Improvements in Transmitting Written or other Characters, Figures, Drawings, Plans, or the like, and also Indicating and Recording the Indications of Registering Instruments by Electricity, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification -Accepted, 5th Feb., 1889
Improvements in Transmitting Written or other Characters, Figures,
Drawings, Plans, or the like, and also Indicating and Recording
the Indications of Registering Instruments by Electricity, and
in Apparatus therefor.
J, THOMAS O'BRIEN, of 47 Kingsley Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follow's
-
This invention refers chiefly to the transmitting from one place or station and
receiving and recording at another place or station, more or less distant, the com-
pounded movement of a point in two directions, one at an angle to the other by
the use of electricity for the purpose of telegraphing written or other characters,
figures, drawings or the like.
Such compounded movements have hitherto been transmitted by means of electric
currents of varying intensity, requiring however delicate instruments which for use
were found not practical.
By this invention I transmit the movement by a direct step-by-step motion, each
time that the circuit is made by the movement of the writing point or style at the
transmitting station, the pen at the receiving station is moved in the same direction
by the direct action of one or more electro-magnets which are brought into the
circuit.
This movement may be transmitted by the rapid making and breaking of contact
in a variety of ways as the writing point or style is moved, either the arm or lever
to which it is connected traversing a number of insulated plates wires or other
metallic points, each in electrical connection with the circuit or by means of a
revolving disc or wheel caused to rotate as the style lever moves by which a number
of pins teeth or their equivalents give an oscillating movement to a lever. or
otherwise, alternately makes and breaks contact, or other arrangements may be
employed whereby the movements of the writing point or style in either direction
rapidly makes or breaks contact.

page_text: The instruments at the transmitting end must be made with similar independent
parts to transmit each of the primary movements of the style, and each part must
be constructed with separate contact makes for the forward and backward motions
in the same plane and these motions will be transmitted by independent electro-
magnets at the receiving station.
For each part of the apparatus which transmits a primary movement of the writing
style there must be a corresponding instrument at the receiving station fitted with
two electro-magnets, one of which at each time contact is made is brought into the
circuit, one magnet is brought into and out of circuit as the style moves forward
and the other magnet as it moves backwards, the armatures of these magnets at each
movement act by a pawl or ratchet motion upon a wheel or pinion thereby giving
the desired movement to the lever carrying the pen.
For recording the indications of registering instruments at a distance similar
instruments may be employed but reduced to transmit only a primary movement
which will be received on a revolving or travelling paper on which the indications
may be recorded extending over a longer or shorter period of time as may be
required.
For the purpose of transmitting writing, drawings, plans or the like the instruments
may be made to receive two or three independent primary movements. Two of
these primary movements will be compounded to give the character to the writing
while the third will be limited to a vertical movement to lift the pen from the paper,
the third or lifting movement may be dispensed with.
By transmitting written or other characters as herein described the writing point
at the transmitting station and the pen at the receiving station may be made to
traverse-a-sheet of paper or other flat surface and the necessity of a travelling sheet
of paper may be avoided.
Also the reproduction at the receiving station while
being to a large extent a fac-simile of that which is transmitted may be increased or
diminished in size.

page_text: Improvements in Transmitting Written or other Characters, Figures,
Drawings, Plans, or the like, and also Indicating and Recording
the Indications of Registering Instruments by Electricity, and
in Apparatus therefor.
I, THOMAS O'BRIEN, of Kingsley Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster
Commercial Traveller, 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 relates to the telegraphing of written or other characters, and the
reproduction of them in fac-simile at a station more or less distant, and in the
apparatus employed for the purpose.
It refers chiefly to the transmitting, by means of electricity, from one place or
station and receiving and recording at another place or station, more or less distant,
the compounded movement of a point in two directions, one at an angle to the
other for the purpose of telegraphing written or other characters, figures, drawings,
and the like.
Hitherto in all instruments which have been used for autograph telegraphy or
transmitting the fac-simile of written or other characters, such compounded movements
of the transmitting pen in forming the letters or characters have been transmitted
by means of electric currents, of varying intensity or strength, the strength or
intensity of the current passed through the electric circuit being directly propor-
tionate to the extent of the movement of the transmitting pen. This necessitated
the employment of instruments of very delicate construction and the restriction of
the movements of the parts to a very limited space, and it has been necessary
to make these instruments with a travelling riband of paper both on which to write
and on which to receive the message.
The main object of my invention is to provide for the telegraphing of characters,
extending over a considerable surface, while that surface remains stationary, and
reproducing similar characters in the same relative position at a distant station also
on a stationary surface.
The invention consists essentially in transmitting the movements of the writing pen,
step by step, to the receiving pen by means of a series of transient currents, set up in
an electric circuit connecting them, caused by rapidly interrupting or making and
breaking contact as the transmitting pen travels, and in apparatus for the interrupting
or rapid making and breaking of contact by the movement of the writing pen at the
transmitting station, and for moving the writing pen at the receiving station in
the same direction by the action of electro magnets, through which each transient
current in the circuit passes. The rapid interrupting or making and breaking of

