IMPROVEMENTS IN "PRINTING TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1885

page_text: I GEORGE MALTBY HATHAWAY residing at No 327 Walnut Street in the City of
Philadelphia County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania in the United
States of America, gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN "PRINTING TELEGRAPHS," and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to a printing telegraph system and apparatus of the class
in which rotating type wheels are used in connection with impression devices
operated by electro magnets, the object of the improvement being to accomplish
the transmission of printed telegraphic messages with increased rapidity as
compared with the previously existing state of the art to print at the transmitting
station a message simultaneously with its transmission to a receiving station and
to print messages in pages of parallel lines though the apparatus may be used for
printing in a continuous line on a narrow strip or fillet The invention consists in
the improved system and the apparatus comprising certain novel constructions and
combinations of devices which will be hereinafter particularly described and
pointed out in the appended claims reference being made to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a printing telegraph apparatus constructed and
arranged for operation according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the transmitting apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the same.
Fig 4 is a front view.
Fig 5 is a vertical section on the line x-x of Fig 2.
Fig 6 is a horizontal section on the line y. y of Fig 2.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the receiving apparatus.
Fig 8 is a horizontal section of the same on line x¹³ of Fig 7.
Fig. 9. is a detail top view illustrating the devices for releasing and arresting the
type wheel of the transmitting apparatus and for closing the circuit through its
printing magnet.
Fig 10 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation illustrating the
paper support and filling devices and the impression devices.
Referring now to Figs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the letters A and A¹ indicate respectively
the top board and base of the supporting frame the top board being supported by

page_text: suitable posts or pillars B B¹ standing on the base Between the front posts B¹ is
supported a cross piece C upon the under side of which is secured a metallic
plate D having near its margin an annular series of perforations & see Fig. 6
coinciding with similar perforations in the cross piece C.
In the perforations of the cross piece and metallic plate D are arranged metallic
pins E. the upper ends of which are pivoted to supports f secured to the underside
of the top board A. Through this top board are perforations in which are loosely
arranged pins g having their lower ends pivoted to the levers F respectively
while their upper ends above the top board are provided with heads or finger
pieces G between which and the top board are arranged spiral springs g¹ for
holding up the pins and the levers F. The pins and their heads form the keys for
operating the levers F which normally are held up by the springs against a stop F¹
so that the lower ends of the pins E will not project below the metallic plate D.
In a perforation e of the metallic plate D is arranged a pin E¹ of non conducting
material having its upper end pivoted to one of the parts B and has its outer end
secured to a segmental bar H which lies under and against the levers F and is
pressed upward by a spring n Fig 2. It will now be seen that if either one of the
levers F is pressed downward by its key, the metallic pin E attached to said lever
will be pressed down through and beyond the metallic plate D and at the same
time the said lever F will act on the segmental bar H¹ to cause the inner end of
the lever h to be raised and draw up the non conducting pin E which normally
projects beyond the metallic plate D.
Through the centre of the metallic plate D and cross piece C is an opening
through which is arranged a vertical shaft I the lower end of which has a bearing
in a step on the base board while its upper end projects through the top board
and has a bearing in a screw which is arranged through a bracket ² resting on
the top board.
Under the bracket and above the top board a type wheel K of ordinary
construction is fixed upon the shaft I. Upon said shaft I near its lower end is a
pinion which is in gear with a train of wheels Larranged to be driven by a
cord L¹ properly weighted and connected to a barrel L² connected with the train L
for driving the same in an ordinary manner.
To the shaft I directly under the metallic plate D is secured a radial metallic
arm M see Figs 4 & 6 projecting outwardly a little beyond the perforations in
said plate so that if revolved it will strike the non-conducting pin E' when said
pin projects below the plate D and if this pin is drawn out, of its path the arm
will strike any pin E which may be projected below the plate.
