US1540313A - Printing telegraphy - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1925.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. P. CHAPLIN PRINTING TELEGRAPHY M. P. CHAPLIN PRINTING TELEGRAPHY June 2,1925.

Filed Nov. 13, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm ,rw/MA Mh www M f f Patented `lune* 2, 1925.

UNITED` STAT-ES PATENT .oFFicE MERLE P. CHAPLIN. 0F WHITE PLAINS. NEW' YORK. ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK. N. Y., A CORPORATION O'F NEW YORK.

PRINTING TELEGRAPHY.

Application led November 13, 1920. Serial No. 423,811.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MERLE P.I CHAPLIN. a citizen ot the United States` residing at Vhite Plains, iii the county of Westchester,` State of New York, have invented certainl new and useful Improvements in Printing Telegraphy, of which the following is a ull. clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention .relates to printing telegraphy, and particularly to distributing mechanism utilized in such systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a distributor free from the defects inherent in use of rotatingr commutator brushes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a distributor having incorporated therein mechanical means for controlling the release of the power shaft of the receiving printer.

In accordance with another object, the invention provides for the association of the distributing mechanism and the receiving printer in a unitary structure.

For accomplishing the above objects, the present invention rovides Va distributor mechanism arrange'din conjunction with the receiving printer anc forming a part thereof. utilizing a plurality of contacts designed to be actuated by means of an intermittently revolving arm. The' contacts are arranged concentrically, being adapted to be actuated in succession for distributing the character selecting units to the selector mechanism of' the receiving printer in accordance with the signal current impulses received trom the distant station. Incorporated with the distributing mechanism is a mechanical means, such as, for example, a-cam, which, for each revolution of the distributor arm effects the release of the power shaft of the receiving printer. i

The above and other objects ot this invention. will be set forth in the following description and annexed claims, and'will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front view ot' a distributor designed in accordance with the present invention and having a portion thereof crosssectioned Jfor the purpose of more clearly disclosing the invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 1,- Fi 3 is ayiew taken along the line 3--3 of ig. 1, Fig. 4

discloses the cani together with the connecting links for releasing the power shaft of the receiving printer, while Fig. 5 discloses in schematic form the combination of the distributing mechanism disclosed in Fig. 1 and a portion of a receiving printer.

A' receiving printer of the character with which a distributor mechanismof the type hereinafter described is especially applicable, is disclosed in anv application of Harry Pfannenstiehl, Serial No. 397,503, filed July i 21, 1920, and since the above mentioned copending application illustrates and describes in detail the various operations of a receiving printer, it is considered unnecessary to show a complete structure of the receiving printer as applied to the present invention, but to show only so much of the apparatus as is necessary to a clear understanding of the invention.- Obviously, however, a distributor ofthe character covered by this invention is applicable to types ofreceiving printers other than that disclosed and described in the'above mentioned co-pending application ofHarry Pfannenstiehl. ,y

Referring. now to the drawing, there is shown a distributor mechanism designed in accordance with the previously enumerated objects, comprising a plurality of contact springs 5. These springs are yconcentrically arranged on a face plate 10 by suitable screws such as 11. Plate 10 is secured to posts 4. forming a part of the frame 7 by screws 2. Associated with the springs 5is an auxiliary spring 13. The springs 5 and the auxiliary springs 1.3 .are arranged in a unit with insulating material 14 and 15' interposed therebetween for the purpose of insuring a good insulation, the combination being in turn secured to rthe plate 10. At the free end of the springs 5 there is an adjustable contact screw16 for regulating the distance through which the spring 13 is required to move before making Contact therewith. The spring 13, there being a similar spring provided for each of the `springs 5, is formed of a very rigid material vso that upon the release thereof, it will instantly return to its normal postion, thus giving a. clean contact. Suitably arranged with the spring 13, and secured by the same screws is an operating member 17. To the freeend of the member 17 there is attached a `pro ich jectin'g portion 18, which, as will be hereinsprings 13 and screw 16.

