US128607A - Improvement in printing-telegraphs - Google Patents

Description

T. A. EDISON.

Improvement in Printing-Telegraph's,

No.-i28,60 7.

Patented July 2,1872.

. Mr. F/IG To wrws RI awaca. 4 r. fasaamgs F/OCA? s) i TED STATES ATE THOMAS A. EDISON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,607, dated July 2, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, of Newark, in the countyof Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Printing-Telegraphs; and the following is declared to be a correct description of the same.

In this instrument the magnet that gives the impression is in the main-line circuit as well as the type-wheel magnet, but the former is cut out by a shunt or short circuit that is closed when the instrument is not working, and during the pulsations that set the typewheel; but when a pause occurs with the circuit closed this short circuit is broken by a gradually-operatin g spring or weight controlled by an air-cushion, so that the electricity is forced to pass through the printing-magnet and gives the impression, simply in consequence of keeping the circuit closed when the letter to be printed has arrived in position for the impression. I

In the drawing, Figure l is a plan, and Fig. 2 an elevation, of the instrument.

The finger-key a is introduced to illustrate any suitable apparatus for opening and closing the electric circuit from the battery I). 1 represents the line-wire, and 2 the ground or return circuit. The type-wheel c is moved by any suitable step-by-step motion. I have shown the ratchet-wheel d and lever e, operated by the armature f and spring 4. The printing-lever 9 may also be of any desired character. The type-wheel magnet h is connected with the line-wirel, and from this the wire 5 leads to the printing-magnet t, and thence the circuit returns by the wire 2. If this alone was used, both magnets would be energized each pulsation 5 therefore, to prevent this, I employ the short circuit or shunt, composed of the wire 7 leading to the screw i, and the wire 9 leading to the tongue 0. The air-cushion is made of the cylinder n, within which is a piston, and

the rod '1" of the same rests at its lower end upon the tongue 0, and the parts are adjusted so that the circuit between i and 0 is closed when the parts are at rest, because a collar, 3, on the rod 1' rests upon the type-wheel lever e and holds the rod 7' up against the spring u.

When the type-wheel leveny'is vibrated in setting the type-wheel, the movement is sufficiently rapid to keep pressing the rod 7' up against the action of the spring u, and the aircushion prevents its return with rapidity; but when a pause takes place in the pulsations, and the circuit is kept closed, the rod 1 descends and moves the tongue 0, breaking the shunt-circuit through 7, i, 0, and 9, and compelling the electricity to pass through the magnet 17 and produce the printing. The parts return to the position of inactivity with magnet t cut out by the circuit 7 'i o 9, when the circuit is broken at the transmitting station, and I remark that there might be a finger upon the printing-lever g to lift the rod 1", in which case the impression-lever would drop back instantly, as the circuit would be closed again through 7, t, o, and 9; and in this manner a second or third impression of the same letter, number, or character would be given by keeping the circuit closed at the transmitting station to allow sufficient time for the rod 1" to descend again and open the shunt at 0 t.

I claim as my invention- Two electro-magnets, one for operating the type-wheel lever, the other for giving the im- 'pression, both in the main circuit, in combination with a shunt or cut-out circuit and a shunt-breaker, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 26th day of April, A. D.

T. A. EDISON. Witnesses:

Gno. T. PINcKNEY, Ones. 11. SMI'rn.

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