The shaft I has normally a tendency to rotate under series of the train L and so
the arm M ordinarily rests against pin E¹ and when a key lever and its pin E
is depressed the pin E will be raised and release the arm M which then flies
around and strikes the depressed pin E.
Just above the pinion on the shaft. I a circuit breaking wheel N is fixed
upon the shaft and against its periphery bear two metallic friction wheels n n¹
carried by spring arms N' N" which are secured to the downwardly projecting
ends of two binding posts N³ N* arranged upon the cross piece C.
The "makes" or metallic spaces in the periphery of the circuit breaking wheel
are the same in number and coincide in position with the characters on the type
wheel, as do also the metallic pins E, each of which represents a letter or other
character.
A binding post N³ is electrically connected with an arm or lateral extension d
the plate D and from this post No a wire n leads to the printing magnet as will
presently be more particularly described.
P is the printing magnet of the transmitter. It is mounted upon the upper end
of a tubular post p the lower end of which rests upon a bracket Q depending from
the base board see Fig 1. The armature lever p¹ of this magnet extends upward
and carries a printing pad p2 arranged to drive the paper against the type wheel
when the magnet attracts the armature.
-

page_text: Above the magnet P is a plate 23 projecting from the front end of the top
board A and having a circular opening through which the upper pad end of the
armature lever projects. Within this circular aperture fits a flange r Figs 6
and 10 projecting from a ratchet wheel R which lies upon the plate p³. Below
the magnet upon its tubular supporting post p is a sleeve Q the lower edge of
which is arranged to bear against a pin q projecting from the post. A lug q¹
beveled or inclined on one edge projects from the lower edge of the sleeve and
when said sleeve is rotated in the proper direction and the inclined end of the lug
comes in contact with the pin, it will ride upward over said pin forcing up the
sleeve which will fall back by gravity when the lug has passed the pin. From
the sleeve Q spring arms S stand out and extend upward through the ratchet
wheel R and bear outward against its inner periphery. These arms have on their
surfaces next the wheel slight upwardly inclined serrations 8 and there are similar
serrations s¹ on the inner periphery of the wheel.
From the sleeve project arms q³ q³ which support a reel q' which carries the
paper T The paper T is to be led up through the ratchet wheel R and formed
into a tube around the spring arms S. As before stated the wire w leads from
binding post N5 to one coil terminal of the printing magnet P passing up through
the tubular supporting post and from the other coil terminal a wire w¹ leads to
one pole of supplementary battery a¹ which has its other pole connected to ground.
From one pole of the main battery as at a wire w³ leads to the binding post N¹
and the line wire W is connected to post N³. The batteries x and x¹ have similar
poles to the ground.
.
The operation of the printing transmitter as now described is as follows:-
When the circuit breaking and type wheels are at unison against pin E¹, and at
this time the friction contact rollers bear against "makes" or conducting portions
of the break wheel a key is depressed and a metallic pin E forced down through
the plate D, the arm M being released flies around and strikes the depressed
metallic pin and the type wheel is arrested with that letter or character opposite
the printing pad which is represented by the depressed pin.
At this moment the main circuit is closed through the break wheel and the
circuit of supplementary battery x is closed through the printing magnet to the
line owing to the fact that electrical connection is now made from post N' through
extension d plate D the depressed pin E which the arm M forces in contact with
said plate through said arm M and the shaft I to the brake wheel and spring
arm N¹ supported by a post N³ and which has a roller on a "make" of said break
wheel.
The printing magnet is thus energized and operates its armature lever to force
the paper against the letter of the type wheel when opposite the printing pad.
When the pin E is allowed to rise, the circuit through the printing magnet is
broken and the arm M. continues its movement quickly till it again strikes the
unison pin E' which is then depressed by spring h.
