US1975042A - Telegraph perforator - Google Patents

Description

ZSepL 25, 1934. H. v. HIGGITT ET AL 1,975,042

TELEGRAPH PERFORATOR Filed Sept. 29. 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

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J l/ 1 %5 I l l I E i I l I 9 l ff Warburfon BY Patented Sept. 2 5, 1934 TELEGRAPH PERFORATOR Harry Vernon Higgitt and Fred Warburton, London, England, assignors to Cable and Wireless Limited, a British company Application September 29, 1931, Serial No. 565,868 In Great Britain November 21, 1930 9 Claims.

This invention relates to keyboard instruments for perforating telegraph paper tape, and more particularly to keyboard perforators wherein a shaft set into operation for each character to be perforated, carries cams which serve to effect the punching of the tape, to feed the tape and to carry out any other necessary stages in the operation of the instrument. In such instruments, it is known to move the paper tape in the die block through which it passes, into contact with punches, a certain number of which are held rigidly by the action of a mechanism controlled from the keyboard, so that those rigidly held punches punch holes in the tape while the remainder of the punches yield and are pushed out of the way of the paper. Such a form of instrument is open to objections which arise principally from the necessity of smartly moving a heavy die block. It is the chief object of the invention to avoid these objections.

According to the present invention, the die block is held stationary and the punches corresponding to the character to be perforated are driven through the paper by a mechanism operated by the punching cam or equivalent power actuated member. The cam is connected by a linkage to a number of intermediate members, different parts of which are capable of movement but one part of each of the intermediate members selected is prevented from movement while the other part moves and presses the associated punch through the paper tape; on the other hand, each of the intermediate members not selected is comparatively free to move as regards its first part, and is thus not caused to exert suflicient pressure on the associated punch to push it through the paper tape. Each of th intermediate members selected preferably has a part held up by the selector combs or equivalent members, those combs which are selected. by the depression of a given key being prevented from movement or only allowed to take up a small movement. Thus no use is made of members interposed between the key mechanism and the punches, but on the other hand, power is applied to the intermediate members individual to each punch and iocated between the respective punch and the key-controlled mechanism. The is that the latter mechanism determines whether or not the power applied to the intermediate members shall cause each of the punches associated with the intermediate members to eiiect perforation of the paper or not.

In one form of construction, the intermediate members each consist of a blade-like lever pivoted at or near its mid-point to a lever rocked by the punch cam. At or near one end, each intermediate member is pivotally connected to its associated selector comb or the equivalent, and when the intermediate member is actuated, if its comb prevents that end moving, the opposite end moves and exerts sumcient pressure upon the punch to perforate the tape. On the other hand, if the respective comb is not held up, it does not impose sufilcient resistance on the intermediate member for the opposite end of the latter to press the punch through the paper tape. Again, the intermediate member may take the form of two toggle links, the free end of one being connected to the corresponding selector comb and the free end ofthe other being arranged so as to press upon the corresponding punch. The joint between each pair of the toggle links is connected to the punching cam so that the latter in operating, tends to straighten the toggle and if the end of the toggle connected to the selector comb is preventedirom yielding, the free end of the other link is caused to push the corresponding punch through the paper tape. Yet again, intermediate members in the form of blade-like levers, each connected at its middle point to the cam-actuated lever may be employed, and instead of being pivotally attached each to its own selector comb, it may be located so that its one end is blocked by this selector comb when the latter is held up from movement by the keyboard operated mechanism, while in the case of the combs not so held up, their springs pull them up out of the paths of their intermediate members so that those ends of the latter can more freely and the opposite ends do not actuate their punches. In this case, after perforating each character, the selector combs are restored to their initial positions against the pull of their springs by a lever operated by a further cam.

The paper may be fed through the die block in any desirable way, for example, in the manner described in the specification of British Patent No. 24,624 A. D. 1899. A preferred form of effecting this, however, is to employ a rack which may be mounted, for example, to drop vertically in the framework of the instrument when released by a pinion engaging with it, the amount it falls being under the control of auxiliary or spacing combs. By employing a separate set of combs for spacing, the amount of feed at each cperation is not necessarily bound up with the particular character being periorated, but generally speaking, that spacing lii place for one character.

cornb will be projected into the path oi the falling rack, which allows the rack to fall a distance corresponding to the length of paper tape required for perforating the particular character. After the rack has fallen, its pinion is brought into engagement with it by a cam, which may be separate or mounted on the punching lever, and thereupon the paper feed cam lifts the rack to its normal position, and through its pinion turns the sprocket engaging the centre holes in the paper tape, thereby feeding the tape by an amount corresponding to that which the rack was allowed to drop.