page_text: contact to cause the transient currents in the circuit consequent upon the movement of
the writing instrument at the transmitting end (hereinafter called the transmitting pen)
may be effected in a variety of ways, by allowing a brush or contact maker to
traverse a number of plates, wires, or metallic points, each in electrical connection
with the circuit and insulated one from the other and these may be so set that the
brush will traverse them either in a straight or curved path. Also the movement
of the writing pen at the receiving station (hereinafter called the receiving pen)
produced by the transient currents passing through one or more electro-magnets
may be communicated in a variety of ways from the armature of the magnet, such
as by the movement of the armature of the magnet acting through a pawl or its
equivalent on a toothed wheel or friction disc or by the movement of the armature
of the electro-magnet acting directly or through levers upon the arm attached to
the receiving pen.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1, is a general diagram showing the relative positions of the instruments and
their connections.
Fig. 2, plan of transmitting instruments.
Fig. 3, enlarged plan of one of transmitting instruments.
Fig. 4, sectional elevation of one of transmitting instruments.
Fig. 5, plan of receiving instruments.
Fig. 6, enlarged plan of one of receiving instruments.
Fig. 7, sectional elevation of one of receiving instruments.
Fig. 8, enlarged elevation of receiving pen.
Fig. 9, modified arrangement of part of receiving instrument.
The instruments shown in fig. 2 constitute one part of the apparatus, that which
is necessary for transmitting the characters, and this comprises two instruments
practically identical, one of which transmits the movement of the transmitting pen
in the direction of the up and down strokes of written characters, and the other the
movement of the transmitting pen in the direction of the lines in writing. Similarly
the instruments in fig. 5 constitute that part of the apparatus necessary for receiving
and recording the transmitted message or characters and this again comprises two
practically identical instruments corresponding with those at the transmitting station.
In the similar independent instruments, at-each station therefore, like letters will
refer to like parts and the one description will refer to both.
Referring to figs. 1 to 4 the transmitting pen A is, by means of a pivoted joint,
attached to arms or rods B (or cord or other mechanical contrivance) by which it is
connected with the circuit interrupter or contact maker and breaker C. The
instruments are preferably so set on their table that the rods B stand at right angles
when the transmitting pen A is in the centre of the surface D which it has to
traverse. The contact maker and breaker consists of a disc E fitted with a number
of plates or points e in electrical connection, but separated by insulating material on
the surface which is traversed backwards and forwards by the brush F. The brusli F
is always in electrical contact with the metallic ring e through which the circuit is
completed by means of an arm F¹ resting on the metallic ring e¹. As the brush F
alternately passes from one point e onto the insulating material and then to the next
point e the current is interrupted or made and broken and a transient current is caused
to pass through the line wire to the actuating magnets at the receiving station.
The disc E is pivoted on the pin or stud G fixed to the table and has a slight
movement thereon. The pin or stud G also carries the brush F with pulley f both
insulated therefrom. The pulley f is connected with the rod B by means of a cord
or band b which passes round it and at each movement of the transmitting pen A
and rod B in either direction the brush F is rotated around the disc rapidly making
and breaking contact as it comes in contact successively with the pins e causing
the required transient current in the line J.
The main current might be sent direct through the brush F and contact pins e in
the disc E but the instrument would be liable to what is termed "hunting," that is,

page_text: contact might be made and broken several times in succession at the same point,
and thus send a number of transient currents through the line wire without a
corresponding movement having taken place in the transmitting pen.
To avoid this hunting" I introduce a local battery H comprising in its circuit
a couple of electro-magnets I, I with an oscillating armature i forming a contact
maker and breaker in the main line circuit. The local circuit connects at oue end
with the brush F through the metallic ring e¹ and arm F and at the other with each
of the rings of pins e by means of a separate wire, the inner ring of pins being
insulated from the outer ring. The brusli F as it moves comes in contact alternately
with the pins in one row and then with those in the other, sending the current first
through the magnet I and then through I' magnetising or energising them alternately
throwing the armature i first to one side and then to the other. At each movement.
of the armature i contact is made and broken in the line wire at and the transient
current transmitted to the line wire. Should the brush move on and off one of the
points e without sufficient movement of the transmitting pen A to bring it in contact
with the next point, another current will not be transmitted to the line circuit as the
armature will not again be attracted past the contact point until the next point
has been reached by the brush.
From the circuit interrupter or contact maker and breaker the line wire J, runs
to the receiving station. Two lines may be used one to convey the transient currents
caused by the upward movement, and the other by the downward movement of the
pen. Instead, however, of two lines, 1 prefer to use one line J, with a pole changer
at the transmitting station and a polarized relay K¹ at the receiving station as
shown.
The main line circuit will pass from the point through the pin or stud G and
arm g of the pole changer to the contact points '. The arm 9 is in frictional
contact with the boss or sleeve of the pulley and is oscillated by it between the
points g as the pen is moved up and down. Where two lines are used the arm g acts
simply to connect one or the other line according to which the current is desired to
pass through.
;
The arm
or rod B of the transmitting pen A, is carried on the supporting
brackets b¹, on the disc E, and the movement of the pen A causes the disc E to move
on its pin or stud G. Instead of the disc E being pivoted on a stud it may be fixed
and the arm B may have a knuckle or universal joint to allow for the movement
pen A.
of
It will be evident that instead of the disc E, with the brush rotating thereon over
the contact points e the brush may be carried by the arm B of the transmitting pen
and caused to move backwards and forwards over a surface formed alternately of
conducting and non-conducting material. One way of doing this would be to use one
or two metallic wires wound round a rod of ebonite or other non-conducting material
cut with grooves to receive the wires each coil of the wire forming the contact
medium and the intervening surface the non-conducting material; or metallic plates
alternating with plates of mica or other non-conducting material may be used; or
other device employed whereby contact may be rapidly made and broken. The
arrangement of a brush moving over a disc has this advantage over a brush moving
to and fro in a straight line, that the points of contact may be larger and further.
apart, as a short movement of the arm or rod B causes a greater travel of the brush,
the arm of the brush being longer than the radius of the pulley f; and also the
extent of surface over which the transmitting pen will travel is only limited by the
length of rod.
The terminals or binding screws for connecting the instrument with the circuit
wires are marked with numerals. 1, 2 and 3 are the terminals for connecting the
local battery H and completing the local circuit h. 5 and 6 are the terminals for
connecting the line wire J and batteries with the instrument and 4 the
terminal for completing the main line circuit with the earth connection.
The operation of the instruments at the transmitting station will be as follows
as the operator moves the transmitting pen A over the surface or sheet of paper D in

