US1034807A - Telephone-call recorder. - Google Patents

Description

F. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL nnconnsn. APPLIGAT 0H TILED JUNE 22, 1 906.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fig,ja ad m Cindi P. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 22, 1906.

1,034,807. Patented Aug. 6,1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 iii llglllllllllllplllllllllll \Il m e W ITNESSBSZ INVENTOR .5876W. (LW

(Lw'l I F. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1906.

1 34,807. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

9 SHEET$ SHEBT 3.

WITNEsSE's;

INVENTOR F. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZZ, 1906. 1 034,807. I

9 SHEETB8HBET 4.

1) Pl} A7.

WITNESSES.

INVENTOR gwl in? ffi.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6,1912.

F. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE22,1906.

1,034,807. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

9 SHEETSVSHEET 5.

Fly?

WITNESSEfiJ INVENTOR ATTORNEY F. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1906.

1 ,O34,807, Patented Aug. 6,1912.

9 SHEETSSHEET 6.

WITNESSES'. INVENTOR ATTORNEY amid?- P. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1906.

1 ,O34,807, Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

9 SHEBTS SHEET 7.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR ATTORNEY F. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE22, 1906.

1,034,807. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

9 SHEETS*SHEET B.

[IIILIIIF 69 Emm mn: g 5 mun /105 7001112 WITNESS: I INVENTOR ATTORNEY P. A. LATHROP.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1906 Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

9 SHEETSSHEET 9.

"F 'Jl'd w H Q, I I Rh: 77 a l 3, 5%

WITNESSE5.

ATTORNEY FRANK A. LATHROP, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

TELEPHONE-CALL RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application, filed June 22, 1906. Serial No. 322,963.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. LATHRoP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, Multnomah county, Oregon, have invented a new and useful Telephone-Call Recorder, of which the following is a specification, reference being had.to the accompanying drawings as constituting a part thereof.

Telephonic communication heretofore labored under great inconvenience, because there were no means of recording the call of one subscriber desiring to communicate with another, in case the person called-up were absent at the time of the call. Consequently, the call had to be repeated again and again, until the person wanted could be reached. I

The object of my invention-is to overcome such annoyance by providing means whereby the person using one telephone instrument and desiring to speak with another on the same system, and the latter being absent at the time, may leave a printed memorandum or record of the number of his telephone at the instrument of the person with whom communication is desired, to inform the latter of such call, upon his return.

I attain my object by means of two cooperating devices, which I sender and recorder in accord with their respective functions; the former being designed to transmit the number of the telephone from which the call'is made, and the latter to record the same at the instrument of the person called. I furthermore devise two kinds of senders, and shall term these multiple .and individual in accordance with their respective purpose. The multiple sender is designed to be installed in the central oflice, in systems in which all the telephone instruments are not equipped with my device. It has for its special purpose to enable the central. to record a call at the instrument provided with my device. For instance, telephone number Main 7890 not equipped with my device calls number Main 3456, which is equipped therewith, but receives no reply. The central ofiice thereupon transmits, through the medium of my multiple sender. the number of the phone making the call, to the recorder attached to telephone Main'3456, making there a printed record of the call. And thus, upon the return of the user of telephone shall term Main 3456, he would b. informed that he was desired to call up telephone number Mam 7890. The second, or individual sender s so constructed as to transmit only the number of the telephone to which it is attached, and is designed for systems in which each individual telephone is equipped with my device, and thus not requiring the intervention of central in any instance. In this case the user of the telephone, Main 7890-for example, on receiving no reply to his call of telephone Main 3456, transmits the number of his telephone direct to the recorder attached to the latter instrument, by the operation of the sender attached to his own instrument. Nevertheless it would be a good plan to have central equipped with a multiple sender, as an auxiliary to the individual senders, to enable the transmission of a call where an individual sender is out of order. t

The construction and operation of my device are illustrated in the drawings, in which, I

Figure I is a top or plan view of the multiple sender showing in particular the keyboard arrangement thereof j the depressed keys, representing a call being-made by my device, being shaded so as to be distinguishable from the remainder of the keys; Fig. II represents a front elevation with apart of the outer casing removed, so as to show the interior construction; Fig. III is a longitudinal, vertical section -on a line CD of Figs. IV and V; Fig. IV is an end elevation on a line EF of Fig. III, with the'endplate 5, removed; Fig. V is a cross-section, taken on a line AB of Fig. III, looking in the direction pointed by the arrow 3 Fig. VI is a side elevation of the recording part of my device, as a whole, part of the outer case and of the magnet being broken away, and shown in section so as to show the interior arrangement of the parts; Fig. VII is a plan, taken below a line GH of Fig. VI, of the tape-printing devices of my recorder; Fig. VIII shows a section of the tape with the call printed thereon by my recorder; Fig. IX is a transverse section, taken horizontally on a line I-J of Fig. VII, and

looking in the direction pointed by the ar- XIV, and XV are details of such printing mechanism; Fig. XVI shows an elevation of my individual sender taken on a line MN of Fig. XVII, the front wall being removed; and Fig. XVII is a section, taken on a line K-L of Fig. XVI.