In order that the paper may be fed without dragging and partially tearing the paper at the centre holes, it is preferred to provide a camoperated device which will-prepare a loop of paper sufficient for the longest feed which can take By this means while the perforating punches are in the paper and holding it, the paper to the rear of the punches is struck by a cam-operated feeler and the brake being relieved from the paper storage drum, a loop is pulled through sufiicient for the maximum paper feed. Thus, when the next feed takes place, the paper is taken up from this loop and does not have to be dragged from the storme drum, so that the feed sprocket teeth do not tend to tear the paper tape at the centre holes.

It is found that an operator in working a keyboard perforator may occasionally depress and release a key very quickly, or may, in fact, depress a key by giving it a blow with a finger tip. Provision maybe made to ensure that a particular lettermaybe correctly perforated in these circumstances, for example, by providing a latching device which will hold the key down until the perforation is completed. Thus, for example, the depression of a key may release immediately the spacing combs, which are drawn by their springs against a member actuated by the key, so as to hold down/the key by friction. The spacing combs.. ,are, of course, returned positively by the action of a cam when perforation and feeding of the paper tape is completed. Another form of latching mechanism may consist of a springcontrolled latch provided for each key lever so as to engage and hold the key down when it is depressed and positively disengaged by cam action or the like when perforation is complete.

'In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one

form of the novel telegraph perforator together with some alternative mechanism will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:--

Figures 1 and 1A are a plan view of the improved telegraph perforator for Morse code with parts shown broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same from the left of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation from the rear showing the left hand part of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing certain of the selector combs and their associated mechanism and certain of the cams.

Figure 5 is a further perspective view illustrating the remainder of the cams and showing one of the spacing combs.

Figure 6 is a diagram, showing the settings of the various cams, while Figures '7 and 8 are diagrammatic plans illustrating alternative forms of linkage mechanism which may be employed in accordance with the invention.

deferring first oi all particularly to Figures 1 3 a telegraph perforator is illustrated for perforating tape or paper strip in accordance with the Morse code. In working with this code when it is desired to be able to punch numerals as well as letters it is necessary to make provision to feed forward the paper tape at the perforation of each character by an amount equal to ten centre holes, which is equivalent to the length of the longest character with an additional centre hole corresponding to the following space. The dashes are each represented by one perforation to one side of the centre holes, and another perforation on the opposite side, but spaced one centre hole in advance. On the other hand the dots are each represented by a pair of perforations on opposite sides of the same centre hole. In order to be able to perforate every desired combination of dots and dashes including those representing numerals in the Morse code, the punches must be arranged in two vertical rows, one consisting of nine punches which can perforate on one side of the tape, and ten which can perforate on the other side of the tape. The machine illustrated in the drawing has the punches arranged in this way, the nine punches being seen at l in Figure 2 and the ten at 2. These nineteen punches have to be capable of separate operation, and for this purpose a punching cam 3 is provided carried by a hollow shaft 4irunning from right to left at the back of the instrument, as best seen in Figures 1 and 3. The cam 3 is. a drum cam with a suitably shaped groove engaging a roller 5 on a lever 6 mounted on a vertical pivot 7. The hollow shaft 4 is capable of being clutched to a further shaft 8 passing through its centre and continuously rotated, for example, by an electric motor which is connected by a belt to the pulley 9. The connection between the two shafts consists of an intermittently actuated clutch 10 such as is described, for example, in British patent specification No. 24,624 A. D. 1899. It is arranged that when one of the keys 11 of the perforator is depressed, a bar 12, running along the whole machine, is lifted, and acting through a bell crank 13 and a connecting rod la a pawl 15 is released and the clutch is engaged for a complete revolution until the pawl 15 is caught and retained by the pivoted catch 16.

The lever 6 is at its further end connected by a pivot 17 to the centre points of a series of intermediate members consisting of horizontalblade-like levers 18 arranged one above the other. There is one of these intermediate levers 18 associated with each of the punches 1, 2, and as already explained there are, in general, two punches l, 2 at each height on the same level and therefore alternate intermediate levers 18 are shorter than the remainder having their ends just opposite the rear of the punches 2 nearer to the pivot 1'7 as shown at 180. in Figures 1 and 4. The alternate intermediate levers 18 have their ends somewhat longer, as shown at 181), and turned up slightly as seen at 18c in Figure 4 to bring them into the same planes as the ends of the shorter levers 18 and so as to engage the punches 1 furthest away from the pivot 17. These longer levers 18 are recessed at 19 so as not to interfere with the punches 2.