In orderthat the contact springs may be actuatedin succession, an arm19 is rigidly secured toa shaft y20. Normally the arm 19, together withl the shaft 20 is held against rotation by means of a stop member 21. This stopfmember'21 is mounted on they armature of a start ma' `et 22. Magnet 22, as in the usual distri utors ofthe startstop type, operates to release the arm 19 for permitting the-contact springs to be actuated in succession. The energizing circuit of the start magnet -22 extends through a pair of contacts 23 and 24, which are nbrv mally in engagement due to the pressure of by passage of the arm 19 thereover.

-zationof the startl magnet 22 wl1ich per,

the arm 19. Thus, the instant the arm 19 is released, the energizing circuit for the electro-magnet- 22 is broken, due to the opening of contacts 23 and 24,which isy thereupon prevented from being energized until the contacts 23 and 24 are again compleed ecured at apoint intermediate the ends of vthe arm 19 is a knife or wedged shaped member 8. This member 8 is shaped in-this manner for thepurpose of eliminating the retardation effect of the projections `18 on the springs 17. For the purpose of eliminating as much of the friction as lpossiblebetween the shaft 20 and `its bearings 25 and 26, suitablel ball pearings 27 and 28 lare provided.f Secured o` the bearing 26 by means of screws 29 is a face plate 31'.

Intermediate the bearings and 26 is positioned a -cam 34. Thiscam 34 is keyed to the shaft 20, and is thus revolved upon the release of the arm 19 due to the energimits the shaft 2() to be. driven throughva` suitable friction clutch to be hereinafter described. The cam 34 is so arranged that for each revolution of the shaft 20 and following the transmission of the character' selectmg units, a lever 35 will be acted upon. The lever 35 is rigidly secured to a shaft 36', at.

`one extremity ofwhich is keyed one part o f a 'toggle joint, comprising members 37 and 38. By means of a spring 39 which has one end attached to the member 37 and the other to an upright' member'46, the member 37 yis thus normally retained in engagement with a stop screw 40. Rigidly secured to the member 38 of the toggle joint is a block 41 arranged to be revolved about" a shaft 45 mounted in the frame 42. Uponthe 'engagement of the eccentricportion of the cam 34 with the lever 35, the. shaft 36 will be Arevolved in the direction ofthe arrow. The movement of the shaft 36 in this manner causesa similar action on the members 37 and 38 of the togglejoint, thus effecting a downward movement of the block 41. The

block 41 thereupon moves to a position whereby a stop arm 43 is released. Therelease of thel stop'arm 43 permits, as will be more clearly described, a shaft 44 to be. revolved by power vcommunicated thereto through a) suitable friction clutch.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 5, therey is shown a motor 48, driving shaft 49 and pinion 50 carried thereby cooperating with a gear wheel 51 for imparting motion to the power shaft 44 of the receiving printer.V Power is communicated from" th(` driving shaftto the driven shaft by means of a friction clutch 52. The construction of the friction clutch 52 is as follows: Mounted "on the side of the gear wheel 51 Ais a series of posts 54 on which there is arranged a plurality of plates 55,56, 57 and 58. adapted to rot-ate with the gear wheel 51. Rigi( ly secured tothe power shaft 44 is a plurality of discs 59, 60, 61 and 62 of a lesser diameter than that of the plates carried by the posts 54. Intermediate' the plates which are car ried by the posts 54 and the discs carried by the driven shaft 44 is a series of friction discs 63 which may consist of wood or any desired material. Mounted 'on `the end of the shaft 44 is an extension carrying a number of threads designed to receive a nut 64. In order that the pressure between the various plates may be varied,l there is interposed'between tle nut 64 and the plate 59 a helical spring 65.

Also carried to the posts 54 is another Vseries of plates 66 and 67 forming a part of a second clutch 69. Rigidly mounted on the shaft 20 and interposed between the two plates 66 and 67 is a disc 68 of,a smaller diameter than the plates 66 and 67.v Interposed vbetween the plates 66 and 67, which are rigidly secured to the posts 54 and the plate 68, which ismounted on the shaft 20, is a series of friction discs 75. These discs, asl described in connection with the clutch 52, may consist of wood or any desiredA material. For adjusting the pressure between spring 7Q`is placed between the plate 67 and adjustable blocks 71 which are shdably mounted on-the posts 54.