Referring now to the reference characters on the respective parts, and describing first the multiplesender:1 is a hollow, metal drum of irregular periphery and made with a central web 2, cast with an integral sleeve 3, by which the drum is rotatably mounted on a stationary, horizontal shaft 4, supported at its ends in the headsor end- plates 5, 6,

and a depression 12, also filled with insulat-- mg material, and it has also a tangentialcontact-segment 13. The arrangement of these details are best observed by comparing Figs. II, IV and V, and their purpose will appear below. In the upper part of the periphery of the drum is formed a rectangular recess 14, (see Figs. IV and V) in which is contained a block 15, vertically slidable, and supported by two coil-springs 16, (see Fig.

III) contained in chambers 17, by which coil-springs the block 15 is normally lifted. The distance at which the block is so held above the base of the recess 14 is controlled by set-crews 18.

In the upper part of the containing case 7, is secured a perforated block of insulating material 19, on which is fastened a metal plate 20, made with five rows of vertical, metal guide-tubes 21; four of such rows contain ten guide-tubes each, and the other as many tubes as there are prefixes used by the telephone system in which my devices are installed. In the guide-tubes 21 are slidably held a series ofkeys 22, having metal stems provided with a small metal wheel 23, at their lower ends, and being provided at their upper ends with a flat disk or finger piece 24, preferably made of insulating material. The keys 22 are normally supported by coilsprings 25, in such position as to bring the wheels 23 clear above the path of the block 15. The keys are conveniently made of tubes of metal, and each thereof is provided with a bow-spring 26, having knee extremities protruding through apertures therefor made in the stem, as shown in Fig. III. The bow-springs 26 being adapted to resist the coil-springs 25 sufiiciently to hold the keys down, when depressed, until the latter are again lifted by the periphery of the drum 1 bearing against the lower ends thereof and forcing the bow-springs back into the tubes, so as to allow the coll-springs 25 to return the keys to their normal position. Asobservable from Fig.- I, the u per four rows of keys represent numerals rom 1 to 0, respectively, and by means of these keys the operator records the numerals of the call; and the last row represent the prefix Main, Union etc., and are operated to record that part of the call. The upper four rows of keys are arranged to be read from right to left, to enable a convenient arrangementof the printing mechanism of the recorder.

The drum 1, the bearings thereof, and the containing-case 7 are all made to conduct electricity; and said containing-case 7, and the plate 20 arecon'nected by wires 27, 28 (see Fig. II), with the source of electric energy. The key-stems and their bearings are likewise made to conduct electricity. Thus the device, as far as described, represents a multiple switch, normally interrupted, and the circuit is closed whenever a depressed key is in contact with any part of the uninsulated or conducting segment of the periphery of the drum.

The drum is revolved by a clock-work clevice, conveniently operated by a spring 29, and arranged as follows: One end of the spring 29 is afiixed to a pin 30, (see Fig. III) and the other end thereof is fastened to a sleeve 31, rotatably mounted on the shaft 4, the extremity 31 of which sleeve 31 is adapted to receive a key, to wind up the spring 29. The sleeve 31 terminates in a ratchet wheel 32, integrally cast therewith, and such ratchet-wheel is engaged by a pawl 33, pivoted to a gear 34, rotatably mounted on the shaft 4, and meshing with apinion 35,

rigidly mounted on a'shaft 36, and journaled in a bearing 37, which bearing is an integral part of the web 38 and a sleeve 39, also mounted on the shaft 4. The bearing 37 (as shown in Fig. V) is made with lateral projections 40, 40*, by which the same is-fastened to the case 41, in which the spring 29 is contained. The shaft 36 has fixedly mounted on its left end a gear 42, meshing with a pinion 43, cast on the sleeve 3. On the left end ofthe sleeve 3 is cast a ratchetwheel 44, constituting part of an escapement, by which the rotation of the drum 1 is made intermittent. Such escapement consists of a pendulum 45, (see Fig. IV) pivoted to the inner face of the left head 5 of the containing case 7, and made with pallets 46. The vibration of the pendulum 45 is limited by stopins 47, and the devices operate substantially as like parts in a clock-work. The purpose thereof is to control thespeed of the drum 1, while being rotated by the action of the sprln 29, relatively to the circuitmaking and reaking efi'ect to be obtained. It is now apparent that when the sender is at rest, the b ock 15 will project upward and bear against a stop 48, and hold the drum 1 against the propelling influence of the clockwork. As soon, however, as any one of the keys in the row 24 of the key-board is depressed, the bearing thereof down u on the block 15'will depress the latter an disen gage it from the stop 48 and thus release the drum, which will then start to revolve and make-and-break the circuit in accordance with the setting of the depressed keys. In sending out a call, the keys must be depressed in the order in which the call reads; e. g, to send a call Main 5680 the keys corresponding thereto should be depressed thus: Main -6-8-0, operating the keys from the bottom up. In other words, the row of numerals 24 (see Fig. 1) represents the first numeral of any four-numeral call; the row 24 represents the second of such four-numeral call, also the first of any threenumeral call; the row 24 represents the third of any four-numeral call, also the second of a three-numeral call, and'the first of a two-numeral call; and the row 24 rep resents the numeral of any single-numeral call, also the fourth in any four numeral call. If a call is to be registered consisting of only a prefix and one numeral, the latter must be registered by one of the keys in row 2?, and in the recording of every call one of the keys in row 24 must be included, so as to depress the block and release the drum. The purpose of the tangential rise in the surface of the respective peripheral sections 1, 1", etc., is to lift again the key which has been depressed, while bearing on such sections, so as to compress and disen gage the spring 26, and allow the coil-spring to act and return the depressed key to its normal position.

