US1989688A - Printing telegraph apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 1935. E WF. HANKE Er AL 1,989,688

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. J.

ATTOR Y Feb. 5, 1985. E w F, HANKE -r AL 1,989,688

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G-E WAM TEP-J. Zf/VNEQ ATTOR Y Feb. 5, 1935. Y E, w F` HANKE ET AL 1,989,688

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1935 3 SheetS-Sheet 3 INVENTO EDW//V WFH /V/(E Irl/M 727? J. ZEN/VEP Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEA PRNTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Delaware Application september 9,1933, serial No. 688,739

12 Claims.

printed upon a tape.

This invention has for its primary object the provision in a printing telegraph apparatus of tape controlling mechanisms which are reliable and emcient, and suitable for application to machines capable of high speed operation, and which are of such design as to render the printing machines utilizable for projection purposes.

In the ensuing description the features according. to the present invention are disclosed as associated with a printing telegraphy receiver comprising a six-unit code disc selector mecha.-

nism in which the code discs are arranged in superposed horizontal planes. Directly above the code discs and concentrically disposed therewith are the actuating bars, striker disc, and type bars. Arranged around the periphery of the code discs and operatively associated with the actuatedbars are a series of selectable elements or drop bars. Printing or recording by the type bars is effected upon a tape through the use of an inking ribbon which extends transversely of the tape at the printing point, the printing zone being located centrally of the circularly arranged type bars. In the specic embodiment disclosed, the type bars are divided into two substantially semi-circular groups disposed one on each side of the directional movement of the tape, and a ribbon feeding mechanism, positioned outside the area circumscribed by the type bars, the ribbon being directed 4between the two groups of type bars so as to cross upon itself obliquely and then extend transversely across the tape, the effect of such construction being to permit immediate visibility of the printed record, and to render the apparatus readily adaptable for projection purposes. The type on each type bar is positioned so as to print on either the near or the far side of the tape to effect offset printing characteristic of stock quotation operation. However, single line printing can be produced, if

desired, by properly positioning the type faces on the type bars.

The present invention, contemplates, also, the provision of means for eliminating the objectionable tape noise inherent in printing apparatus of the type-bar class; as well as means for providing maximum visibility and readability of the printed record.

Many features included in the disclosure of the present application are also disclosed in copending application Serial No. 651,664 filed January 14, 1933 by A. H. Reiber et al. and the following copending applications nled on September 9, 1933; namely, Serial No. 688,711 filed by H. L. Krum, Serial No. 688,713 filed by W. J. Zenner, and Serial No. 688,726 filed by C. W. Swan.

v A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein, I

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the printing telegraph apparatus embodying the improvements according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the tape feed mechanism according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a part of the tapefeed mechanism showing the means for eliminating tape noise.

Fig. 5 is a View illustrating a modilied form of platen operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a main supporting frame generally indicated by the numeral 11, which carries in its lower compartment a motor 12 which is separated from the other parts of the apparatus superposed thereabove by a solid partition. Frame 11 also carries the parts or units; namely, main shaft assembly, the operating mechanism, the selector mechanism, and the type unit, generally indicated by the numerals 13, 14, 15, and 16 respectively all of which are arranged vertically so as to produce a compact self-contained apparatus. The typing unit 16 which carries the ribbon feed mechanism and also the tape feed mechanism is, by means of dowels 17 which t into drilled holes in the main frame 11 detachably mountable on frame 11 so that it may be readily interchangeable.

For a detailed description of the specific apparatus herein shown, 4reference may be had to copending application Serial No. 651,664, flied January 14, 1933 by A. H. Reiber et al. Accordingly, only so much of the apparatus will be described as will be conducive to a ready understanding of the present invention. To shaft 21 of motor 12 is secured a worm pinion 22 which is adapted to mesh with worm gear 23 aixed to the lower extremity of a vertically disposed main operating shaft 24, which is carried by anti-fric- A tion bearings 25 and 26, which in turn are mountedin brackets secured to frame 11. On shaft 24 are carried two clutch mechanisms 27 and 28,

the upper one 27 of which drives the receiving cam sleeve 29 of the selector mechanism while the lower clutch 28, which is a combination friction and positive or grab clutch, drives an operating cam 31.