Each of the intermediate levers 18 at its other or free end is pivotally connected to its own selector comb 20 and for this purpose the comb 20 is, for example, recessed at 20a to receive the rounded end 1811 of the intermediate lever 18. The combs 20 slide horizontally, being normally mediate lever held back to the right in Figure l against a stop, not shown. Also when the punching earn 3 retracts its lever 6 the ends of the intermediate levers 18 adjacent the punches i, 2 come against a back stop 21 (see Figure l).

When one of the keys 11 of the key board is depressed it draws forward one of a series of vertical arms 22 pivoted about a series of knife edge bearings at 23 passing from right to left of the instrument. It is preferable to use separate bearing bars for each row of keypieces to avoid unequal leverages. Thus the upper end of the arm 22 in question is pulled forwards into the path of a tooth 2017 on one of the selector combs 20. The result of this is that when the punching cam 3 operates it causes the pivot 17 to move to the left in Figure 1 tending to move in the same directionv both enqsef th'fini'iirieniaie l i E11 1.5: 1Iowthe"e6mbs connected to some of those levers are free to move with them, depending upon the character to be perforated and the remaining combs are prevented from moving because the vertical arms 22 are interposed in the paths of their teeth. The intermediate levers 18 pivoted to the combs 20, which are free, move against their punches 1, 2 and continue to move slightly until their punches come. into contact with the paper strip 24. In practice it needs a force of about seven pounds to push each punch through the paper strip and consequently there is a resistance to further forward movement of that end of each of the intermediate levers 18. As regards those levers 18, the combs of which are free, the ends pivoted to the combs are free to move and do move to the left in Figure 1 carrying the combs with them. As regards the remainder of the intermediate levers 18, however, their combs 20 being held up by the vertical arm 22 cannot move to the left in Figure 1 so that when the opposite ends of the levers 18 press the punches 1, 2 against the paper strip 24 there is a .momentary resistance, but as their combs 20 are unyielding the lever 6 forces those punches through the paper strip making the combination of perforations representing the character whose key has been depressed. Later on, the cam 3 returns the punching lever 6 and the punches 1, 2 may be returned by compression springs 25 surrounding-them. This may be unsatisfactory if there is a tendency forrany of the punches to stick, and in the machine illustrated positive means are furnished for retracting the punches. This consists of a vertical retracting bar 26 engaging to the front of shoulders 2'7 on all of the punches 1, 2 and is arranged to be drawn back by the punching lever 6 on the return stroke. For this purpose an additional lowermost inter- 18e is provided as seen in Figure 5 fitting in a groove in the horizontal portion of the retracting bar 26 adjacent the punches, and at its opposite end held by a spring against the end of a dummy immovable comb 20c so that the end engaging with the comb 20c can never move forward, and whatever combination is selected the bar 26 is moved forward during the punching stroke to free all the punches l, 2 and is moved positively during the return stroke to retract all those punches which have passed through the paper strip 24.

The punches themselves may be made solid or in one piece, but as it is only their cylindrical front ends 28 which are liable to wear it is convenient to make them in two parts, the rear parts 29 forming a split holder into which the punching ends 28 are inserted. The cylindrical punchops did ing ends 28 arein this way gripped by the spring split holders 29 and when worn can be replaced easily and cheaply.

The feed to the paper tape 24 may be controlled by a separate set of combs 30 acting as spacing combs. They are arranged to slide horizontally above the selector combs 20. Each spacing comb 30 is provided with its individual tension spring 31 and a returning plate 32 common to all the spacing combs presses on their ends and returns 1 them to the right in Figure 1 under the control of a cam 33 connected by a rod 34 to a lever 35 on the same spindle 36 as the returning plate 32. The spacing combs 30 are provided with teeth 30b which also co-act with the same vertical arms or levers 22 which select the combinasiebaperimateddepressed it not only controls the movement of the selector combs to the left in Figure 1, but it also controls which spacing comb 30 shall- -be moved by its tension spring 31 in that same-direction.