I will next describe the recorder part of my device which is electrically connected with and operated by the make-andbreakcircuit devices of the sender.

The construction of the recorder may be observed from Figs. VI to XV, and consists of the following parts: On a hollow base or case 48 is mounted a soft-iron cylinder 49. Within the latter is contained a core or round bar of soft-iron 50, having a winding of insulated wire 54, the ends of which (54, 54*) are connected with one of the terminals of the sender and the circuit, respectively. The core is bored out half its length so as to reciprocably hold a hollow brass-stem 51, carrying a soft-iron disk 52, and normally projected by a coil-spring In the ends of the cylinder 49 are inserted perforated insulating disks 55 (only one being seen) covering the ends of the winding of wire 54; the ends of the core 50, projecting through such-disks 55. As apparent, the parts'described constitute an electro-magnet of which the disk 52 is the armature, hereinafter termed the primary armature. To the opposite end of the cylinder 46 there is hinged a second disk of soft-iron 56, constituting a secondary armature. Thus when the electric circuit is closed for an interval, by the operation of the keys-of the sender as mentioned, the primary armature 52 will be drawn against the end of the core 50, and will be repelled again, by the action of the coil-spring 53, as soon as the circuit is interrupted by the depressed key passin over an insulating strip in the periphery o the drum of the sender. The resultant reciprocation of the disk 52 I utilize to operate my printing mechanism, so as to bring into printing position the type of the properprefixand numeral to be imprinted on a tape of paper, and to read as shown in Fig. VIII.

The printing mechanism consists of the case 48 in which is journaled the axle 57 of a spool 57, on which is wound a band of tape 58, the outer end of which is led over a rotatable type-Wheel 59, journaled on a pin 60. The type-wheel 59 has on its periphery type-bars 59, representing the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, O, and the ten prefix-words. The type-wheel is controlled by a spring 65, (see Fig. 9) so as to always be returned to its initial position, and it is stopped in its initial position by the lug 59", projecting from the base of the type-wheel, abutting against a pin 48". Said type-wheel is further provided with a ratchet-wheel 61 and the armature or disk 52 is connected by a member 52 with a rod 62, the outer extremity of which is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel 61, by a spring 64, and is held in horizontal position by a movable guide-arm 63. See detail of latter Fig. XII; the rod 62 resting on the member 63", of such guide-arm 63. The type-wheel operating parts are so arranged that each movement of the disk 52 will move the ratchet-wheel 61 one tooth forward and therewith the type-Wheel a like degree. The guide-arm 63 is pivoted on a pin 66. It is made with a dog 67, and controlled by a spring 68.

69 is a flat bar of nonmagnetic metal, of

the form shown and horizontally movable,

one end being carried in a guiding-slot of mally held forwaxi as shown in Fig. VII, b a coil-spring When in such position the extremity 72 of the member 72 will'rest on the wall-part 48 of the case 48. The bar 69 is driven back by the action of the arm 74, which constitutes a part of the secondairy-armature '56. When .driven back by the blow of the arm 74, the extremity 72' of the member 72 will drop in front of the wall-part 48, and in consequence hold the bar 69 back. See Figs. X and XIV; and the bar 69 remains in its last described posi tion, until lifted, so that it can again pass over the wall-rim 48, by a vertical pin 78, carried by the ratchet-wheel 61 being 7 brought in contact therewith, during the return rotation of the latter. To facilitate said action the extremity of 72", of member 72, is made with a transverse incline 73. The extremity of the arm 74 causes the paper-tape to be pressed against the type-bars of the type-wheel, and for such purpose is provided with a cushion face 79, of suitable material; and the impression is marked by an inking-ribbon 75, winding and unwinding on and from spools 76, 77, also carried by the secondary armature 56. From the bar 69 projects laterally and horizontally an arm (see detail Fig. XI) the underside of the extremity of which is beveled as shown. There also projects from the bar 69 an arm 81, the extremity 81 of which is bent down and forward, as shown in detail Fig. XI and the same is made resilient and formed with a shoe 82 which bears upon the tape 58, and in the forward movement of the bar 69, caused by the spring 73, moves the tape forward, relatively to the printing action. The extremity of the dog 67 is made with lug 83, adapted to coiiperate with the extremity of the arm 80 of the bar 69 as follows: When the latter is driven back, by the blow of arm 74, of the secondary armature 56, the extremity of the arm 80 will pass over the lug 83, and become positioned behind the latter as illustrated in Fig. X. When the bar 69 resumes its normal position the arm 80 thereof will engage with the lug 83 of the dog 67, and cause an action as also illustrated in the Fig. X, that is, turning the dog 67 to one side, and in so doing releasing the ratchet-wheel 61, which is then rotated to its initial position by its spring 65; the side motion of the dog 67 also causing its member 63 to pull the rod 62 out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel.