From the description pertammgto 'the clutches 52 and 69, it is seen that but one sourceof motive power 48 is required for driving the shaft of the distributor and the receiving printer, respectively. This feature is particularlyadvantageous since it enables rthe mountingI of the distributor equipment and the printer as a unit. I t not only affords better operating characterlstics` but also diminishes to a considerable extent the space occupied by the separate umts. In order to compensate for line lag or what is sometimes known as line distortion, the

lll

distributing mechanism equipped with means whereby the interval ottime elapsingI between the release of the distributor brush arm and its engagement with the iirst'contact may be varied. lVitli such an arrangement the impulses transmitted from the distant station will be received, in cases where the distributor is acting 'as a receiving distributor, in a manner suchf that the signals will be properly distributed to the printer mechanism with which the distributor is associated. In the present instance, this is accomplished by having the part ,of the mechanism .carrying the release magnets and the release latch rotatable aboutxa portion of the hub 26. Normally the portion carrying the release magnets and the release latch is held against rotation due to the force applied through the thumb screw 72 upon the extension 12 which engages a portion ofL the hub 26.*, Then it is desired to orient the brush arm it only becomes necessary to loosenl the thumb screw 72 and rotate the release magnetlwith its release latch in a direction determined by whether it` is desired to have the brush arm 19 engage the contacts at a time sooner orlater than when" the release latch is in its normal or zero position. When the thumb screw 72 is rotated in a counter clock-wise direction, the'extension 12 can thereby belfreely shifted on the bearing or hub 26 to any desired position. To indicate the amount of displacement (a suitable scale 73 graduated upon plate 10- and a binder 74 are provided. With such an arrangement-'it is possible to orientate the distributors to the smallest increment to compensate for any line lag.

The present invention has been illustrated and described as applied to a distributor of the start-stop type. Obviously,though, the sameprinciple may be readily'employed in other types of distributors, such as, for example, those. in which the contact arm. is continuously rotating without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What. is claimed is:

1. A distributor for printing telegraphs comprising a plurality of spring contact members. actuating means normally .tending to rotate, means for releasing said actuating means to operate said spring contact members in succession, and means for permitting of a variation between 4the time of release. ofsaid actuating'means and its operation of the first spring contact members.

2. The combination with axlpowe'r shaft normally tending to rotate, of a distributor 'comprising a plate,` a series of spring contact members having open and closedi positions arranged concentrically on said plate, an arm-normally tending to rotate, electrically operated means for releasing said arm whereby said Contact members will be actuated to their closed position in succession,

and a mechanical meansl operated automatically on eachrevolution of said arm for releasing said power shaft.

3, The combination of a" pair of shafts arranged to fbe driven, a common source of motive powerfor driving said shafts, coupling means intermediate Vsaid shafts and source of motive power, means for restrain- 'mg the movement of said shafts, a series of spring contact members. means secured to one of said shafts for actuating said contact members in succession, and means controlled by lthe rotation of the shaft carrycontact arm for releasing the restrainingVv means on the other ofsaid shafts. p

5. A distributor comprising a series of flexible spring contact members having open and closed positions arranged concentrically, a shaft normally tending to rotate, means secured to said shaft, and means responsive to current impulses for releasing said shaft whereby said means is caused to move the spring contact members to their closed position in succession.

6. A distributor comprising a series of spring contact members having .open and closed positions arranged concentrically, Aa shaft, contact means rigidly secured to said shaft. a latch for holding said contact means and shaft againstrotation, means responsive to current impulses for operatin said latch whereby said -contact means 1s released for moving said contact members to (their closed position in succession.

7. Al distributor comprising a series of spring contact members having open and closed positions arranged concentrically, a

contact arm normally tending to rotate for actuating the spring; contact members to their closed position, and electrically operated means for periodically releasing said contact arm for rotation.

8. A distributor comprising a series of spring contact members having open and closed positions arranged concentrically, a

contact arm normally ytending to rotate for .actuating the spring "contact members to spring contact members arrangedconcen-4 odically releasing said Contact arm for rotation, a power shaft, means for holding said shaft against rotation, and aC cam operateeld in synchronism with said contact arm for mechanically operating said holding means In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe '1" my name -this 10th day of Ilot/ember, A, D., 1920. y

MERLE P. zGHAPLIN`

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