US2241797A - Cabinet for telegraph printers - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1941. v wElDNER 2,241,797

CABINET FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS Filed June 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2 t

i 15d l INVENTOR VICTOR WEIDNER BY WAM ATTO N EY May 13, 1941.

CABINET FOR TEILEGRAPHA PRNTERS Filed June ll, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4^- l FIG. 4 /44/ |4o K 1 1 ...-5 V le lef E' 22 au l |91 ,9 '02 95 INVENTOR i 9 VICTOR WEIDNER ATTORNEY May 13, 1941. v. wElDNx-:R '2,241,797

CABINET FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS Filed Ju ne 1l, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l5a k g INVENTOR :L2 15 VICTOR WEIDNERl ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1941 CABINET FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS Victor Weidner, Port Washington, N. Y., assigner to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 11, 1938, Serial No. 213,131

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to telegraph printing apparatus, and more particularly to telegraph printing apparatus embodying transmitting, selecting and receiving mechanisms such, for example, as the sending and receiving printers employed in telegraph message exchange systems in which a subscriber can transmit and receive printed messages to and from other subscribers in the system or to and from a central or branch office in the system.

Telegraph exchange systems of the foregoing character are well known in the art, and various known types of sending and receiving telegraph printers may be used in such systems. Usually a printer is employed which has a typewriter keyboard for transmission, and either a typewheel or typebars for printing the received messages and also for providing a printed copy or copies of each message transmitted by the printer. One type of page printer which is suitable for use in an exchange system is disclosed in the application of Noxon et al., Ser. No. 66,906, filed March 3, 1936, for Telegraph printer, assigned to the assignee of the present application. Various other types of tape and page printers may, of course, be used.

The printers heretofore employed in exchange systems have been subject to Various disadvantages in regard to the operation and maintenance thereof. Among these disadvantages are that the paper on which the messages are printed acts as l a tympanum or sound amplifying membrane, and thus objectionable noise is produced by the vibration of the paper due to the operation of the typebars or printing wheel as they strike the paper during the printing operations. This is particularly pronounced in page printers of the type in which the platen is mounted on a traveling carriage that moves transversely along the printer, since it is necessary in such a printer to provide a loop of paper of considerable length between the paper roll supply and the printing platen to enable the carriage and platen to move with respect to the paper roll without tearing the paper or causing it to roll aslant on the platen, and such a loop greatly amplifles the vibrations imparted t to the paper during the printing operations. and thus sound vibrations which are of a frequency that is especially disagreeable to the ear are produced and are audible in the ofce in which the printer is located. Also, the noise produced by the other elements of the transmitting, selecting and printing mechanisms is highly objectionable and disturbing.

Another disadvantage heretofore present when page printers have been employed is that the 1.

relatively long loop of paper between the supply roll and the printing platen is exposed, and is liable to be pulled or torn, or to be blown aside by breezes from electric fans or open windows, thus adversely affecting the printer operations. Also, since the paper is hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture from the surrounding air when the humidity is high, and when paper having gum or other adhesive on one side thereof is employed, as is often the case in tape printers, the gum or adhesive become sticky due to the absorbed moisture and tends to cause the paper or tape to stick to the platen and other parts of the machine.

Other disadvantages are that the printer, when placed on a table or other article of furniture is unsightly, and usually is not as accessible or convenient to the operator as is desired, the printer also frequently being subject to accidental injury and to tampering by unauthorized persons.

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained printer unit in which the foregoing disadvantages are obviated, and in which the printer is completely enclosed at the proper Working height from the floor, with only the keyboard and platen wheel handle of the printer exposed, the vital parts of the printer being protected from dust and damage.

Another object of the invention is to minimize or obviate the objectionable noise produced by the various elements of the printer and also the paper, incident to the operation of the printer.

An additional object is a printer unit in which the paper loop between the supply roll and the printing platen is not affected by air currents in the ofce and is not subject to tearing or injury by accidental contact therewith by persons or foreign objects, and which is kept from absorbing moisture present in the surrounding air, so that the paper and any gum or adhesive thereon is maintained dry in service.