84 is a grooved-guide for the paper-tape 58; such guide is of semi-circular form, and in cross section of the construction shown in Fig. IX, and it is aflixed to the bottom of the case 48.

85 is a leaf-spring also attached to case 48, it bears upon the tape and holds the same against being pulled back with the back-motion of the arm 81'of the bar 69.

1 {eferring-now'to the peripheral sub-di- VlSlOn of the drum 1 of the sender, and noting the arrangement of the short and long contact segments (8, 10) and the' 'relative arrangfment of the keys, it will appear that some eye when depressed will come in segment 8' and one wide and long and others with a number of short contact segments and finally wide and long keys are arranged to have contact onl with the sections of the drum 1, in the fol owing order: row 24 with section 1', row 24' with section 1, row 24 with section 1*, row 24 with section 1, and row 24 with section 1f.

-The depression of aprefix-key, or any of the numeral keys not in the row 24, does not release the drum 1 from its stop; thus in sending out the call Main 5-6-8-0, the keys representing the prefix and the first three numerals, will be set while the drum is still at rest; but as soon as the final numeral key -0, in the row 24 is depressed, the drum 1 is released and will start to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. IV and V; and thereupon each depressed key will in turn make-and-break the circuit the number of times corresponding 5 with its own numeral, and cause a relative action of the primary-armature 52, of the recorder; and the numerals on the type-wheel 59, being also correspondingly arranged.

Thus six short .contacts or intervals of 0105- ing the circuit, for example, due to the depression of any key in the upper four rows bearing the numeral 6, will cause the primary armature 52 to make six movements,

and move the type-wheel six teeth forward,

into position to print the sixth numeral. And in the same manner the make-andbreak action of the prefix keys 24 would vibrate the primary armature from 11 to 20 times and cause the type-bars of the t pewheel to print the prefixes which f0 low those of the numerals.

It only remains to. describe the operation of the secondary armature 56. When the drum 1 of the sender in its revolution brings one of the wide and Ion contact surfaces 10 under a key, the duration of the circuit is sufliciently prolonged to convert the electro- 'magnet of the recorder into an iron clad,

or two pole magnet ofsufiicient force to attract the secondary armature 56, and cause the arm 74 to strike against the type-wheel, thus making an impression, on the tape, of the particular type in printing position. The

moment the long circuit closure is broken the bar 74 will be repelled by the projecting member 71 of the bar 69, and the described operations may be repeated. Thus a person having found Main 5680, desiring to record his call at a distant phone provided "touch only. with one wide and long contact segment 10, others with one short contact contact segment 10; and that the rows of with the receiving art of my device, will operate his center "by depressing the ke s as follows, readingfrom right to left: T .e second key of the prefix row 24, the fifth key of the row 24, the sixth key of the row 24, the eighth key of the row 24, and the tenth or 0 key of the row 24. The downward movement of the last mentioned key forces the insulation block 15 far enough down to permit the upper point thereof to pass the stop 48, and the drum 1 then receives revolving motion from the propelling clock-work, bringing the wheel 23, on the lower end of the tenth key of the row 24, into contact with the first metal contact segment 24- (counting fro-m left to right) of the peripheral section 1 of the drum 1, and so closes an electric circuit through the medium of the drum 1, web 2, shaft 4, bearing 5, wire 27, and a suitable source of electric energy, on one side and the wheel 23, key stem 22, tube 21, plate 20, and wire 28 on the other side; the wires 27, 28 being connected with wires 54", 54 of the recorder. The wheel of the depressed key of the row 24 will come in contact with ten contact segments 8*, of the peripheral segment 1' of the drum, and thus there will be ten impulses imparted to the recorder, and the type wheel thereof will be moved in the position to print 0. During the revolution of the drum, the wheel, and the key depressed, will finally come into contact with the wide contactsegment 10, which causes the armature 52 to form a connection between the bar magnet 50 and the soft iron tube 49, thus constituting an iron-clad or two-pole magnet of twice the attractive power of the magnet 50, and capable of attractin the second armature 56; the movement 0 which causes the arm 74, carrying the inked ribbon 75, to press the paper tape against the face of the type wheel 59, making the impression 0 or last numeral of the call Main 5680 on the paper tape. The continuing rotation of the drum bringing the wheel 23, of the depressed key of the row 24, into contact with the wide insulating segment 9 of the peripheral portion 1 of the drum, thus breaking the circuit; and while in contact with such segment 9, said depressed key is lifted and restored to its normal state. The above described operation is followed until all the four numerals of the call have been recorded on the paper tape of the recorder; the key depressed for printing the prefix Main making eleven makes-andbreaks, so as to rotate the type wheel of the recorder sufliciently to pass over the numerals 1 to 10 and to bring into printing position one of the series of ten prefixes of the printing faces with which the type wheel is provided. The rotation of the drum 2 has now been completed, the insulating block 15 standing in projecting osition, striking against the stop 48, and t us arresting the drum 2 in its initial position.