page_text: the formation of the written or other characters, he moves one of the rods B either
up or down and the other rod B either to the left or right. The movement of each
rod causes the brush of the contact maker and breaker Ċ connected to it, to rapidly
traverse the metallic connecting pieces or points, thereby at each point of contact,
sending a transient current through the line wire to the instruments at the receiving
station. The transient currents set up or passed through the line wire exactly coincide
in number with the interruptions in the circuit, and the number of these interruptions
correspond with the distance the brush F travels over the points of contact e conse.
quent upon the movement of the pen A, and the rapidity with which they follow in
succession must depend upon the speed at which the transmitting pen A and rod B
⚫ are moved.
In figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7, are shown the receiving instruments. For each instrument
which transmits a primary movement of the writing pen there is a corresponding
receiving instrument K each fitted with two electro-magnets L L one of which at
each time contact is made at the transmitting station is brought into the circuit
oither directly into the main circuit or into a local circuit or relay. The magnet L
is brought into circuit or magnetised and de-magnetised as the transmitting pen
moves in one direction and the magnet L' as the transmitting pen moves in the
opposite direction. The recurring transient currents through the line wire J, rapidly
magnetise and de-magnetise the imagnets 1. or L', causing a vibrating movement in
the armatures M or M¹ and the movement of the armature is applied to give a move-
ment to the receiving pen N corresponding with that of the transmitting pen A. The
armatures M. M' are as shown connected at one end with a spring which withdraws
them from the magnet when demagnetised and at their other end they each carry a
small pawl mm which engages with a toothed wheel or disc O. Each time the
magnet is magnetised its armature is attracted to it and the pawl at the end engaging.
with the lise moves it the distance of one tooth. is a spring bearing against
the teeth of disc O to carry them past the dead centres when moved by the pawl, m
or m². The receiving pen N is carried by the arms or rods B. The movement of the
disc. O is transmitted to the arm or rod P, of the pen N by a cord or band p passing
round a pulley or by a fine rack gearing into a small toothed wheel on the spindle
of the disc 0. As the disc is moved in one direction the arm or rol Pand pen N
move forward and when moved in the opposite direction the pen moves backward.
The receiving pen N may be of any suitable form of fountain pen such as are at
present in use. It is connected with an ink fountain or reservoir n, by the tube n¹
(see fig. 8).
0
If two line wires are used from each instrument at the transmitting station, the
magnets L L will be connected directly thereto but I prefer to use one line wire J
for each instrument, with a polarised relay K' so that one current will bring one
electro-magnet into the local circuit and the reversed current will bring the other
electro-magnet into the local circuit thereby magnetising one or other of the
electro-magnets according to the direction of movement of the transmitting pen.
The polarised relay K may be of any suitable form made with two contact points k
against one of which the armature k of the relay K' completes the local circuit, when
the circuit is completed through one of the points the electro-magnet L is brought
into the local circuit, and when completed through the other the electro-magnet L
is brought into the local circuit.
It will be seen by reference to the diagram Fig. 1 that as the transmitting pen A
is moved in one direction the transient currents sent through the line J are from the
battery and when moved in the opposite direction the currents are from the
battery, the batteries being so connected to the line J that the currents are of
different polarity according to the direction of movement of the transmitting pen A
and the position of contact arm g of the pole changer.
It will be understood that the construction of that part of the instrument which
communicates the movement of the armatures M M' of the magnets L L' to the arm
or rod P of the receiving pen N may be varied in a number of ways, and that the
-invention is not limited to any particular way of communicating this movement.