As clearly set forth in the aforementioned copending application the cam sleeve 29 is provided with a helicaily arranged series of cam projections and is cyclically operated in response to code combinations of signalling impulses received by a selector electromagnet (not shown) which vibrates a selector leven-which in turn cooperates during each cyclical rotation of said cam sleeve 29 with the cam projections thereon to set permutably through a series of elements 32 .a corresponding set of code discs 33 which are notched on their periphery so that for each alignment of notches a selector or drop bar 34 is selected for operation, as is commonly known in the art. Bars 32 are circularly arranged about the code discs 33 and are pivotally mounted upon a circular rod 35. The rod 35 is moinited in and the bars 34 are guided by a circular comb member 36. Each of the bars-34 is provided adjacent to their pivotal pointswith a heel portion to which.

is secured one end of an individual spring 37, the other end -of which is secured to a ring 38 attached to the frame of the apparatus. The springs 37 normally tend to rotate their respective bars 34 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) into engagement with the code discs 33. Each of the bars 34 is provided with an arm 39 which cooperates with a selector` bar restoring member 41. 'I'he member 41 is held normally in its upward position, and thus through arms 39 maintains the bars 34 out of engagement with the code discs 33. Member 41 is connected to a lever 42, pivoted at 43 to an adjustable member 44 which is slidably mounted on a bracket 45. The opposite end of lever 42 is provided with a follower roller which coacts with one of the cam grooves in. cam member 31. cych'cal operation of cam member 31 positive reciprocal motion in a vertical direction is imparted to member 41. Member 41 is slidably mounted on a turret member 46 which is mou-nted cn a base 47 and concentrically positioned with 'relation to the code discs 33.

Aiso slidably operable in the turret member 46 is the reduced lower end of a plunger 48, the upper end of which is guided in a block 49 mounted on a plate 51 and is disposed in coaxial alignment with turret member 46. Carried by the upper end of plunger 48 is a circular striker member 52 which is provided on its upper surface and along its circumference with a continuous V-shaped notch or groove, and interposed between striker member 52 and an upward extension on bars 34 is an actuating or push bar 53,

there being one push bar 53 individual to each selector bar 34. The upper end of push bar 53 is provided with a rack meshed with a segmental gear portion of a type bar 54 associated therewith. Type bars 54 are pivotally mounted on a 'circular rod 55 carried in a circular comb member 56. Bars 53 are guided by comb members 57 and 58 and are each provided with a spring 59 adapted to impart thereto simultaneously adownward and leftward movement (as viewed in Fig. 1). Each push bar 53 is provided with a notched portion adapted to engage with the V- shaped notch alongthe peripheral edge of the strmer disc 52 when urged thereto by its assol ciated selector bar 34.

Ecwnward movement is imparted to plunger 48 Thus, upon thev adapted to operate on a shoulder in plunger 48 and the other end cooperates with a printing spring 64. The lower end of spring 64 is attached to onev end of an adjusting lever 6 5, the other end of the lever 65 cooperating with an adjustscrew 66 which makes possible the variation of the printing blow.

The cam 31 and levers 42 and 6i cooperate to effect the selecting and printing operations. Cam 31 after the initiation of its rotation effects rst the counterclockwise movement of lever 42 (as viewed in Fig. 1) to impart to member 41 downward movement whereupon all of the selector bars 34 are free to respond to the action of their individual springs 37 to be rotated about the pivot rod 35 into engagement with the code discs 33. As already disclosed, the operation of the selector mechanism has eected an alignment of notches in the code discs 33, thus permitting one in a clockwise direction to permit plunger 48 to respond to the action of printer spring 64 through the instrumentality of lever 62. Plunger 43 and its associated striker disc 52 thus have a sharp upward movement imparted thereto, which rnovement is imparted through selectively operated push bar 53 to the associated type bar` 54 which is rotated sharply to its printing position against a platen 68 through the rack and pinion connection between said push bar and said type bar. Immediately following the release of the plunger 48 to perform the printing operation, the selector bars 34 are restored to their released or unactuated position out of engagement with code discs 33.