The principle of operation and the func-' tion of my individual sender is like that of the multiple sender. It differs only in being adapted to send out but a single call, but in other respect must produce a make and-break effect of the electric circuit, which ,would operate the recorder just the same, as would the multiple sender above described. It comprises a case 86 in which is contained a clock-work consisting of shafts 87, 88, and a train of gears 93, 94, 95, 96. On the shaft 87 is rotatably mounted a sleeve 89 having an integral ratchet-wheel 91 with which engages a pawl 92 pivoted on the gear 93. The ratchet-wheel is driven by a spring 90, one end of which is fast to the sleeve 89. On the shaft 87 is mounted a disk 97 the periphery of which is notched, as shown, to have contact with a resilient-arm 98 which is afiixed to the case 86 by a block of insulation 99. The arm 98 and the case are electrically connected with the circuit by wires 86, 86". \Vhen the extremity of the arm 98 is positioned in a cavity of the disk 97 the circuit is interrupted, and when in contact with the projecting teeth of such disk the circuit is closed. The devices are arranged so as to normally interrupt the circuit, and the disk 97 is stopped, after each revolution, in its initial position by the pin 100, thereby carried, coming in contact with a projection 101, on the base of the stem of a spring-controlled key 102. The action of the clock-work is rendered intermittent by an escapement consisting of escape-wheel 103, and pendulum 104. The periphery of the disk 97 shown in Figs. XVI and XVII is so arranged as to give the make-and-break effect which will cause the recorder to print the call Main 5680, the same as explained above concerning the operation of my multiple sender. To adapt the individual sender to transmit any other call, the disk 97 would have to be replaced by another of which the periphery is correspondingly notched. The individual sender is operated by merely pressing down the key 102.

Throughout the description of my devices, I have shown and described such mechanical structure suggested itself most practical for the end in view. But of course I do not wish to be understood that the precise details are indispensable.

I claim:

1. A device of the character specified, comprising a sender and a recorder, installed in their respective stations, and electrically connected with each other and the source of electric energy, the sender constituting a rotating switch comprising a movable member divided into conducting and non-conducting segments, a driving element adapted to operate such movable member intermittently, a series of keys representing in numerical order the symbols to be communicated, which keys are adapted to be normally out of electric contact with the movable member, and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conductingsegment thereof, the driving element being thrown into action by the depression of a key, and the keys and the conducting and non-conducting segments of the movable member being arranged, with respect to each other, to cause a make-andbreak of the circuit relatively to the ordinal of the key depressed; and the recorder comprising a printing mechanism, having a movable type-carrier provided with a series of progressively arranged type-characters, corresponding with the symbols of said keys, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, means, operated thereby, adapted to move the type-carrier relatively to the key depressed of the sender, and bring the typecharacter corresponding therewith into printing position, a tape-carrier, means adapted to move the tape progressively across the type-carrier, and means, also operated by the electro-magnet, adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printiilg osition..