When the shaft I begins its movement after the arm M is released by the
unison pin, a lug projecting from the shaft I strikes a shoulder u on a shaft U
arranged on a plate p³ and drives said slide end wise against the force of a retracting
spring The side U carries a spring pawl u2 which at each forward movement
of the slide strikes a tooth of the ratchet wheel R thus moving said wheel the space
of one tooth and turning the paper tube correspondingly to feed the space for one
letter When the lug leaves the shoulder of the slide the latter is thrown back to
its original position by its retracting spring ready to again operate the ratchet
wheel for feeding.
.The space of the type wheel which stands normally opposite the printing pad is
blank and there is a pin of the series E corresponding to this space.
The key
corresponding to this pin is to be operated for making blank spaces in the lines of
printing for feeding and for making margin. As the makes and breaks of the
break wheel correspond to the letters on the type wheel, it will be understood that
an instantaneous closing of the circuit occurs for every letter of the type wheel

page_text: which passes a given point between the instant it starts to move and the instant it
is arrested by a depressed pin E and a corresponding number of impulses are sent
over the line to operate a receiving instrument at the other end which will be
presently described.
It will be observed that the paper used is much wider than is used in ordinary
printing telegraphs, and as has been stated the printing is arranged in parallel
lines The tubular paper is preferably lapped at its edges to form a proper margin,
and when after starting to print a line from a proper point near one edge of the
paper the operator observes the line of printing to have approached sufficiently
near the other edge he operates a designated key which depresses a pin corre-
sponding to the blank space on the type wheel in order that the wheel and
connected feeding mechanism may be operated a sufficient number of times to feed
the paper around to leave a proper margin. The inclined lug at the lower edge of
the sleeve Q2 at each revolution of the ratchet wheel R strikes the pin q projecting
from the tubular shaft so that the sleeve and its arms S are driven upward as the
lug rides over the pin.
As the arms S rise upward their serrations s carry the paper also upward a space
proper to receive a line of type and as the sleeve and its arms fall the lug rides
over the pin, the serrations on the inner periphery of wheel R engage the paper
and hold it up while the arms slip down ready for a new feed.
I will now describe the feeding apparatus which is to be used at the opposite
end of the line from the transmitter.
Referring to Fig 7 the letters A² and A³ indicate respectively, the top board
and base of the receiver, the top board being supported by suitable posts B³
and B³.
Between the two front posts B³ B³ is a cross piece C₁ having a circular opening
through which is arranged a vertical shaft I¹ having a step bearing at its lower
end while its upper end carries a type wheel K¹ and is supported in the same
manner as in the transmitter Near its lower end the shaft I has a pinion
geared with a train L¹ the same as in the transmitter for driving the shaft I.
Upon this shaft below the cross piece C' is secured a star-wheel V in which is
arranged to play a double escapement pawl or anchor V which is secured to the
armature lever y of an electro magnet Y. When this magnet is intermittently
energized by rapidly successive electric impulses the wheel V and consequently the
type wheel on the same shaft are allowed to have a very rapid movement under the
influence of the driving weight but are always under control so as to be stopped
instantly when the magnet Y ceases to be active.
Through the cross piece C¹ is loosely arranged a pin E2 carried by a lever F³
which carries a small armature arranged to be attracted by an adjacent pole of the
magnet Y When the magnet is inactive the armature is held up by a spring f
and the tip of pin E2 then stands above the lower surface of the cross piece C₁ but
when the magnet is active the armature is attracted and the pin E2 projects below
the cross piece in the path of a radial arm M¹ which projects from the shaft I so
that it will be seen that the said arın and the pin E² effect a positive stoppage of
the type wheel independent of the escapement.
The line L which leads from the transmitter is connected to a binding post No
which is connected with one terminal of the magnet Y from the other terminal of
which a wire w³ leads to the printing magnet which is connected to ground by
wire the same as in the transmitter The printing, paper supporting and feeding
devices of the receiver are the same as those of the transmitter and are similarly
lettered in the drawing and both the transmitter and receiver are provided with
inking wheels Z for inking the type faces of the type wheel in the usual manner.
