line wire, herein termed the
"second" line wire. The transmission of this pulsation takes place almost
instantly whenever the rotary movement of the arm S is arrested by the depression
of a key. If any key be depressed, it is thrust into the path of the extension S¹,
which is not instantly arrested but travels forward a short distance bending the
spring & until the inner end of the pivotted extension S¹ comes in contact with
the stops. The latter stop is insulated from the arm S2 and serves to close the
circuit of the second line wire in the following manner:-The second line wire 6
is connected to an insulated metallic spring J, and another similar insulated
spring J is united with the line wire 5 by a wire 7. The springs J and J¹, as
shewn in the side view Fig 6, press upon and make contact with insulated rings j
and jupon the shaft S2, and these are connected by wires 8 and 9 with the
extension S¹ of the arm S² and with the insulated contact point 8. Thus whenever
the rotating arm of the transmitter is arrested by the depression of a key
a current is transmitted from the main battery 0 over the second line wire
without interrupting the current already traversing the first line wire from the
same battery.
The pulsation thus transmitted over the second wire is positive or negative
according to the position of the pole changing device, but this does not affect its
action at the receiving station. This pulsation may be repeated by means of a
key J$
The pulsation for adjusting the time mechanism is transmitted by a key as
shewn in diagram at J4, which when actuated, throws an additional section of
battery 01 (of the same polarity as the main battery O) into the same circuit,
thus increasing the strength of current. The key J' may be manipulated by hand;
but it is preferred to connect it with a standard clock or regulator in such a manner
that it is automatically actuated by the clock at a predetermined hour, minute and
second of time. The apparatus at the receiving station consists of the printing
mechanism, the unison mechanism, the time-piece and the device for adjusting or
regulating the time piece.
Referring to Figs 2 and 3 and to Fig 4 which shews separately the mounting of
the type wheel, A is the frame work for supporting the printing mechanism and
time-piece. The printing mechanism comprises a type wheel N, which, together
with a driving pinion n is mounted upon a sleeve or hollow axis M which turns
upon a fixed shaft g³ (best seen in Fig 4). The type wheel tends to revolve by
the action of a train of wheel work moved by a weight or spring and driving a
wheel which engages with the pinion n; but the movements of the type wheel are
controlled (except as hereinafter set forth) by means of an anchor escapement
mechanism consisting of a scape wheel g³ (see Figs 1 and 3ª) and an anchor g
attached to a vibrating armature G¹ which is permanently polarized and vibrates
to and fro, under the influence of alternate currents, between electro-magnets G G
mounted so that their respective poles face each other. This arrangement of
apparatus for producing or controlling the movement of a type wheel by alternating
currents being well known requires no further explanation. The scape wheel g² is
normally coupled to the type wheel as will hereafter be described.

page_text: To secure a more rapid vibration of the armature lever G' a small coil spring g¹
may be inserted into a recess in the face of each of the cores of the electro
magnets G, projecting beyond the end of the core.
The printing mechanism consists of an electro magnet F, included in the circuit
of the second line wire, which acts upon the armature f affixed to the press lever F³,
which turns upon a pin f'. A platten ³ is mounted upon the press lever beneath
the type wheel, and a ribbon or tape of paper f³ is fed between the platten and
the type wheel by means of the feed rollers T and T¹ which are caused to advance
the proper distance after each impression by means of a scape wheel t¹ and pallets t²
affixed to and actuated by the press lever F2 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig 1.
The unison mechanism whereby the position of the type wheel of the receiving
instrument is brought into correspondence with the transmitter is constructed as
follows:-
Upon the same shaft g³ which carries the escapement wheel is mounted a clutch
wheel L laterally moveable along a feather on the shaft. This clutch wheel is
provided with a collar m² having a groove into which fits a forked clutch k¹
attached to the armature k of the unison electro magnet K. Near the periphery of
the clutch wheel L is a series of holes i adapted to receive a pin m mounted upon
the end of an arm m¹ projecting from the sleeve M of the type wheel N. The
clutch wheel L is normally pressed towards the arm m¹ by means of a spring m³
and engages with the pin m thus locking the parts together, so that the type
wheel N can revolve only in correspondence with the movement of the scape
wheel g². Whenever a current of electricity is sent through the unison magnet K
the armature k carrying the clutch arm k is attracted, thus disengaging the
wheel L from the pin m. The type wheel and pin on being thus released from the
scape wheel g² will revolve by the action of the clockwork exerted through the
pinion n in the direction of the arrow until arrested at the zero-point by reason of
a stop me upon the arm m' meeting a projection k from the armature k, when that
armature is attracted towards its magnet. Thus whenever an electrical current
traverses the unison magnet K, the type wheel is automatically brought to the
zero-point and when this current is interrupted the armature k is thrown back
from the poles of the magnet by the pressure of the spring m³ against the collar m²,
and the type wheel sleeve becomes again locked to the scape wheel by the pin m
entering one of the holes in the periphery of the clutch wheel L. A friction
spring me is provided to press against the sleeve of the type wheel and the binding
screw m7 at the end of the shaft g³ to prevent the recoil of the type wheel when
suddenly arrested, or its too rapid movement.