restoration is effected by imparting a clockwise movement to lever 42 tcraise, in turn, the restoration member 41 to its upward position, which member coacts with arms 39 of selector bars 34 to rotate said bars 34 against the action of their springs 37, Since the cam 31 is required to overcome the pull of approximately sixty-four springs 37, the fulcrum 43 of lever 42 is so selected as to produce a mechanical advantage of about three to one. Adustment 44 is provided to control the clearance between bars 34 and ccde discs 33,l

ecv

wise changed to alter, in turn, through arms 39 the angular position of bars 34 which affects the clearance 'between the vertical arms of bars 34 and the peripheral edges c-i code discs 33. Immediately following the retr ction of bars 34 from the. code discs 33 the r .selection of code discs 33 in accordance with the ensuing received code combination may be effected. 'Ihe plunger 48 is naLly returned to its lowermost position by the cam 31 by imparting coonterclockwiserotation to lever 61, whereupon clockwise rotation is imparted to printing lever 62 to store up energy y in' the' printing spring 6 4 for a subsequent printl platen. Having reference to Fig. l and more particularly to Fig. 3 it is observed that the upper extremity of the plunger 48l cooperates with an arm' 7l of a tape feed lever 72 pivotally mounted on a st ud shaft 73 carried by va bracket 70 mounted inthe frame of the apparatus. For example,

p referring to Fig. 2, it is noted that the bracket 70 is provided with a pair of 'symmetrically disposed arms 69 to render the tape feeding mechanism removably attachable to the typing unit 19. To the extremity of arm 74 of lever 72 is pivotally carried apawl 75 which coacts with a feed ratchet 76 which in the present embodiment of the invention is -formed integral' with a feed roller 77 (Fig. 2) which is'providedwitha pair of trunnions by means of which it is rotatably mounted in bracket 70. The pawl 75 is constantly urged-into operative engagement with the ratchet '76 by a spring 78 distended between an arm 79 of pawl 75 and an arm 81 of lever 72. The lever 72 is nor mally rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig'. 3) into cooperative' engagement with plunger 48 by a spring 82 extending from an arm 83 of lever 72 to a spring post 84. Coacting with ratchet 76 t'o prevent displacement thereof during the .feeding operation isl a 'detent member- 85 pivoted on a stud shaft 8 6 'and normally urged into cooperative engagement with ratchet 76 by a spring 87.

A pair of pressure rollers 88 (Figs. 2 and 3) are provided which coact with knurled portions of feed roller 77 to effect the movement of a tape 91 in a well-known manner, the rollers 88 being rotatably carried by a lever 92 pivoted at 93 to bracket 70 and spring vurged against the feed roller 77 by a spring 94 acting o n lever *92. A feature of the present invention isthe provision of a pair of pressure rollers adapted to engage th'e edges of the tape instead of asingle roll'er disposed transversely of the tape as heretofore, so that the printed record on the tape is unobstructed to view and visible. at all times. The

lever 92 is of substantially U-shaped conforma'- tion and is provided integrally thereof near the extremities of its arms with a bridge portion 95. The dual function of portion 95 being, first, to

'direct the course of the tape as it is fed through the printer during the feeding operation, and

secondly to cooperate with rollers 77 and 88 to eifect the elimination of the tape noise common to printing telegraph machines. The bridge portion or baiiie 95 acts to form in cooperation with the pressure rollers 884 a sound-absorbing crimp in the tape 91 which absorbs sound imparted=to the tape by the recording elements, the particular advantage of this feature residing in the fact that it is associated directly with the tape feeding mechanism and is located interiorly of the printer. rollers 88 are located somewhat below the tangential line between feed roller 77 and platen 68 the purpose of which is not only'torender the' tape 91 taut at all times but also by virtue of its cooperation with portion 95 to absorb the vibrations set up in the tape caused by the printing blows of the type bars, which vibrations if allowed to travel or persist to thefree or loose end of the tape would produce an undesirable noise. commonly known as tape noise. It has been found that a sharp depression in the tape made by the It is noted in Fig. 3 that the pressure pressure rollers 88 and the portion 95 effectively eliminates the tape noise.