2. A evice of the character specified, comprising a sender and a recorder, installed in their respective stations, and electrically connected with each other and the source of electric energy, such sender constituting a rotating switch and comprislng a frame, a rotatable member the periphery of which is divided into conducting and non-conducting segments, a driving element adapted to rotate such rotatable member intermittently, means adapted to stop the rotatable member in its initial position at the end of each rotation, a series of keys representing in numerical order the syncbols to be communicated, which keys are adapted to be normally out of electric contact with the rotatable member and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting-segment thereof, the keys and the conducting and non-conducting segments of the drum being arranged, with respect to each other, to cause a make-andbreak of the circuit relatively to the ordinal of the key depressed, the driving element be ng adapted to be thrown into action by the depression of a key; and the recorder comprising a printing mechanism having a movable type-carrier provided with a series of progressively arranged type-characters corresponding with the symbols of said keys, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, means, operated thereby, adapted to move the type-carrier relatively to the key depressed of the sender, and bring the type-character corresponding therewith into printing position, a type-carrier, means adapted to move the tape progressively across the type-carrier, and means, also operated by the electro-Inagnet, adapted to imcomprising a sender and a recorder, installed in their respective stations, and electrically connected with each other and the source of electric energy; such sender constituting a rotating switch and comprising a frame, a rotatable member the periphery of which is divided into conducting and non-conducting segments, a driving element adapted to rotate such rotatable member intermittently, means adapted to stop the rotatable member in its initial position at the end of each rotation, a series of keys arranged in rows, representing the prefixes, units, tens, hundreds and thousands, for example, of the call to be communicated; said keys being adapted to be normally out of contact with the drum and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting segment thereof, the rows of keys and the conducting segments of the drum with which they cooperate being arranged with respect to each other, to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinals of the signs represented by the keys depressed, and the driving element being adapted to be thrown into action by the depression of one of the keys in said unit row; and the recorder comprising a printing mechanism, having movable typecarrier provided with a series of progressively arranged type-characters, corresponding with the symbols of said keys, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, means, operated thereby, adapted to move the type-carrier relatively to the key depressed of the sender, and bring the typecharacter corresponding therewith into printing position, a tape-carrier, means adapted to move the tape progressively across the type-carrier, and means also operated by the electro-magnet, adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printing position.

4. A device of the character specified. comprising a sender and a recorder, installed in their respective stations and electrically connected with each other and the source of electric energy, such sender constituting a rotating switch and comprising a frame, a rotatable drum, the periphery of which is divided into sections having, respectively, progressively arranged conducting and nonconducting segments, a driving element.

adapted to rotate such drum during intermittent intervals, means adapted to stop the drum in its initial position at the end of each rotation, a series of keys arranged in rows representing the symbols, units, tens, hundreds and thousands, for example, of the call to be communicated. said keys being adapted to be normally out of electric contact with the drum and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting segment thereof, the rows of keys being positioned relatively to the conducting segments of the respective sections of the drum with which they cooperate, so as to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinals of the signs represented by the keys depressed, and the driving element being adapted to be thrown into action by the depression of one of the keys in said unit row; and the recorder comprising a printing mechanism having movable type-carrier provided with a series of progressively arranged type-characters, corresponding with the symbols of said keys, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, means, operated thereby, adapted to move the type-carrier relatively to the key depressed of the sender, and bring the typecharacter corresponding therewith into printing position, a tape-carrier, means adapted to move the tape progressively across the type-carrier, and means also operated by the electro-magnet, adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printmg position.

5. In a device of the character specified, a recorder comprising the combination of a frame, an electro-magnet consisting of a hollow outer cylinder, a longitudinally bored central core, an intermediate winding of insulated wire, a spring-controlled rod slidably inserted in said bore of the core and carrying a primary armature, a printing mechanism comprising a rotatable typewheel having on its periphery a series of progressively arranged type-characters, a type-reel, means adapted to guide the tape around the type-wheel, means, connected with the primary armature, adapted to rotate the type-wheel progressively so as to bring the type-character expressing the sign to be communicated into printing position, means adapted to move the tape cooperatively tothe rotation of the type-wheel, means adapted to temporarily hold the type-wheel in the position to which it is progressively moved, a secondary armature hinged to the cylinder of the electro-magnet and arranged to be attracted when the outer cylinder of said electro-magnet becomes charged for a sufiicient interval, means operated by such secondary armature, adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printing position, and means adapted to return the type wheel to its initial position after each imprint.

6. In a device of the character s ecified,

a recorder comprising the combination of a ing on its periphery a series of progressively arranged type-characters, a stop arranged to arrest the type-wheel in its initial position,

a tape-reel, means adapted to guide the tape around the type-wheel, an ectro-magnet and a movable armature mounted on said frame, a longitudinally slidable, s ring-controlled, bar 69 made with lateral y projecting members 80, 81, a ratchet-wheel fast on the type-wheel, a longitudinally arranged rod 62 carried by said armature, and adapt ed to engage with said ratchet-wheel, a spring-controlled pivoted dog 63, also engaging with said ratchet-wheel, connected with said rod (52 and adapted to temporarily hold the type-wheel in the position to which it is progressively moved, a beveled lug on the dog 63 with which the member 80 of the bar 62 is thrown into contact upon the reverse movement of such bar 62, so as to move said dog 67 and simultaneously the rod ()2 out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel, an arm 81 carried by the member 81 of the bar 69 and adapted to progressively move the tape during the reciprocations of such bar (19, means operated by the electro-magnet adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printing positlon, means, cooperating with said imprinting means, adapted to move the bar 69 reversely simultaneously with each imprint, so as to release the type-wheel and allow the same to reassume its initial position, and means adapted to hold the bar (39 during the return rotation of the type-wheel.