It will now be understood that when the transmitter has one of its keys
depressed for printing and transmitting a certain letter its type wheel as has
already been explained revolves with great rapidity until that letter is brought
opposite the printing pad At the same time the circuit breaking wheel of the
transmitter causes a sufficient number of rapid makes and breaks of the circuit to

page_text: cause the magnet Y of the receiver and its connected devices to operate the receiver
type wheel for bringing a similar letter opposite its printing pad the type wheel of
the receiver pausing exactly as the transmitter wheel pauses, and during this pause
the printing magnet is energized and operates the printing pad the feeding for
letters and lines and forming the margin of the page corresponding in the receiver
with the similar operations of the transmitter.
At every closing of the circuit by the transmitter break wheel the circuit is
closed through the printing magnet of the receiver, but the printing magnet of the
receiver magnet is so adjusted that it does not operate its printing pad at the time
the type wheel presents the proper letter in correspondence with the pause of the
transmitter when its arm M strikes a depressed pin E and thus throws the current
of the auxiliary battery on the line.
When the first break of the main circuit occurs the receiver magnet releases the
armature f and the lever F2 raises the pin E2 to release the arm M' to permit the
shaft to revolve and when the arm M³ completes its revolution, the magnet
draws down said armature and projects the pin E² to arrest the arm M¹ at unison.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction
and arrangement of devices as shown in my drawings but may vary the same in
any manner to better carry out the principle of my invention without departing
from the true scope thereof.
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. The combination in a printing telegraph apparatus of a type wheel, devices
for operating the same, means as shown and described for supporting a sheet of
paper in tubular formu adjacent to the periphery of said type wheel and for feeding
the paper step by step and longitudinally line by line, and the electro magnetic
impression devices all arranged and operating essentially as set forth.
2. In a printing telegraph apparatus the combination with the type wheel, and
its shaft carrying the revolving arm of a series of stops arranged to arrest said arm
at different points suitable keys for operating said stops, a main battery circuit
and a make and break wheel therein carried by the type wheel shaft and a
supplementary battery circuit arranged to be closed to the main line each time the
revolving arm strikes one of said series of stops substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3 The combination with the type wheel shaft of the transmitter, of the perforated
plate D the metallic pin E arranged to pass through the perforations of said plate
the non-conducting pin E¹ the lever arranged to be operated by all the other levers
for raising said non-conducting pin and the arm M attracted to the type wheel
shaft substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the type wheel its shaft, the break wheel on said shaft
and suitable electrodes in contact with said wheel and arranged in a main circuit
of the devices, substantially as described, for propelling the said shaft and arresting
the same at desired points, a supplementary battery circuit including a printing
magnet and connections for closing said supplementary circuit to the main line
each time the type wheel is arrested in position for printing substantially as
described.
5. The combination with the main and supplementary battery circuits, and the
transmitting instrument constructed as described and provided with means as
shown and described for automatically closing the supplementary circuit to the
main line each time a letter is to be printed, of the receiving instrument having
the magnet Y in circuit with said transmitter, and provided with an armature lever
carrying escapement pallets said receiver having also the type wheel shaft provided
with a type wheel and escapement wheel controlled by said pallets and a printing
magnet in circuit, with the magnet Y and adjusted to attract its armature only
when the transmitting instrument closes the supplementary circuit, suitable
mechanical motive devices being provided for propelling the type wheel shaft of

page_text: the receiving instrument said motive devices being controlled by the magnet Y
through intermediate mechanism substantially as described.
6. The combination with the feeding ratchet wheel R having serrations on its
inner periphery and the devices substantially as described for rotating said wheel
step by step in accordance with the movements of the type wheel, of the elastic
arms S having serrations on their outer faces and the automatic mechanism as
set forth for temporarily lifting said arms for feeding the paper for lines as set
forth.
Dated this Sixth day of December 1884