Still another object is the provision of a more suitable telegraph unit of the character disclosed, which is immediately accessible to the typist or operator, which may readily be moved to any desired position in an office and in which the mechanisms are readily accessible to maintenance men for inspection, repair or replacement purposes, without being subject to unauthorized tampering or accidental injury to the various parts thereof.

Another object is the provision of suitable means to facilitate tearing off messages as they issue from the printer.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description,

taken in connection drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a printer unit constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

3 is a front View showing the device in open position, with the printer removed more clearly to disclose certain features of the device;

Fig, 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing certain details of the printer mounting means;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of latch means employed in connection with the back cover of the unit;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing details of the paper shearing device employed for tearing orf messages as they issue from the printer;

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary view, looking in the direction of the arrows II-II of Fig. 1, showing the manually operable handle for turning the printing platen, and the slotted portion of the cabinet through which the handle extends;

with the accompanying Fig. 12 is a View showing how the handle of Fig.

11 is operatively connected to the printer platen to permit transverse movement of the platen; and

Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line I3--I3 of Fig. l1.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, the printing unit comprises a cabinet preferably formed from sheet metal stamped or rolled to the desired configuration, in which the printer and associated operating and control elements are acoustically en-- closed. The cabinet has front and rear walls I2 and I3 respectivelyyand two side walls I4 and I5. The front portion of the cabinet comprises a compartment IE, Fig. 4, which acoustically en` closes the sending and receiving printer, including the various transmitting, selecting and printing mechanisms. a page printer P of the type disclosed in the aforesaid Noxon et al. application being shown in the drawings. The lower portion of the two side walls I4 and I5 are rolled, as at Ida' and to form four legs to which are secured, as by welding, feet i8, the latter having sliders It! which enable the unit easily to be slid over the iioor to any desired position in the office or other room in which the printer is used. The

members I9 are secured by bolts 2l, Fig. 9, to the feet I8. the sliders being separated from the feet by resilient pads 22 of rubber or other sound amnening material.

Braces, such as channel members 23, Figs. 4 and 6, tie the legs together and stiften the bottom edges of the metal sides I4 and E5. Other channel members 25, 2E, 21, 28 and 29, Figs. 4 and 5, are employed to stiifen the cabinet and also serve as supports for the various mechanisms elements of the printer structure. The channel member ig. 4, which is secured to the rear wall I3 of the cabinet, supports the lower portion of a well 5i that enclose-.s the loep L of the paper P on which the messages are printed, as hereinafter described in detail. The channel members 21, 2S and ii, 5, serve as supports for a plate or board which forms the floor of the compartment I5 and provides a mounting means for the printer, the floor member 32 being secured to the channel members in any desired manner as by bolts 33.

'Ihe metal sides i4 and I5 extend almost to the floor, but stop a few inches above the floor as seen in Fig. 4 to aiiord sufficient space for toes of shoes of persons approaching or standing beside the unit and thus enable such persons to stand closer to the unit to facilitate reading the messages as they are printed without interfering with the operator seated at the printer keyboard K at the front of the unit. The lower portions of the sides I4 and I5, together with the rear wall I3, aiord a desired privacy for the female operator sitting at the keyboard. The length of the legs I 4a and I5a is such that the keyboard is at the optimum working height for the operator when seated at the printer.

The full line drawing of the printer P, 4, shows the printer in its normal operating position in the compartment I8; the dot-and-dash outline of the printer shows its position when resting on a movable support 34 in front of the cabinet, as hereinafter set forth, for inspection, repair or other purpose.

In its normal operating position the base 35 of the printer rests in guideways 31 of a supporting framework 37, 38, Fig. 5, which framework is mounted on four resilient supports, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 7. Each resilient support comprises a bracket member 39 Secured, as by machine screws, to the frame member 38. Resilient members 40 of rubber or other suitable material are vulcanized or otherwise secured to the bracket 39 and to angle pieces 4I which are received Within a recess 32a of the printer compartment floor member 32. Stop members 42 on the guideways 31, Fig. 5, determine the proper operating position of the printer within the compartment. The resilient mounting means dampen vibrations set up in the printer and prevents them from being transmitted to the cabinet structure. The floor member 32 preferably is made of wood or other material that assists in dampening vibrations set up in the printer and its supporting framework.