7. In a device of the character specified, a recorder comprising the combination of a printing mechanism consisting of a frame, a spring-controlled rotatable type -wheel having on its periphery a series of progressively arranged type-characters, a stop arranged to arrest the type-wheel in its initial position, a tape-reel, means adapted to guide the tape around the type wheel; an electromagnet and a movable armature mounted on said frame; a longitudinally slidable springcontrolled bar 69 made with a tongue 72 having a bent part 72*, a projecting member 71, and laterally projecting members 80, 81, a ratchet-wheel fast on the type-wheel, a longitudinally arranged rod 62 carried by said armature, and adapted to engage with said ratchet-wheel, a spring-controlled ivoted dog 63 also engaging with said ratchet-- wheel, connected with said rod 62 and adapted to temporarily hold the type-wheel in the position to which it is progressively moved, a beveled lug on the dog 63 with which the member 80 of the bar 69 is thrown into contact upon the reverse movement of such bar, so as to move said dog 67 and simultaneously the rod 2 out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel, an arm 81* carried by the member 81 of the bar 9 and adapted to progressively move the tape during the 69 durin reci rocations of such bar 69, means opera by the eleetro-magnet adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printing position, the imprinting means being arranged to bear, while in action, against the member 71. of the bar 69, and cause the latter to make a reverse movement, thereby releasing the type-wheel and allowing the same to reassume its initial position, and the tongue 72 being adapted to drop in front of a frame abutment, so as to hold the bar the interval of the return rotation of t e type-wheel and the latter being made with a pin arranged to lift the tongue 72 when the type-wheel has regained its initial position, so as to release the bar 69 and allow the same to regain its normal position.

8. In a device of the character specified, a recorder comprising the combination of a printing mechanism consisting of a frame, a spring-controlled rotatable type-wheel having on its periphery a series of progressively arranged type-characters, a stop arranged to arrest the type-Wheel in its initial position, a tape-reel, means adapted to guide the tape around the type-wheel, an electro-magnet consisting of a hollow outer cylinder, a longitudinally bored central core, an intermediate winding of insulated wire, a spring-controlled rod slidably inserted in said bore of the core, and carrying a primary armature; a longitudinally slidable spring-controlled bar 69, made with a tongue 72 having a bent part 72, a projecting member 71, and laterally projecting members 80, 81; a ratchetwheel fast on the type-wheel; a longitudinally arranged rod 62 carried by sald primary armature, and adapted to engage with said ratchet-Wheel, a spring-controlled pivoted dog 63 also engaging with said ratchetwheel, connected with said rod 62 and adapted to temporarily hold the type-wheel in the position to which it is progressively moved, a beveled lug on the dog 63 with which the member 80 of the bar 69 is thrown into con-v tact upon the reverse movement of such bar, so as to move said dog 67 and simultaneously the rod 62 out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel, an arm 81 carried by the member 81 of the bar 69 and adapted to progressively move the tape during the reciprocations of such bar 69, a secondary armature hinged to the cylinder of the electro-magnet and arranged to be attracted when the outer cylinder of said electro-magnet becomes charged for a sufficient interval, an arm 74 on said secondary armature, such arm being made with a printing head 79, means holding an inking ribbon across the face of such printing head 79, the imprinting means being arranged to bear, while in action, against the member 71 of the bar 69, and cause the same to make a reverse movement, thereby releasing the type-Wheel and allowing the same to reassume its initial position, and the tongue 72 being adapted to drop in front of a frame abutment, so as to hold the bar 69 during the interval of the return rotation of the type-wheel, the latter being made with a pinlarranged to lift the tongue 72 when the type-wheel has regained its initial position, so as to release the bar 69 and allow the same to regain its normal position.

9. In a device of the character specified, a sender comprising a frame, a rotatable drum, theperiphery of which is divided into sections having each an alternating, progressivel arranged series of conducting and non-con ucting segments, a series of vertically movable, spring-controlled keys, arranged in rows and representing in progressive order the symbols of a system of communication, said keys being adapted to be normally out of contact with the drum and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting segment thereof, the rows of keys and the conducting segments of the drum with which they cooperate being arranged, with respect to each other, to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinals of the signs represented by the keys depressed, means adapted to temporarily hold the keys when depressed and means adapted to release the keys again, during the rotation of the drum, a driving element adapted to rotate the drum during intermittent intervals; means adapted to stop the drum in its initial position at the end of each rotation, said driving element being adapted to be thrown into action 'by the depression of one of the keys in the unit row.

10. In a device of the character specified, a sender comprising a frame, a rotatable drum, the periphery of which is divided into sections having each an alternating, progressively arranged series of conducting and non-conducting segments, the last conducting segment of each series being adapted to afford longer contact than the preceding, and having a tangential rise; a series of vertically movable, spring-controlled keys, arranged in rows and representing in progressive order the symbols of a system of communication, said keys being adapted to be normally out of contact with the drum and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting segment thereof, the rows of keys and the conducting segments of the drum with which they cooperate being arranged, with respect to each other, to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinals of the signs represented by the keys depressed, and said sections of the drum being made to progressively recede, so that the depressed keys will close the circuit in proper succession; a spring-catch adapted to hold the keys when depressed until brought into contact with a tangential rise of the drum during the latters rotation,. a driving element 1 adapted to rotate the drum during intermittent intervals; and means adapted to stop the drum in its initial position at the end of each rotation, said driving element being adapted to be thrown into action by the depression of one of the keys in the unit row.