page_text: Friction discs actuated by a friction pawl or clutch carried by the armatures may be
substituted for the toothed disc, or the pawl or its equivalent m m³, connected to the
armature M 3 may act direct upon the arm or rod P as in Fig. 9, where the
armatures M M are made in the form of a bell crank lever, pivoted at m¹ carrying
the levers or pawls m m² at their ends. When the magnets are magnetised and the
armatures attracted, the pawls engage with the side of the arm or rod P and move it
along step by step. The, side of the rod may be serrated and the pawls engage in
the teeth or they inay have frictional contact as shown. As the armatures spring back
from the inagnets the pawls are withdrawn from the arm or rod P and as the, arma-
tures approach the magnets the pawls bearing against stops m¹11
or rod P.
engage with the arm
In operation the instruments at the receiving station will receive the transient
currents transmitted through the line wire J by the rapid interruption or making
and breaking of contact at the transmitting station Each transient current will
cause the magnetising of one of the magnets L or L' the armature M or MI will be
attracted and released and the movement transmitted to the receiving pen N, which
will move to correspond with the movement of the transmitting pen A.
As arranged and shown in the drawings the transmitting pen A in writing the
message to be sent traverses a stationary sheet of paper D line by line as the writing
proceeds and at the same time the receiving pen N traverses a similar sheet of paper
line by line. The instruments shown in the drawings transmit two movements to
the receiving pen actuating it to move up and down the sheet and backwards and
forwards across it causing it to make a line in any direction that may be a compound
of those two movements at an angle to each other. To raise the receiving pen from
the sheet on which it writes it may be connected by a vertically moving cord, spring,
or other connection, to a third instrument similarly constructed to the two already
described, the magnet of which, each time that it is magnetised would raise the pen
from the paper or sheet on which it rested and on being de-magnetised again would
allow it to return to rest on the surface of the sheet. Such an arrangement would
require a positive movement of the pen in one direction only, as one magnet would when
magnetised suffice to raise the pen and when de-magnetised the pen would fall of its
own weight or assisted by a spring.
In the drawings the paper R to receive the message is shown altogether stationary,
the instrument in that form being intended to be in charge of an operator at the
receiving station who would remove such sheet as it was written upon. In some cases.
it will be desirable that the paper on which the message is received will be under the
control of the operator at the transmitting station. In this case the receiving paper
may be in a roll preferably rolled in the direction of the up and down strokes of the
writing though it might be rolled in the direction of the lines. The paper would be
delivered from the roll at intervals and either transferred onto another roll or other-
wise disposed of. The roll either to receive or deliver the paper would be actuated by
the vibratory movements of the armature of an electro-magnet caused to move by
transient currents in the circuit in the manner hereinbefore described. The armature
of the magnet would act direct on a wheel or disc on the spindle of the roll to rotate
it without any conversion of the movement thereof into a reciprocating motion. The
transient currents through the line could be caused at the transmitting station by the
operator rotating a brush one or two revolutions on a contact making and breaking
disc similar to that hereinbefore described. The currents to magnetise the magnets
for raising the receiving pen from the paper and magnetise the magnet for actuating
the roll of paper may traverse the same line wire, a polarised relay being used at the
receiving station.
It will at once be evident to the electrical engineer that the arrangement of the
parts and mechanism comprising the instruments may be varied in numerous ways and
still secure the same result, namely, that the movement of a point or pen at one station
may be reproduced at another station, by the action of transient currents caused by
the rapid making and breaking of contact in an electric circuit upon one, two, or
more electro magnets.or motors, so placed that the movements of the armatures of the

page_text: magnets may be readily transferred to the receiving pen or paper. It will also be
obvious that instead of moving the receiving pen the paper may be moved under a
stationary point, but such an arrangement I should consider much inferior to the
moving of the pen.
Instead of giving a direct movement to the receiving pen from the armatures of the
electro-magnets the receiving pen may be moved to and fro in each direction by clock-
work similar in principle to what is used in a printing telegraph instrument, the
movement of the clockwork being controlled by an escapement released or actuated
by an electro-magnet on the passage of each transient current through the
circuit.
Where two sets of instruments are used in conjunction, that is, a transmitting and
receiving instrument at each end of the line, one set of line wires will be sufficient
unless the two instruments are intended to be in operation at the same time. A
switch will be placed at each end of the line wire which will connect the line
wire either to the transmitting or receiving instrument at that station. This switch
when the instruments were not in operation should be set with the receiving instru-
ment in the circuit.
This instrument will also be applicable for recording at a distance the indications
of registering instruments, but reduced to transmit only a primary movement. The
movement of the receiving pen will be recorded in a diagram on a travelling or
revolving drum or paper on which the indications may be recorded extending over a
longer or shorter period of time as may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be.
understood that I am well aware that transmitting written and other characters by
telegraph has been done by means of electric currents of varying strength as in patents
No. 2385 of 1878 and 1242 of 1879 and in several subsequent ones wherein different
electrical arrangements have been applied and that I do not claim broadly such
electrical transmission but that what I claim is:
1. The method of transmitting the movement of a point or pen at one place or
station and recording the movement by a receiving pen at another place or station,
more or less distant, by means of a series of transient currents or interruptions in an
electric-circuit caused by making and breaking contact at one end of the line as the
point or pen is moved, acting upon one or more electro-magnets at the other end of.
the line in connection with the receiving pen which are magnetised with each recurring
transient current substantially as described.
2. The method of transmitting written or other characters the resultant of the
compounded movement of a point or pen in two directions one at an angle to the
other, and recording the movement by a receiving pen by producing in two or more
electric circuits a succession of transient currents (either of similar or opposite
polarity) as the point or pen is moved, by the rapid making and breaking of contact
at one end of each line, operating an electro-motor at the other end of each line whose
movements are compounded in the movement of a pen or pencil connected therewith
substantially as described.
3. An apparatus or instrument for transmitting the movement of a point or pen at
one place or station and recording the same at another place or station by means of
electricity having in the electric-circuit at the transmitting station a contact maker
and breaker or interrupter connected with the pen or point and operated by the
movement thereof, causing a succession of transient currents and having at the
receiving station one or two or more electro-magnets in the same electrical circuit,
magnetised as each transient current passes through, the movements of whose arma-
tures are communicated to a receiving pen or pencil substantially as and for the
purposes described.
4. An apparatus or instrument for transmitting written or other characters by
electricity having at the transmitting station a pen or point moving in two directions
one at an angle to the other, connected to and operating two contact makers or

page_text: interruptions each in an electric circuit, which produce a succession of transient
currents in their respective circuits (either of similar or opposite polarity) and at the
receiving station a pen or pencil moving in two directions, one at an angle to the
other, connected to and moved by two electro-motors, one in each circuit operated by
each transient current through the circuit substantially as described.
5. An apparatus or instrument for transmitting written or other characters by
electricity constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 12th day of November 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.