'Ihe front portion of the compartment I Ii includes a door 5I hinged at 52 by means of which the door may be raised as shown in full line in Fig. 3 and in dot-and-dash outline in Fig. 4 to give ready access to the front of the printer. The door has a transparent portion of glass or other suitable material to enable the messages to be read by the operator and others as the messages are printed, without the necessity of opening the door. The rear portion of the compartment has a door 51 hinged at 58 to the rear wall of the compartment, the door being held in closed position by means of a spring latch 59, shown in detail in Fig. 8. The door is provided with a handle so that the door may be opened, as indicated by the dot-and-dash outline in Fig. 4, to replenish the supply R of paper or for any other purpose.

Notwithstanding that the printer is resiliently mounted to prevent the transmission of vibrations from the printer to the cabinet, the noise caused by the transmitting, selecting and printing mechanisms ordinarily would cause vibrations in the air within and without the compartment and produce a disturbing eiect in the oiice when the printer is operating. To obviate this, the printer compartment is acoustically insulated by felt pads or other suitable sound dampening material El, 3 and 4, secured in any desired manner, as by glueing, to the inner walls of the compartment including the doors and 51, the material 6| also dampening vibrations which may be set up in the compartment walls themselves. Noises which otherwise Would escape through the opening of the keyboard K are effectively prevented from escaping by flexible strips 65 and 66 of rubber or other suitable material. The strips 65 are secured, as by metal strips, to the lower portion of the door 5| and closely engage the upper and side portions of the printer when the door is closed, as will be seen from Figs. 1 and 4. The strip 66 is secured in any suitable manner to the front Wall of the compartment and closely engages the base 36 of the printer.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, the paper P on which the incoming messages and also copies of the outgoing messages are printed, comes from a supply roll R and is caused to form a loop L of considerable length before the paper passes to the platen 12 where the printing operations occur, thereby to enable the platen and carriage of the printer to travel transversely due to the line printing operations without tearing the paper or causing it to roll aslant around the platen. As hereirrbefore stated, the long paper loop acts as a tympanum or sound amplifying membrane, but since the loop is completely enclosed by the well 3| and rear wall I3 of the cabinet, the vibrations set up and amplified by the paper due to the printing operations are muflled and prevented from escaping to the room, and thus the hitherto objectionable noise caused thereby is eliminated. The supply roll R is carried by a shaft which is supported by a bracket 1| secured to the rear wall of the cabinet, the bracket also serving as a paper guide in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The bight in the paper loop is maintained by a bar 12 suspended at its ends by flexible wires or cords 13, these cords being suspended from straps 1I carried by pin wheels 15. The pin wheels are loosely mounted on the shaft 10 in order that the shaft may turn with the paper roll R without causing rotation of the pin wheels. The straps have perforate portions which receive the pins to hold the straps in the desired position as the paper is fed through the printer. As the paper in the loop L is taken up by the operation of the f printer line feed mechanism, or by turning the platen handle 95, the bar 12 is momentarily lifted a slight distance due to the shortening of the loop, but the roll R is then caused to rotate,

in a clockwise direction as viewed in the figure, l

to feed paper into the loop until the bar 12 is again in its lowermost position. In addition to acoustically enclosing the paper loop, the well 3| prevents the loop from being accidentally pulled, torn, or otherwise interfered with during the printing operations.

The well 3| also prevents the paper from absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, the paper being kept dry due to the fact that it is completely enclosed and also because the heat generated by the motor and other parts of the printer mechanism causes convection currents of dry air to circulate around the paper. This insures greater uniformity in the operation of the machine, and in those cases in which the paper has a coating of gum or other adhesive substance, the absence of moisture prevents the adhesive from becoming soft or sticky.