11. In a device of the character specified, a sender comprising a frame, a rotatable drum, the periphery of which is divided into sections having each an alternating, progressively arranged series of conducting and non-conducting segments, a series of vertically movable, spring-controlled keys, arranged in rows and representing in progressive order the symbols of a system of communication, said keys being adapted to be normally out of contact with the drum and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting segment thereof, the rows of keys and the conducting segments of the drum with which they cooperate being arranged, with respect to each other, to cause a makeand-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinal of the signs represented by the keys depressed, means adapted to temporarily hold the keys when depressed and means adapted to release the keys again, during the rotation of the drum, :1 driving clement adapted to rotate the drum during intermittent intervals; means adapted to stop the drum in its initial position at the end of each rotation, said driving element being adapted to be thrown into action by the depression of one of the keys in the unit row; in combination with a recorder comprising a printing mechanism having a movable type-carrier provided with a series of progressively arranged typecharacters, an electromagnet having a movable armature, means, operated thereby, adapted to move the type-carrier so as to bring the type-characters expressing the symbol to be communicated into printing position, a tape-carrier, means adapted to move the tape progressively across the typecarrier, and means, also operated by the electro-magnet, adapted to imprint on the tape the type-character in printing position.

12. In a device of the character specified. a sender comprising a frame, a rotatable drum, the periphery of which is divided into sections having each an alternating, progressively arranged series of conducting and non-conducting segments, the last conducting segment of each series being adapted to afford greater contact than the preceding, and having a tangential rise; a series of vertically movable, spring controlled keys, arranged in rows and representing in progressive order the symbols of a system of communication, said keysbeing adapted to be normally out of contact with the drum and to close the circuit when depressed and in contact with a conducting segment thereof, the rows of keys and the conducting se ments of the drum with which they cooperate being arranged, with respect to each other, to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinals of the signs represented by the keys depressed, and said sections of the drum being made to progressively recede, so that the depressed keys will close the circuit in proper succession; a spring-catch adapted to hold the keys when depressed until brought into contact with a tangential rise of the drum during the latters rotation, a driving element adapted to rotate the drum during intermittent intervals; means adapted to stop the drum in its initial position at the end of each rotation, said driving element being adapted to be thrown into action by the depression of one of the keys in the unit row; in combination with a recorder comprising a frame, an electro-magnet consisting of a hollow outer'cylinder, a longitudinally bored central core, an intermediate winding of insulated Wire, a spring-control rod slidably inserted in said bore of the core and carrying a primary armature, a printing mechanism comprising a rotatable ty c-wheel having on its periphery a series 0 progressively arranged typecharacters, a tape-reel, means adapted to guide the tape around the type wheel, means, connected with the primary armature, adapted to rotate the type-wheel progressively so as to bring the type-character expressing the sign to be communicated into printing position, means adapted to move the tape cooperatively to the rotation of the type-wheel, means adapted to temporarily hold the type-wheel in the position to which it is progressively moved, a secondary armature hinged to the cylinder of the electromagnct and arranged to be attracted when the outer cylinder of said electro-magnet becomes charged for a sufiicient interval; means, operated by such secondary armature, adapted to imprint on the tape the type character in printing position, and means adapted to return the type-wheel to its initial position after each imprint.

13. A sender adapted to the purpose specified, constituting a multiple switch and comprising an operable member made of conducting material, the outer surface thereof having a plurality of raised contact-segments arranged parallel in groups spaced apart from each other, and a coating of insulating material filling the spaces between said contact-segments, a driving element adapted to operate such movable member intermittently, a series of keys representing in numerical order the symbols to be communicated, which keys are adapted to be normally out of electric contact with said operable member, and to close the circuit when depressed against a conducting segment thereof, ".the driving element being thrown into action by the depression of a specified, constituti key, and the keys and conductin segments of the operable member being a rangged to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinal of thekey depressed.

14. A sender adapted to the purpose a multiple switch and comprising a cylin rical rotatable member made of conducting material, the outer surface thereof having a plurality of raised contactsegments arranged parallel in groups spaced a art from each other, and a coating of ins ating material filling the s aces between said contact-segments, a riving element adapted to operate such cylindrical rotatable member intermittently,

ment thereof, the driving element being 25 thrown into action by the depression of a key, and the keys and conducting segments of the cylindrical rotatable member being 7 arranged to cause a make-and-break of the circuit relatively to the ordinal of the key 30 depressed.

FRANK A. LATHROP.

Witnesses:

T. J. GEISLER, Oren. LONG.

communicated, 20

Images