page_text: The decision of the Law Officer, of the 21st day of November 1895, allowed,
under Section 18. of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment of this
Specification.
Date of Application, 30.h May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec.. 1888-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Transmitting Written or other Characters, Figures,
Drawings, Plans, or the like, and also Indicating and Recording
the Indications of Registering Instruments by Electricity, and
in Apparatus therefor.
I, THOMAS O'BRIEN, of 47 Kingsley Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention refers chiefly to the transmitting from one place or station and
receiving and recording at another place or station,, more or less distant, the com-.
pounded movement of a point in two directions, one at an angle to the other by
the use of electricity for the purpose of telegraphing written or other characters,
figures, drawings or the like.
Such compounded movements have hitherto been transmitted by means of electric
currents of varying intensity, requiring however delicate instruments which for use
were found not practical..
By this invention I transmit the movement by a direct step-by-step motion, each
time that the circuit is made by the movement of the writing point or style at the.
transmitting station, the pen at the receiving station is moved in the same direction:
by the direct action of one or more electro-magnets which are brought into the
circuit.
This movement may be transmitted by the rapid making and breaking of contact
in a variety of ways as the writing point or style is moved, either the arm or lever
to which it is connected traversing a number of insulated plates wires or other
metallic points, each in electrical connection with the circuit or by means of
revolving disc or wheel caused to rotate as the style lever moves by which a number
of pins teeth or their equivalents give an oscillating movement to a lever or
otherwise, alternately makes and breaks contact, or other arrangements may be
employed whereby the movements of the writing point or style, in either direction.
rapidly makes or breaks contact.
The instruments at the transmitting end must be made with similar independent
parts to transmit each of the primary movements of the style, and each part must
be constructed with separate contact makes for the forward and backward motions
in the same plane and these motions will be transmitted by independent electro-
magnets at the receiving station.
For each part of the apparatus which transmits a primary movement of the writing
style there must be a corresponding instrument at the receiving station fitted with
two electro-magnets, one of which at each time contact is made is brought into the
circuit, one magnet is brought into and out of circuit as the style moves forward

page_text: and the other magnet as it moves backwards, the armatures of these magnets at each
movement act by a pawl or ratchet motion upon a wheel or pinion thereby giving
the desired movement to the lever carrying the pen.
For recording the indications of registering instruments at a distance similar
instruments may be employed but reduced to transmit only a primary movement
which will be received on a revolving or travelling paper on which the indications
may be recorded extending over a longer or shorter period of time as may he
required.
For the purpose of transmitting writing, drawings, plans or the like the instruments
may be made to receive two or three independent primary movements. Two of
these primary movements will be compounded to give the character to the writing
while the third will be limited to a vertical movement to lift the pen from the paper,
the third or lifting movement may be dispensed with.
By transmitting written or other characters as herein described the writing point
at the transmitting station and the pen at the receiving station may be made to
traverse a sheet of paper or other flat surface and the necessity of a travelling sheet
of paper may be avoided. Also the reproduction at the receiving station while
being to a large extent a fac-simile of that which is transmitted may be increased or
diminished in size.
Dated this 29th day of May 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.
Improvements in Transmitting Written or other Characters, Figures,
Drawings, Plans, or the like, and also Indicating and Recording
the Indications of Registering Instruments by Electricity, and
in Apparatus therefor.
;
I, THOMAS O'BRIEN, of Kingsley Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster
Commercial Traveller, 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 relates to the telegraphing of written or other characters, and the
reproduction of them in fac-simile at a station more or less distant, and in the
apparatus employed for the purpose.
It refers chiefly to the transmitting, by means of electricity, from one place or
station and receiving and recording at another place or station, more or less distant,
the compounded movement of a point in two directions, one at an angle to the
other for the purpose of telegraphing written or other characters, figures, drawings,
and the like.
Hitherto in all instruments which have been used for autograph telegraphy or
transmitting the fac-simile of written or other characters, such compounded movements
of the transmitting pen in forming the letters or characters have been transmitted-
by means of electric currents, of varying intensity or strength, the strength or
intensity of the current passed through the electric circuit being directly propor-
tionate to the extent of the movement of the transmitting pen. This necessitated
the employment of instruments of very delicate construction and the restriction of
the movements of the parts to a very limited space, and it has been necessary
to make these instruments with a travelling riband of paper both on which to write
and on which to receive the message.
T
The main object of my invention is to provide for the telegraphing of characters,
extending over a considerable surface, while that surface remains stationary, and