As the printing operation proceeds the paper P passes through a slot in the top of the compartment I6, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10, guides 8| and 82 being provided to pass the paper through the slot. The guide 0| extends downwardly and projects past guide 82 a substantial distance, thereby to enable the operator easily to thread the paper into the slot whenever this becomes necessary, as when a new supply of paper is inserted in the machine, i. e., by placing the end of the paper against the downwardly projecting portion of guide 8| and turning the handle 95 which causes the paper to be advanced by the platen 12 and guided through the slot. This may be done merely by feeling for the projecting portion of the guide 8|, and without the necessity of hunting the slot from the inside of the compartment. To facilitate tearing off the messages as they issue from the printer, the door 5| has a shearing edge 83 positioned at the upper end of the slot through which the paper passes, the shearing edge being so positioned relative to the platen and guide elements that tearing oil the message exerts no pull on the paper in the printer and thus does not affect the printing operations.

'I'he printer P is of the type in which the carriage and platen move transversely with respect to the printer structure during the line printing operations, and in order to enable the printing platen 12 to be turned manually from without the cabinet, whenever desired, a square rod 99, Figs. l2 and 13, is slidably positioned within a square opening in the platen shaft |00, the outer end of the rod 99 being supported in a slot |02a of a bracket |02 secured to the member |03 of the printer framework. A collar |0I having flanged portions slidably engaging the sides of the slot |02a prevents traverse movement of the rod 99 while permitting the rod to rotate with the platen as the printer line feed mechanism operates, and also permits the platen to be turned manually by means of the handle 95 detachably secured by means of a spring to a reduced portion 96 of the rod 99, as shown in detail in Fig. 13. The handle has a slotted portion 96a which receives a pin 91 that passes through and is fixed in the shaft 96, the spring 98 coacting with the pin 91 to detachably hold the handle 95 in position during the operation of the machine. The slotted portion |02a enables the printer carriage and platen 12 to move vertically from shift to unshift position of the printer, and vice versa, during the printing operations. A brace |04 strengthens the support |02 and prevents vibration at the outer end thereof. As will be seen from Figs. 1l and 12, the apertured portion of the cabinet through which the handle 95 extends is closed by a strip |05 of soft rubber or other suitable material which prevents escape of the noise due to operation of the printer, and at the same time does not interfere with the vertical movement of the printer carriage and platen. As shown in Fig. l1, the strip |05 has slits out therein to facilitate the Vertical movement of the handle 95.

Referring to Figs, l and 2, there is shown a convenient and eiiicient form of message holder, comprising a spiral spring |01 secured at its ends by lugs |08 to the door 5| of the printer compartment, a tube |09 of rubber or other suitable material being carried by the spring. 'I'he assembly securely holds a message in the proper position to be read easily by the operator when transmitting the message while permitting the message readily to be inserted, removed or adjusted to different positions by the operator. The handle 53 may be used as a rest for the lower edge of the message or other paper held by the message holder.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the auxiliary printer support 3d is pivotally mounted at 86 to the under side o the compartment I6 and normally is held up under the floor of the compartment by a latch l of spring metal having the lower end thereof secured, as by riveting, to the well 3l. The upper end of the latch projects from the well and engages the support 34 to hold the same flat against the bottom of the compartment where it is completely out of the way of the operator. Whenever it becomes necessary for a maintenance man to inspect or work on the printer, the spring il? is manually pushed inwardly thus permitting the support 3ft to be swung downwardly and outwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4, the support being rigidly held in the latter position by means of two rods 8S each pivotally secured at one end to the support 3, the rods having free ends for engagement with supporting eyes Si? on the legs lila and Zia of the cabinet. When the support is thus erected, it is sufficiently strong to hold the heavy printer.