The device for sending an electrical impulse at frequent intervals through the
unison magnet K in order to correct the position of the type wheel, consists of a
shunt or switch operated by the movement of the timepiece, whereby the current
of the main line, which controls the type wheel, is shunted through the unison
magnet (in case the instrument should not be at unison) whenever the escapement
mechanism is inactive during a few seconds. The mechanism for this consists of
an arm P (see Fig 2 and Fig 3a) suspended from the axis 63 of the minute hand of
the clock, and carrying at its lower end a frictional contact spring R sliding over
two contact points r and r'. The upper end of the arm P is loose upon the shaft
and is pressed against a shoulder p thereon by means of a spring p¹ constituting a
frictional connection. The motion of the minute hand causes the arm P when
unobstructed to be gradually moved in a direction corresponding with the motion
of the hand b, thus carrying the contact spring R from the contact point r to the
contact point . One of these contact points r is connected with one extremity of
the coils of the type wheel magnets G and the other contact point r¹ is connected
with one terminal of the coil of the unison magnet K. When the arm P is in its
normal position, the circuit is formed through the binding post W, the metallic
framework, the clock mechanism, the arm P, contact point r and the electro-
magnets G to the binding post X. The movement of the shaft 63 causes the arm P
to be gradually moved carrying the contact spring. R from the point r to the

page_text: point thus transferring the circuit from the type wheel magnets to the unison-
magnets and operating device in the manner before described. The contact
spring R is brought back to contact with the point thus closing the circuit
through the magnets G by the wiper m' upon the sleeve M acting (when the type
wheel reaches its zero point) on the incline of a tooth p³ at the lower extremity of
the arm P thus throwing the arm P back and holding it back as long as the type
wheel remains at its unison point, thus maintaining a closed circuit through the
contact point r and the type wheel magnets until the type wheel is again operated.
Whenever a momentary pause occurs in the operation of the escapement mechanism
and the type wheel is left in any position other than zero, the contact spring R is
carried from the contact point r to the contact point by the time movement,
thus operating the unison mechanism. The contact points and r¹ are preferably
mounted upon a piece of insulated material secured to the frame A by a screw r
which passing through a slot 5 allows of adjustment. The wiper m* upon the
sleeve which carries the type wheel is also adjustable by means of the screw m³.
The end of the wiper m² and the tooth p³ are preferably wedge shaped, and m³ is
so adjusted that it blocks p³ only when the type wheel is exactly at the unison
point.
The time regulating mechanism consists of a suitable train of clockwork B, driven
by any convenient motor, and supported in a frame a moving the hands b and b'
over the dial 62 of the time piece to indicate mean solar time in the well known
manner.
The mechanism for correcting the time is of the following kind :-Connected with
the ordinary mechanism of the time-piece, and driven by the same motive power,
are two additional wheels C and C, constituting what is technically known as a
"Geneva stop movement." The wheel C revolves synchronously with the minute
hand 6 of the clock, thus performing one complete revolution per hour. Upon the
periphery of this wheel is formed a single tooth c which at a particular point in
each revolution enters one of the twelve equidistant recesses c¹ in the periphery of
the wheel C and moves it one-twelfth round, thus causing it to complete a
revolution once in every twelve hours. The periphery of the wheel C fits into the
concavities between the successive recesses in the periphery of the wheel C¹ and
thus prevents the latter from moving except when driven by the tooth c. Upon
the end of the arbor d which carries the wheel C' is rigidly affixed a cam D. The
end of this cam engages once in every revolution a horizontal arm D' pivotted at
d' in such a manner as to permit a slight horizontal movement (see Fig 5). The
arm D is pressed against the plate a by a torsion spring e³ on a vertical rod E
which has a crank arm e and pin e¹ bearing against the arm D¹.