page_text: reproducing similar characters in the same relative position at a distant station also
op a stationary surface.
The invention consists essentially in transmitting the movements of the writing pen,
step by step, to the receiving pen by means of a series of transient currents, set up in
an electric circuit connecting them, caused by rapidly interrupting or making and
breaking contact as the transmitting pen travels, and in apparatus for the interrupting
or rapid making and breaking of contact by the movement of the writing pen at the
transmitting station, and for moving the writing pen at the receiving station in
the same direction by the action of electro magnets, through which each transient
current in the circuit passes. The rapid interrupting or making and breaking of
contact to cause the transient currents in the circuit consequent upon the movement of
the writing instrument at the transmitting ond (hereinafter called the transmitting pen)
may be effected in a variety of ways, by allowing a brush or contact maker to
traverse a number of plates, wires, or metallic points, each in electrical connection
with the circuit and insulated one from the other and these may b> so set that the
brush will traverso them either in a straight or curved path. Also the movement
of the writing pen at the receiving station (hereinafter called the receiving pen)
produced by the transient currents passing through one or more clectro-magnets
may be communicated in a variety of ways from the armature of the magnet, such
as by the movement of the armature of the magnet acting through a pawl or its
equivalent on a toothed wheel or friction dise or by the movement of the ar.nature
of the electro-magnet acting directly or through levers upon the arm attached to
the receiving pen.
The invention will be fully describe: with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. is a general diagram showing the relative positions of the instruments and
their connections.
Fig. 2, plan of transmitting instruments.
Fig. 3, enlarged plan of one of transmitting instruments.
Fig. 4, sectional elevation of one of transmitting instruments.
Fig. 5, plan of receiving instruments.
Fig. 6, enlarged plan of one of receiving instruments.
Fig. 7, sectional elevation of one of receiving instruments.
Fig. 8, enlarged elevation of receiving pen.
Fig. 9, modified arrangement of part of receiving instrument..
The instruments shown in fig. 2 constitute one part of the apparatus, that which
is necessary for transmitting the characters, and this comprises two instruments
practically identical, one of which transmits the movement of the transmitting pen
in the direction of the up and down strokes of written characters, and the other the
movement of the transmitting pen in the direction of the lines in writing. Similarly
the instruments in fig. 5 constitute that part of the apparatus necessary for receiving
and recording the transmitted message or characters and this again comprises two
practically identical instruments corresponding with those at the transmitting station.
in the similar independent instruments, at each station therefore, like letters will
refer to like parts and the one description will refer to both.
Referring to figs. 1 to 4 the transmitting pea A is, by means of a pivoted joint,
attached to arms or rods B (or cord or other mechanical contrivance) by which it is
connected with the circuit interrupter or contact maker and breaker C. The
instruments are preferably so set on their table that the rods B stand at right angles
when the transmitting pen A is in the centre of the surface D which it has to
traverse. The contact maker and breaker consists of a disc E fitted with a number
of plates or points e in electrical connection with conducting lines, but separated by
insulating material on the surface which is traversed backwards and forwards by the
brush F. The brush F is always in electrical contact with the metallic ring el
through which the circuit is completed by means of an arm F¹ resting on the metallic
ring e. As the brush F alternately passes from one point e onto the insulating
material and then to the next point e the current is interrupted or made and broken

page_text: and a transient current is caused to pass through the line wire to the actuating
magnets at the receiving station.
The disc E is pivoted on the pin or stud G fixed to the table and has a slight
movement thereon. The pin or stud G also carries the brush F with pulley f both
insulated therefrom. The pulley f is connected to the rod B by means of a cord
or band b which passes round it and at each movement of the transmitting pen A
and rod B in either direction the brush F is rotated around the disc rapidly inaking
and breaking contact as it comes in contact successively with the pins e causing
the required transient current in the line J.
The main current might be sent direct through the brush F and contact pins e in
the disc E but the instrument would be liable to what is termed "hunting," that is,
contact might be made and broken several times in succession at the same point,
and thus send a number of transient currents through the line wire without a
corresponding movement having taken place in the transmitting pen.
To avoid this "hunting "I introduce a local battery comprising in its circuit
a couple of electro-magnets I, I' with an oscillating armature i forming a contact
maker and breaker in the main line circuit. The local circuit connects at one end
with the brush F through the metallic ring e¹ and arm F¹ and at the other with each
of the rings of pins e by means of a separate wire, the inner ring of pins being
insulated from the outer ring. The brush F as it moves comes in contact alternately
with the pins in one row and then with those in the other, sending the current first
through the magnet I and then through I' magnetising or energising them alternately
throwing the armature i first to one side and then to the other. At each movement
of the armature i contact is made and broken in the line wire at i¹ and the transient
current transmitted to the line wire. Should the brush move on and off one of the
points e without sufficient movement of the transmitting pen A to bring it in contact
with the next point, another current will not be transmitted to the line circnit as the
armature will not again be attracted past the contact point until the next point
has been reached by the brush..
From the circuit interruptor or contact maker and breaker C the line wire J, runs
to the receiving station. Two lines may be used one to convey the transient currents
caused by the upward movement, and the other by the downward movement of the
pen. Instead, however, of two lines, I prefer to use one line J, with a pole changer
at the transmitting station and a polarized relay K' at the receiving station as
shown.
The main line circuit will pass from the point through the pin or stud Gand
arm g of the pole changer to the contact points g'. The arm is in frictional
contact with the boss or sleeve of the pulley fand is oscillated by it between the
points gas the pen is moved up and down. Where two lines are used the arm gacts
simply to connect one or the other line according to which the current is desired to
pass through.
The arm or rod B of the transmitting pen A, is carried on the supporting
brackets, on the disc E, and the movement of the pen A causes the dise E arm g to
move on its pin or stud G. Instead of the diso E being pivoted on a stud it may
be fixed and the-arm B-may-have a knuckle-or universul-joint to allow for the
movement of pen-A
It will be evident that instead of the disc E, with the brush rotating thereon over
the contact points e the brush may be carried by the arm B of the transmitting pen
and caused to move backwards and forwards over a surface formed alternately of
conducting and non-conducting material. One way of doing this would be to use one
or two metallic wires wound round a rod of ebonite or other non-conducting material
cut with grooves to receive the wires each coil of the wire forming the contact
medium and the intervening surface the non-conducting material; or metallic plates
alternating with plates of mica or other non-conducting material may be used; or
other device employed whereby contact may be rapidly made and broken. The
arrangement of a brush moving over a disc has this advantage over a brush moving
to and fro in a straight line, that the points of contact may be larger and further