A vertical rack 37 of right angle shape in plan is mounted to slide in .a guide 38 in the framework of the machine so that its surface 39 extending from back to front of the machine just clears the ends of the spacing combs 30 when the latter are in the normal position into which they are pushed by the returning plate 32 against their springs 31. one of the combs 30, as already described, is allowed to move to the side and it moves in effect so that its extreme left hand end in Fig--v ure 1 is below a step in the rack 3'7. At the following instant, a projection 40 on the punch- I ing lever 6 rocks a double armed lever 41 forked at its outer end and engaging a groove 43 in a.

spindle 44 carrying a pinion 45 engaging with a rack 37. The spindle 44 is connected to a continuation spindle 46 by a joint 47 admitting of axial sliding, but providing a driving connection between the spindle 44 and the spindle 46, the latter of which bears the feed sprocket 48 engaging with the centre holes in the paper tape After the pinion 45 is thus withdrawn from the rack 37, the latter is allowed to fall by the action of the cam 49 under its own weight preferably assisted by a spring until it rests upon the spacing comb '30 selected which has been allowed to move to the left in Figure 1. The amount the rack 37 has been thus allowed to fall depends upon the length of paper tape to be fed forward to accommodate the perforations corresponding to the character for which the key 11 has been depressed. After the perforating operation has been completed, and the punches 1, 2 are withdrawn from the paper tape 24, the pinion 45 is allowed to return into engagement with the rack 37 under the action of the spring 42 and then the paper feed cam 49 comes into action lifting the bell crank lever 50 pulling upon a connecting rod 51 rocking a furthe! bell crank 52 counter-clockwise 56 that a spring 53, connected to the bell crank 52 lifts a pivoted arm 54, and through a vertical rod 55 raises the rack 3'7 into its top position and in so doing rotates the pinion" 45 and the sprocket 48 for feeding the paper tape 24, so that a fresh piece of paper tape is presented in front of the punches 1, 2 ready for the next perforating operation.

The device for withdrawing from the storage drum a loop of paper corresponding to the maximum amount of feed for onecharacter while When the key 11 is depressed the punches 1, 2 are in the paper tape, is operated by a further cam 56. The cam 56 rocks a lever 5'1 pivoted at 58 and carrying a roller 59 bearing on the cam 56 (Figure 5), and as a result presses down the hcrizontal arm of a bell crank.60 carrying a roller 61 at the lower end of its vertical arm. In this way the roller 61 is thrust against the paper strip 24 (Figure 3) at the same time that the brake is taken from the storage dru'rn62. The roller 61 thus strikes-a blow against the paper tape 24 and as the latter is held by the punches 1, 2 paper tape is drawn off the drum 62 so that before each further feed of the paper there is a loop rendered free equal to the maximurn feedifor any char-' This prevents dragingoHhe ieed smock:

acter. et 48 and damage to the paper tape 24 at the centre holes.

It has already been explained that the intermittent clutch 10 is arranged so that when a key is depressed a common bar 12 is actuated so that the power-shaft 8 is clutched to the cam shaft 4 to cause the latter to execute one revolution at the end of which the pawl or detent 15 is withdrawn acting as a stop for the cam shaft and disengaging the clutch 10 so that the power shaft 8 can go on. The forward movement and withdrawal of the punches l, 2 may only take some 60% of the time of a complete revolution. In this connection reference may be made to the cam timing diagram shown in Figure 6. Thus in this figure A is a development showing the shape of the punching cam 3. The forward movement and withdrawal of the punches takes place between the points 63 and 64. which is as just mentioned about 60% of a complete revolution. At B a development is shown of the feeding cam 49 for the paper tape. The cam 33 for actuating the returning plate 32 for the space combs is shown developed at C. It will be noted that at the point 65, the returning plate 32 commences to operate to push back the space combs 30 as indicated in Figure 6 at the point 65 which is practically at the same moment that the punches are fully withdrawn as indicated at 64. As soon as the space combs 30 are returned, which takesplace at the instant shown by the point 66 in Figure 6, another key 11 may be depressed which may thus take place in an appreciable time before the end of the cycle and in which event the clutch 10 will be prevented from being withdrawn at the end of the revolution; the

perforation of the following character thus goes on without delay. The early return of the space combs 30 is permitted by fitting a ratchet wheel 6'7 on the paper sprocket Wheel spindle 46 engaging with a check pawl 68 which prevents the spindle 46 being drawn backwards.

The development of the cam 56 for releasing a loop of thepaper tape 24 is shown at D in Figure 6 and a development of the release cam for the clutch detent 15 is shown at E in Figure 6.