Upon the free end of the arm D' is a yoke D2 extending beneath the arbor 6³
of the minute hand. On this arbor is fixed a time correcting bar D³, which so
long as the arm D¹ is in its normal position revolves in front of the yoke D2
without touching it. When the cam D revolves in the direction of the arrow, it
passes behind the bevilled rear face of the arm D' as seen in Fig 5 thus pressing
it outward and throwing the pin e' forward. This movement causes the spindle E
to be turned against the spring e² a sufficient distance to bring another arm E¹
upon its lower extremity above and into the path of the adjustable screw f³ ou the
end of the press lever F2. The arm D' is by the same movement placed above and
in the path of the upper extremity of the spindle E while the yoke D is brought
beneath the correcting bar D³. While the lever D¹ remains in this position, if
an upward motion is communicated to the printing lever F2 the spindle is raised,
raising the lever D₁ so that the yoke D2 engages the correcting bár D³ and forces
it to assume a position parallel to the ends of the yoke. This turns the minute
hand of the time piece either backward or forward as the case may be. A spiral
spring e depresses the rod E. Thus once in every twelve hours the arm D¹ is
thrown forward and moves the minute hand of the clock when the lever F makes
an upstroke.

page_text: The regulating mechanism may be modified as shewn in Fig 5ª so that the
correction may be effected from the transmitting station without throwing any of
the work of correction on the time piece itself. For this purpose an incline t is
provided so that when the lever D1 is raised it is also moved horizontally so as to
bring its yoke D2 immediately under the correcting bar D³ The lower part of the
rod E is hinged at V and pressed by a spring U, and has a wedge tooth projecting
from it towards a cam Q fixed on the sleeve of the type wheel. Usually the lower
end of Qis clear of the screw f³ on the press lever F2, but when the cam Q is
turned to the position shewn in Fig 5ª pressing back Q', an upstroke of the lever F²
raises the rod E and the yoke D2 giving the correction required. Thus when it is
desired to correct, say once an hour, the transmitter moves a key of bis instrument
so that the type wheel revolves till the cam comes to the position shewn in
Fig 5ª, then after waiting for a few seconds for the regulator to arrive at the exact
hour, an electrical impulse sent by the second line wire causes the press lever F² to
make an upstroke effecting the correction.
Upon the end of the arbor d' opposite that which carries the arm D¹ is mounted
a hammer d² which receives an upward impulse whenever the forked arm D² is
thrown upward by the shaft E and strikes a bell d³ thus indicating by an audible
signal that the clock has been adjusted to the correct time. This, however may
be dispensed with and the bell may be connected to a striking movement in the
usual way.
The printing mechanism works in the following manner. A key of the
transmitter being depressed, the arm' S¹ revolves until it is stopped by that key,
and during its partial revolution a number of electric pulsations of alternating
polarity are transmitted by the first line wire to W thence through the metal
frame and clock work and the arm P and spring R to the contact and through
the coil of the electro magnets G G to X and thence to earth. The oscillations of
the armature G¹ and its anchor g determine the extent through which the type
wheel revolves so that the type presented at the lowest part of its circumference
corresponds with the depressed key of the transmitter. Thereupon by the deflection
of the arm S¹ as above described, an impulse is sent by the second line wire
through Y and the coil of F to Z and earth, and the armature f being attracted,
the lever F makes an upstroke pressing the paper strip f against the type. The
movement of F2 causes the rollers T T to turn partly round advancing the paper
strip for the next impression.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim in respect of telegraph printing and time regulating apparatus
First. In the transmitting instrument, the combination of the intermittently
rotating shaft carrying an arm, the circular range of keys any one of which when
depressed arrests the arm, the star wheel revolving with the shaft and working an
anchor and pole changer making contacts which send alternating electrical
impulses along the first line wire, and the yielding contact lever mounted on the
arm which when deflected by a depressed key makes contact sending an impulse
through a second line wire, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. In combination with a receiving instrument a time piece arranged to
effect unison with the transmitter, substantially as herein described.
-
Third. In the receiving instrument the combination of the time piece, the type
wheel moyed thereby step by step as permitted by the escapement worked by the
alternating impulses transmitted by the first line wire, the mechanism producing
unison when the second electro-magnet is brought into circuit, the press lever and .
its electro-magnet connected to the second line wire, all arranged and operating
substantially as herein described.
Fourth. In combination with the receiving instrument and its time piece the
mechanism for regulating the time by means of electrical impulses sent from the
transmitting station, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The combination of the transmitting instrument and its battery, the

page_text: two line wires and a number of the receiving instruments and their time-pieces
with their respective printing, unison and time regulating mechanisms, substantially
as herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said John Imray have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Seventeenth day of November in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.