page_text: apart, as a short movement of the arın or rod B causes a greater travel of the brush!.
the arm of the brush being longer than the radius of the pulley f; and also the
extent of surface over which the transmitting pen will travel is only limited by the.
length of rod.
The terminals or binding screws for connecting the instrument with the circuit -
wires are marked with numerals. 1, 2 and 3 are the terminals for connecting the
local battery and completing the local circuit . 5 and 6 are the terminals for
connecting the line wire J and batteries jj with the instrument and the
terminal for completing through i' the main line circuit with the earth connection.
The operation of the instruments at the transmitting station will be as follows
As the operator moves the transmitting pen A over the surface or sheet of paper 1 in.
the formation of the written or other characters, he moves one of the rods B either
up or down and the other rod B either to the left or right. The movement of each.
rod causes the brush of the contact maker and breaker C connected to it, to rapidly
traverse the metallic connecting pieces or points, thereby at each point of contact...
sending a transient current through the line wire to the instruments at the receiving
station. The transient currents set up or passed through the line wire exactly coincide -
in number with the interruptions in the circuit, and the number of these interruptions
correspond with the distance the brush F travels over the points of contacte conse--
quent upon the movement of the pen A, and the rapidity with which they follow in
succession must depend upon the speed at which the transmitting pen A and rod B
are moved.
In figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7, are shown the receiving instruments. For each instrument.
which transmits a primary movement of the writing pen there is a corresponding
receiving instrument K each fitted with two electro-magnets L L' one of which at
each time contact is made at the transmitting station is brought into the circuit.
either directly into the main circuit or into a local circuit or relay. The magnet L.
is brought into circuit or magnetised and de-magnetised as the transmitting pen
moves in one direction and the magnet L' as the transmitting pen moves in the-
opposite direction. The recurring transient currents through the line wire J, rapidly
magnetise and de-magnetise the magnets L or L, causing a vibrating movement in
the armatures M or M and the movement of the armature is applied to give a move-
ment to the receiving pen N corresponding with that of the transmitting pen A. The
armatures M M are as shown, connected at one end with a spring which withdraws
them from the magnet when demagnetised and at their other end they each carry a
small pawl m n which engages with a toothed wheel or disc 0. Each time the-
magnet is magnetised its armature is attracted to it and the pawl at the end engaging
with the disc O moves it the distance of one tooth. is-a-spring-bearing against
the teeth of dise to carry them past the dead centres when moved by the pawl, m¨
6-m. Fig. 10 is a plan to an enlarged scale shewing the form and adjustment of the-
pawls m m by the vibration of which the wheel O is moved step by step in the one or the
other direction. Each paul is in the form of a three armed lever pivotted on the arm-
of the armature MM. Two of the arms q q' in each case meet adjusting screws which
constitute stops, the third arm terminates in a pair of teeth r r'. The arms qq' are so
adjusted by the stop screw that when the armature M is attracted, the tooth r first engages -
the wheel O, and the lever is thus cunted until q is brought against its stop screw, the
canting having the effect of pushing the wheel O round one tooth or more until the tooth r¹-
engages it. The paul m¹ operates in a similar way pushing the wheel O round in the-
opposite direction. The receiving pen N is carried by the arms or rods B P. The
movement of the disc O is transmitted to the arm or rod P, of the pen N by a cord or -
bandpassing round a pulley or by a fine rack gearing into a small toothed wheel
on the spindle o of the disc O. As the disc is moved in one direction the arm or-
rod P and pen N move forward and when moved in the opposite direction the pen
moves backward. The receiving pen N may be of any suitable form of fountain pen
such as are at present in use. It is connected with an ink fountain or reservoir n, by
the tube n¹ (see fig. 8).
If two line wires are used from each instrument at the transmitting station, the

page_text: magnets L L will be connected directly thereto but I prefer to use one line wire J
for each instrument with a polarised relay K' so that one current will bring one
electro-magnet into the local circuit and the reversed current will bring the other
electro-magnet into the local circuit thereby magnetising one or other of the
electro-magnets according to the direction of movement of the transmitting pen.
The polarised relay K' may be of any suitable form made with two contact points k
against one of which the armature k of the relay K' completes the local circuit, when
the circuit is completed through one of the points k the electro-magnet L is brought
into the local circuit, and when completed through the other the electro-magnet L
is brought into the local circuit.
It will be seen by reference to the diagram Fig. 1 that as the transmitting pen A
is moved in one direction the transient currents sent through the line J are from the
battery and when moved in the opposite direction the currents are from the
battery, the batteries being so connected to the line J that the currents are of
different polarity according to the direction of movement of the transmitting pen A
and the position of contact arin y of the pole changer.
It will be undorstood that the construction of that part of the instrument which
communicates the movement of the armatures M M of the magnets L L' to the arm
or rod P of the receiving pen N may be varied in a number of ways, and that the
invention is not limited to any particular way of communicating this movement.
Friction discs actuated by a friction pawl or clutch carried by the armatures may be
substituted for the toothed disc, or the pawl or its equivalent m m³, connected to the
armature M M may act direct upon the arm or rod P as in Fig. 9, where the
armatures M M' are made in the form of a bell crank lover, pivoted at m carrying
the levers or pawls m m² at their ends. When the magnets are magnetised and the
armatures attracted, the pawls engage with the side of the arm or rod P and move it
along step by step. The side of the rod may be serrated and the pawls engage in
the teeth or they may have frictional contact as shown. As the armatures spring back
from the magnets the pawls are withdrawn from the arm or rod P and as the arma-
tures approach the magnets the pawls bearing against stops m engage with the arm
or rod 1.
111
In operation the instruments at the receiving station will receive the transient
currents transmitted through the line wire J by the rapid interruption or making
and breaking of contact at the transmitting station. Each transient current will
cause the magnetising of one of the magnets L or 1' the armature M or M' will be
attracted and released and the movement transmitted to the receiving pen N, which
will move to correspond with the movement of the transmitting pen A.
As arranged and shown in the drawings the transmitting pen A in writing the
message to be sent traverses a stationary sheet of paper D line by line as the writing
proceeds and at the same time the receiving pen N traverses a similar sheet of paper R
line by line. The instruments shown in the drawings transmit two movements to
the receiving pon actuating it to move up and down the sheet and backwards and
forwards across it causing it to make a line in any direction that may be a compound
of these two movements at an angle to each other. To raise the receiving pen from
the sheet on which it writes it may be connected by a vertically moving cord, spring,
or other connection, to a third instrument similarly constructed to the two already
described, the magnet of which, each time that it is magnetised would raise the pen
from the paper or sheet on which it rested and on being de-magnetised again would
allow it to return to rest on the surface of the sheet. "Such an arrangement would
require a positive movement of the pen in one direction only, as one magnet would when
magnetised suffice to raise the pen and when de-magnetised the pen would fall of its
own weight or assisted by a spring.
In the drawings the paper R to receive the message is shown altogether stationary,
the instrument in that form being intended to be in charge of an operator at the
receiving station who would remove such sheet as it was written upon. In some cases
it will be desirable that the paper on which the message is received will be under the
:control of the operator at the transmitting station. In this case the receiving paper