To remove the printer from the compartment the cover l is raised and the platen handle 95 detached by pulling the same ofic the end of the rod S6, after which the printer may be slid on to the auxiliary support 34, at which time all oi the operating parts of the printer are accessible. The electrical connections to the printer preferably are of sufficient length to enable the printer to operate while on the auxiliary support. Aiter the printer is returned to its compartment, the free ends of the rods 8g are disengaged from the supporting eyes and by means of the swivel mountings 9| the free ends of the rods may be swung inwardly towards each other, as viewed in Fig. 3, and laid nat against the support 34 where they are held by spring pressed clips 92. The support 34 is then swung inwardly until it passes the spring latch 8?, the rods E9 being concealed by the support and lying in the position shown in Fig. 4.

The necessary electrical terminal boxes are mounted on the inner side oi the wall of .the compartment l5, and thus no electrical connections or apparatus need be disposed on the outside of the cabinet. electrical power supplied to the printer is mounted in the wall i4 of the cabinet and only the handle of the switch is exposed.

In the illustrative embodiment disclosed the cabinet body is made from sheet metal which may be pressed into any desired configuration and finished in a manner to present a pleasing appearance so that the cabinet will be regarded as an ornament in the oiiice rather than unsightly apparatus as was heretofore the case. It will, of course, be understood that the cabinet may be made of other material than sheet metal such, for example, as phenolic condensation products or other plastic compounds, and any desired configuration may be employed.

While there is shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of the invention, many other and varied forms and uses will suggest themselves to those versed in the art without departing from the invention, and the invention is, therefore, not limited except as indicated by the scope of the appended claims'.

I claim:

1. A unit for supporting and enclosing a sen l- A switch for controlling the ing and receiving telegraph printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages and selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving incoming messages, saidunit comprising a cabinet having upper and lower portions, said upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, said compartment having an apertured portion through which said keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by an operator, said lower portion of the cabinet including side wall portions integral therewith, said side wall portions including legs extending to the floor of the room in which the printer is located and supporting the printer compartment and printer keyboard at the proper working height from the floor, and a support secured to said cabinet and movable to a position between said side walls and substantially iiat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, said support being movable into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer is moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose.

2. A unit for supporting and enclosing a sending and receiving telegraph printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages anol selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet har/infT upper and lower portions, said upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, said compartment having a transparent portion through which the message may be read and an apertured portion through which said keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by an operator, means comprising sound dampening material within and substantially lining the inner walls of the compartment ior acoustically enclosing the printer and preventing escape of the noise caused by operation of the printer, said means including nexible strips closely engaging the keyboard where it projects from the compartment, said lower portion of the cabinet including side wall portions integral therewith, said side wall portions extending to the floor of the room in which the printer is located and supporting the printer compartment and printer keyboard at the proper height for the operator when sitting at the cabinet, and a support secured to said cabinet and movable to a position between said side walls and substantially dat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, said support being movable into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer isI moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose.

3. A unit for supporting and enclosing a sending and receiving telegraph printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages and selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving incoming messages. said unit comprising a cabinet having upper and lower portions, said upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, said compartment having an apertured portion through which said keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by an operator, and a hinged door positioned so as to make the printer immediately accessible to the operator by opening the door, means comprising sound dampening material within and substantially lining the inner walls of the compartment including said hinged door for acoustically enclosing the printer and preventing escape of the noise caused by operation of the printer, said lower portion of the cabinet including side wall portions integral therewith, said side walls extending to the oor of the room in which the printer is located and supporting the printer compartment and the printer keyboard at the proper height for the operator when sitting at the cabinet, and a support secured to said cabinet and movable to a position between said side walls and substantially ilat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, said support being movable into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer is moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose.

4. A unit for supporting and enclosing a sending and receiving telegraph printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages and selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet having upper and lower portions, said upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, said compartment having an apertured portion through which said keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by an operator, means comprising sound dampening material within and substantially lining the inner walls of the compartment for acoustically enclosing the printer and preventing escape of the noise caused by operation of the printer, said lower portion of the cabinet including side wall portions integral therewith, said side wall portions including legs extending to the floor of the room in which the printer is located and supporting the printer compartment and the printer keyboard at the proper working height from the floor, the side wall portions also including webbed portions extending between said legs and downwardly almost to the iloor but stopping short of the floor to provide space for the toes of shoes' of persons approaching or standing beside the unit, and a support secured to said cabinet and movable to a position between said side walls and substantially flat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, said support being movable into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer is moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose.