Pivotally carried on arm 71 of lever 72 is a platen rotating lever 97, the extremity of which is provided with a plurality of fine teeth to cooperate with a peripheral series of teeth of equal flneness' on a ratchet 98 secured to the platen 68. The platen 68 and ratchet 98 are thus adapted to rotate together upon a shaft 99, a spring brake means (not shown, but which may be of any wellknown construction) being provided to prevent back lash of ratchet 98. The pitch of the teeth on lever 97 is slightly different from that on ratchet 98 so as to vary the successive rotational movements of platen 68, whereby the repetition of printing on any particular printing point is not effected until after several revolutions of the platen. The variation of the pitches of the teeth on the pawlor lever 97 and ratchet 98 effects the variation in the rotational movement of the platen because, even though the reciprocation of the pawl 97 is uniform, Ithe ratchet 98 will nevertheless not be actuated every time by the same tooth on the pawl. Lever 97 is mounted in operative relation with ratchet 98 by a spring 101 distended between lever 97 and arm 71 in an obvious manner (Fig. 3).

When the plunger 48 is operated upwardly to effect the printing of a character, the lever 72 is simultaneously rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) such that pawl 75 is lowered to engage the succeeding tooth on ratchet 76, and lever 97 is advanced on ratchet 98 preparatory to effecting the limited rotation of prevented from back spacing or slipping by means of detent 85, and ratchet 98 is held against reverse movement by its frictional connection with shaft 99. When. plunger 48 is returned to its downward position at the completion of the printing operation, the feed mechanism operating spring 82 is effective to impart clockwise rotation to lever 72 to actuate pawl 75 to rotate ratchet 76, and hence feed roller 77, one step, and also to impart through lever 97 rotation to platen 68. It is therefore apparent that as the tape is fed step-bystep through the printing zone by the tape feed mechanism the platen 68 is simultaneously rotated to present for each printing blow of the type bars a' different printing surface thereon, thus the same particular printing surface is presented to 'the printing point a minimum number of times.

.preferably through a conduit 102 from Yright to iert, as viewed in Fig. 1, such that the tape is directed' in aline tangent to or slightly below the periphery of the platen 68 so as to insure continuous contact therewith, thence over the platen to the feed roller 77.

There is illustrated in Fig. 5 a modified form ofplaten operating mechanism, the salient feature of which is to complete independence of the tape feed mechanism. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the platen 68, instead of being controlled by plunger 48 through the instrumentality of pawl 97 carriedon tape feed arm 72, is operated by a plunger 103 slidably carried in block`49 and cooperative with lever 61. Also cooperating with plunger'l03 at the upper extremity thereof is a lever 104, which as disclosed in the aforementioned copending application functions to operate the ribbon feed mechanism of the printing apparatus. Lever 104 is pivotally mountedon a bracket 105 and tends normally to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 5) due to the urge of a spring 106 connected thereto. Carried on the arm of lever 104 which coacts with `plunger 103 is a pawl 107 which is spring urged into cooperation with a ratchet 10d mounted on a stud shaft 109. Ratchet 108 is provided with a spring actuated detent 111 which functions in a well-known manner to retain ratchet 108 in its successively operated positions. A gear 112 is also carried on shaft 109 and rotates together with ratchet 108v and is meshed with a' gear 113 fixed to platen 68. It is observed that in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the pawl 97 (Fig. 3) .has been eliminated, and the ratchet 98 has been substituted by gear 113. Each time the lever 61 (Fig. 1) is operated to effect the printing operation, the plunger 103 is simultaneously reciprocated, the edect of which through lever 10d and pawl 107 is to rotate ratchet 108 and likewise gear 112 a unit angular amount. The effect of this rotation will be to impart a step-by-step rotation to gear 113, but to procure a unit circumferential movement of the platen 98 which is greater or less than the unity lineal movement of the tape 91 the gear ratio of gears 112 and 113 is adjusted accordingly. For example, one method of varying the movement of the tape and platen is to design the gears 112 and 113 such that there is a dierence of two teeth therebetween, the object of the independence between the tape feeding mechanism and the platen rotating mechanism being to permit the independent control of said mechanisms such that the linear movement of the tape may be made to lbe different from the circumferential movement ci the platen, the en'ect of which is to reduce to a minimum the number oi' times a particular printing point on the platen is acted upon.