page_text: may be in a roll preferably rolled in the direction of the up and down strokes of the
writing though it might be rolled in the direction of the lines. The paper would be
delivered from the roll at intervals and either transferred onto another roll or other-
wise disposed of. The roll either to receive or deliver the paper would be actuated by
the vibratory movements of the armature of an electro-magnet caused to move by.
transient currents in the circuit in the manner herein before described. The armature
of the magnet would act direct on a wheel or disc on the spindle of the roll to rotate
it without any conversion of the movement thereof into a reciprocating motion. The
transient currents through the line could be caused at the transmitting station by the
operator rotating a brush one or two revolutions on a contact making and breaking
disc similar to that herein before described. The currents to magnetise the magnets
for raising the receiving pen from the paper and magnetise the magnet for actuating
the roll of paper may traverse the same line wire, a polarised relay being used at the
receiving station.
It will at once be evident to the electrical engineer that the arrangement of the
parts and mechanism comprising the instruments may be varied in numerous ways and
still secure the same result, namely, that the movement of a point or pen at one station
may be reproduced at another station, by the action of transient currents caused by
the rapid making and breaking of contact in an electric circuit upon one, two, or
more electro magnets or motors, so placed that the movements of the armatures of the
magnets may be readily transferred. to the receiving pen or paper. It will also be
obvious that instead of moving the receiving pen the paper may be moved under a
stationary point, but such an arrangement I should consider much inferior to the
moving of the pen.
Instead of giving a direct movement to the receiving pen from the armatures of the
electro-magnets the receiving pen may be moved to and fro in each direction by clock-
work similar in principle to what is used in a printing telegraph instrument, the
movement of the clockwork being controlled by an escapement released or actuated
by an electro-magnet on the passage of each transient current through the
circuit.
Where two sets of instruments are used in conjunction, that is, a transmitting and
receiving instrument at each end of the line, one set of line wires will be sufficient
unless the two instruments are intended to be-in-operation. at the same time. A
switch will be placed at each end of the line wire which will connect the line
wire either to the transmitting or receiving instrument at that station. This switch
when the instruments were not in operation should be set with the receiving instru-
ment in the circuit.
This instrument will also be applicable for recording at a distance the indications
of registering instruments, but reduced to transmit only a primary movement. The
movement of the receiving pen will be recorded in a diagram on a travelling or
revolving drum or paper on which the indications may be recorded extending over a
longer or shorter period of time as may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be
understood that I am well aware that transmitting written and other characters by
telegraph has been done by means of electric currents of varying strength as in patents
No. 2385 of 1878 and 1242 of 1879 and in several subsequent ones wherein different
electrical arrangements have been applied and that I do not claim broadly such
electrical transmission but that what I claim is :-
1. The method of transmitting the movement of a point or pen at one place or
station and recording the movement by a receiving pen at another place or station,.
more or less distant, by means of a series of transient currents or interruptions in an
electric-circuit caused by making and breaking contact at one end of the line as the
point or pen is moved, acting upon one or more electro-magnets at the other end of
the line in connection with the receiving pen which are magnetised with each recurring
transient current substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The method of transmitting written or other characters the resultant of the
-compounded movement of a point or pen in two directions one at an angle to the
-other, and recording the moveinent by à receiving pen by producing in two or more
electric circuits a succession of transient currents (either of similar or opposite
polarity) as the point or pen is moved, by the rapid making and breaking of contact
at one end of each line, operating an electro-motor at the other end of each line whose
movements are compounded in the movement of a pen or pencil connected therewith
substantially as described.
3. An apparatus or instrument for transmitting the movement of a point or pen at
one place or station and recording the same at another place or station by means of
electricity having in the electric-circuit at the transmitting station a contact maker
and breaker or interrupter connected with the pen or point and operated by the
*movement thereof, causing a succession of transient currents and having at the
receiving station one or two or moro electro-magnets in the same electrical circuit,
magnetised as each transient current passes through, the movements of whose arma-
tures are communicated to a receiving pen or pencil substantially as and for the
. purposes described.
4. An apparatus. or instrument for transmitting written or other characters by:
electricity having at the transmitting station a pen or point moving in two directions
one at an angle to the other, connected to and operating two contact makers or
interruptions each in an electric circuit, which produce a succession of transient
currents in their respective circuits (either of similar or opposite polarity) and at the
receiving station a pen or pencil moving in two directions, one at an angle to the
-other, connected to and moved by two electro-motors, one in each circuit operated by
each transient current through the circuit substantially as described.
$
5. An apparatus or instrument for transmitting written or other characters by
-electricity.constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 10th day of Novembo- 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents..
WM. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,-
Patent Agents..