.It is often desirable to be able to punch combinations not ordinarily provided for on the keyboard, but which may be made up of any two of the characters on the keyboard. It is then necessary to perforate those characters in succession with the space between them eliminated. For this purpose a so-called combination key 11a is provided which actuates a vertical arm 22a like the other vertical arms 22', but this does not actuate the common bar 12" releasing the clutch 10. In perforating such a combination the combination key 11a is depressed together with the key 11 of the first character of the combination: the combination key 11a presses on a blade spring 67a forming one end of a pivoted lever, the opposite end 68a of which has a blade lying in a horizontal plane and having the same thickness as one of the space combs 30. In this way the blade 68a is pressed against the action of a returning spring 69a against the edge of the rack 37 immediately above the spacing combs 30. Then when the rack 37 drops, this blade 68a is immediately forced above it by the stress in the spring 67a and when thefeed cam 49 thrusts the rack 37 up again the interposed blade 68a prevents it from reaching its uppermost position by an amount equivalent to the feed of one centre hole. In this way the space is eliminated when the seeondkey 11 of the combination is next depressed. lnprge tl'm therfeed cam 49 may be able only to lift the rack 37 by this amount, the connection between the bell crank 52 and the pivoted arm 54 bymeansof the stiflif wire spring 53 is provided so that when the rack is arrested by the blade 68a, the bell crank 52 can still lift stressing the spring 53.

As already indicated the invention is not limitcd to the particular form of construction described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Thus the pivoted intermediate levers 18' may be replaced by pairs of toggle links as illustrated in Figure 7. In this case the selector combs 20 and the punch block 69 guiding the punches 1, 2 may be placed in line some distance apart, and each connected pivotally to the free ends of a pair of toggle links 70, 71 which are jointed together and to a guided actuating member 72 at the point 73. The action of the punching cam 3 upon the roller 5 is to rock the punching lever 6 and to thrust forward the actuating members 72. There is a toggle '70, '71 and an actuating member '72 for each punch l, 2 and each selector comb 20, and when there is a tendency to straighten the toggle, if its comb 20 is held up, one of the vertical arms 22 engaging its tooth 201) the toggle pushes forward its punch to perforate the tape. On the other hand, if its comb 20 is free, the punches l, 2 come to rest when they come into contact with the paper tape 24', and the comb 20 has to yield.

Yet another form of linkage mechanism is illustrated in Figure 8, in which, as before, the punching lever 6 is connected pivotally to the mid point 1'7 of the set of intermediate levers 18 which are formed at one end alternately longer and shorter as seen at 18a and 18b in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 1. As in Figure l the levers are normally held at that end against a stop 21. In this case, the intermediate members 18 are also held against a stop 74 at the opposite end, and each comb 20 in one position lies in the path of this end of the intermediate lever 18 so that if the comb is not withdrawn when the punching cam 3 acts upon the roller 5 it prevents movement of the left hand end of the intermediate lever 18 in Figure 8, and causes the latter at its other end to push forward the punches 1, 2 to perforate the paper tape. It is, however, only the combs 20 which are selected which remain in this blocking position, for at the instant of selection a latching lever '75 is removed from projections '76 on the combs 20 by means of an additional cam 77. Then those combs 20 which are free are withdrawn by their springs 78 out of the path of the intermediate members 18 and only the other combs held up by the vertical arm 22 actuated by the key 11 are prevented from moving away. The intermediate levers corresponding to the combs withdrawn do not of course effect the punching operation but those corresponding to the combs 20 held stationary are prevented from moving at the ends adjacent the-comb but on the other hand, are forced to move and thrust their punches through the paper tape.

It has already been indicated in case an operator does not make a firm and sufliciently long depression of the keys, that'the latter may be held down automatically until the perforation is completed. This may be effected by releasing the spacing combs immediately a key is depressed so that they press frictionally against the vertical lever operated by a particular key and hold the lever displaced and the key depressed.

We claim:-

1. A keybard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, a plurality of pivotally-mounted actuating members each associated with one of said perforating punches and located so as to co-act near to one end with the respective perforating punch, selecting mechanism controlled from the keyboard to co-act with said actuating members on the side of their pivots remote from said above-mentioned end of each of said actuating members and arranged to hold up those of said actuating members which for a given character are to actuate the respective perforating punches, and a power member operatively connected to shift the pivotal point of said actuating members and thus to cause said actuating members which are arrested by said selecting mechanism to execute a punching operation.

2. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a keyboard including a plurality of pivoted key levers-5a plurality of selector combs under the control of said key levers, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, a plurality of actuating levers each pivoted at an intermediate point about a common pivot, a power-actuated lever carrying said common pivot, a cam shaft and a cam thereon for rocking said power-actuated lever, each of said actuating levers being under the control of the respective selector comb at one end and at the other end located to press upon its associated punch and to drive the latter through the paper tape when said respective selector comb is locked.

3. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination a keyboard including a plurality of pivoted key levers, a plurality of selector combs under the control of said key levers, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, a plurality of actuating levers pivoted at an intermediate point to a common pivot and each pivoted at one end to one of said selector combs and located at the other end to co-act with one of said punches, a power-actuated lever carrying said common pivot at one end, a cam shaft and a cam mounted thereon to actuate said common lever.

4. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a keyboard including a plurality of pivoted key levers, a plurality of spacing combs mounted to move under the control of said key levers, a rotatably mounted paper feed sprocket, a rack mounted" to slide vertically, a pinion in driving connection with said sprocket and mounted to move axially into and out of engagement with said rack, said rack falling on to a selected comb when disengaged from said pinion thereby determining the extent 'af its effective portion, a cam shaft and a feed cam mounted thereon in operative connection with said rack for restoring the latter and driving said pinion and said paper feed sprocket.

5. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a housing, apluralityof perforating punches movably mounted 'thereinfa power member operatively connected "to thrust said punches through the paper tape, a' rotatablymounted feed sprocket for the paperta'pe, a plurality of spacing combs a plurality of pivoted key levers controlling the movement of saidspacing combs, a rack mounted to slide vertically, a pinion in driving connection with said feed sprocket. and mounted to move axially into and outof engagement with said rack, said rack being allowed to fall on to said'select'ed spacing cornb'wh'en' dis'engaged from said pinionthereby'determining the extent of its effective portion, apower shaft, a.

key, apivoted blade placed to co-act with said combination key and to be interposed into the path of said feed rack, said blade corresponding in thickness to the spacing of one centre hole so as to avoid the formation of a space between successive characters when said combination key is depressed.

6. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a keyboard including a plurality of pivoted key levers, a plurality of movable selector combs mounted to co-act with said levers, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, a power member and a plurality of actuating members operatively connected to said power member, each allocated to one of said'perforating punches and having one part in operative relation with the corresponding perforating punch, and another part associated with one of said selector combs in such a way that said last-mentioned part is arrested by said associated selector comb when the latter is locked, each of said actuating members also being mounted so as to cause the corresponding perforating punch to execute a punching operation during the power stroke when said actuating member is arrested by the associated selector comb.

'7. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a keyboard including a plurality of pivoted key levers, a plurality of movable selector combs mounted to co-act with said levers, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, a power member, a plurality of actuating members operatively connected to said power member, each allocated to one of said perforating punches and having one part in operative relation with the corresponding perforating punch, and another part' associated with one of said selector combs in such a way that said last-mentioned part is arrested by said associated selector comb' when the latter is locked, each of said actuating members also being mounted so as to cause the corresponding perforating punch to execute a punching operation during the power stroke when said actuating member is arrested by the associated selector in combination, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, selecting mechanism controlled from the keyboard, a power member for the actuation of said punches and a pluralityrrof actuating members operatively connected to said power member, each allocated to one of said perforating punches and having oncr part in operative relation with the corresponding perforating punch and another part arranged for co-operation with said selecting mechanism in such a way that said last-mentioned part is arrested by said selecting mechanism when the respective actuating member is to actuate the respective perforating punch for a given character, each of said actuating members also being mounted so as to cause the corresponding perforating punch to execute a punching operation during the power stroke when said actuating member is arrested by said selecting mechanism.

9. A keyboard telegraph perforator comprising in combination, a housing, a plurality of perforating punches movably mounted therein, 8.

power shaft, a punching cam secured thereto, a pivoted lever actuated by said punching cam, a selecting mechanism controlled from the keyboard and a plurality of actuating members operatively connected to said pivoted lever to be set in motion simultaneously thereby, eachnallocated to one of said perforating punches and having one part in operative relation with the corresponding perforating punch and another part operatively related to saidselecting mechanism in such a way as to be arrested thereby when the respective actuating member is to actuate the respective perforating punch for a given character, each of said actuating members also being mounted soas to cause the corresponding perforating punch to execute a punching operation during the power stroke when said actuating member is arrested by said'selecting mechanism.

HARRY VERNON HIGGI'IT. FRED WARBURTON.

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