Although the present invention has been'disclosed and described with reference to preferred embodiments it is, of course, understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in many and widely varied forms other than that specically disclosed without departing from .the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recorder, signal controlled means for recording on a tape, a platen, and means operated by said recording means to move said platen and said tape incommensurately for each recording operation.

2. In a recorder, signal controlled means for recording on a tape, a platen, and means con- "trolled by said recording means to move said platen and said tape incommensurately for each recording operation.

3. In a rec'order, a. plurality of recording elements, a platen, recording means, means controlled by said recording means to move a tape subsequent to each recording operation to eiect character spacing, and means'controlled by said means to move said platen incommensurately with respect to said `tape for each recording operation.

4. In a recorder, a plurality of recording elements, a platen, recording means, means controlled by said recording means to move a tape subsequent to each recording operation to eect character spacing, and means independent oi' said second mentioned means and also controlled by said recording means to move said each recording' operation.

5. In a recorder, a plurality of recording elements, a platen, lrecording means, means controlled by said recording means to move a tape to eect character spacing, and means independient of said second mentioned means and also controlled by said recording means to move said platen.

6. 1n a telegraph printer, a platen, a plurality of pivoted type bars cooperative with said platen to edect printing on a tape, a selector mechanism responsive to code signals to select a type bar for operation, each of said type bars being provided with a single type face, operating means for said tape bars, and spacing mechanism controlled by said operating means independent of said platen and including pressure means disposed marginally of the tape to insure continuous visibility of the printed record.

7. In a recorder, means for recording on a tape, a platen, and means comprising a ratchet having teeth of a certain pitch and a pawl have ing a plurality of teeth of a dierent pitch c0- operative with said recording means to move said platen and said tape incommensurately.

8. In a recorder, a plurality of recording ele-1 ments, a platen, means to move a tape subsequent to each recording operation to 'eect character spacing, and means comprising a ratchet and a multi-toothed pawl controlled by said means to move said platen incommensurately with re= spect to said tape, the teeth of said pawl and said ratchet being of different pitch.

9. In a recorder, a plurality of recording elements, means effective upon each recording operation to move a tape, and means associated directly with said means including pressure means and a fname cooperativetherewith to absorb the sound imparted to the tape by said recording elements.

10. 1n a recorder, a plurality of recording elements, a platen cooperatively associated therewith, means independent of said platen effective upon each recording operation to move a tape and comprising a pressure means disposed substantially below the tangential line between the tape and said means to produce an initial bend in the tape, and means juxtapositioned to said rst recited means and disposed obliquely to said tangential line to produce a reverse bend in the vtape whereby absorption of the sound imparted to the tape by the recording elements is effected.

11. In a recorder, a plurality of recording elements, means eiiective upon each recording operation to move a tape, -and means associated ldirectly with said. means acting upon the impingement of the tape thereagainst to form a sound-absorbing crimp in the tape which absorbs the sound imparted to the tape by said recording elements.

12. In a recorder, a support carrying a. platen,

Aa plurality of recording elements, means for selecting an element for operation, and operating means for said recording elements comprising a reciprocating actuator, means independent of said platen for moving a tape including an operating lever, said last recited means detachably mountable on said support and operatively relatable through said lever to said actuator, and means operated following the selection of an element for eiecting the printing operation and moving thetape.

WALTER J. ZENNER.

platen for I

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