5. A unit for supporting and enclosing a sending and receiving telegraph printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages and selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet having upper and lower portions, said upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, said compartment having an apertured portion through which said keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by an operator, said lower portion of the cabinet including side wall portions integral therewith, said side wall portions having legs extending to the oor of the room in which the printer is located and supporting the printer compartment and printer keyboard at the proper working height from the oor, and a support hingedly secured to the front of said cabinet so that it may be swung rearwardly and upwardly to a position between said side walls and substantially flat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, and may be swung forwardly and upwardly into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer is moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose, and means for securing said support in each of its said positions.

6. A unit for supporting and enclosing a sending and receiving telegraph printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages and selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet having upper and lower portions, said upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, said compartment having an apertured portion through which said keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by an operator, said lower portion of the cabinet including side wall portions integral therewith, said side wall portions including legs extending to the iloor of the room in which the printer is located and supporting the printer compartment and printer keyboard at the proper Working height from the floor, said compartment having a iioor, printer supporting framework carried by said compartment floor, said framework having guideways for receiving and retaining the printer in working position, and a support secured to said cabinet and movable to a position between said side walls and substantially flat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, said support being movable into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer is moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose.

'7. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph printer having selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet enclosing said printer, said cabinet having a hinged door adapted to be opened to provide immediate access to the printer, said door having a shearing edge for tearing oi the paper containing the printed messages which issue from the printer, the cabinet having a slotted portion through which the paper passes adjacent to said shearing edge.

8. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph printer having selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet enclosing said printer, said cabinet having a hinged door adapted to be opened to provide immediate access to the printer, said door having a shearing edge for tearing off the paper containing the printed messages which issue from the printer, the cabinet having a slotted portion through which the paper passes adjacent to said shearing edge, and two opposed spaced paper guide members within the cabinet for receiving and guiding the paper through said slotted portion of the cabinet, one of said guide members extending a substantial distance past the other guide member to facilitate manual threading of the paper from the interior of the cabinet through said slotted portion to the exterior of the cabinet.

9. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph printer having selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet enclosing said printer, said cabinet having a front wall including a door hinged at its upper end and adapted to be opened to provide ready access to the printer, said upper end of the door having a shearing edge for tearing oil the paper containing the printed messages which issue from the printer, the cabinet having a slotted portion through which the paper passes adjacent to said shearing edge.

10. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph receiving printer having selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit including a cabinetu having an upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, means in said upper portion for supporting a supply of paper for the printer, a well depending from the upper portion of the cabinet, said well and compartment enclosing the paper loop between the paper supply and the printer, guide means disposed in the Well for maintaining an elongated bight in the paper loop to enable the loop to follow the movements oi' the printing mechanism, said well and compartment substantially preventing moisture in the atmosphere surrounding the cabinet from being absorbed by said paper prior to printing of the messages thereon.

ll. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph receiving printer having selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit including a cabinet having an upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, means comprising sound dampening material Within the compartment for acoustically enclosing the printer and preventing escape of the noise caused by operation of the printer, means in said upper portion of' the cabinet for supporting a supply of paper for the printer, a Well depending from the upper portion of the cabinet, said well and compartment enclosingthe paper loop between the paper supply and the printer, guide means disposed in the well for maintaining an elongated bight in the paper loop to enable the loop to follovv the movements of the printing mechanism, said well and compartment acoustically enclosing the paper loop and preventing escape of the noise caused by vibration of the paper during the printing operations.

v 12. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph receiving printer having selecting and printing mechanisms including a traveling platen for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit comprising a cabinet in which said printer is mounted, the cabinet having an upper portion forming a compartment enclosing said printer, means comprising sound dampening material within the compartment for acoustically enclosing the printer and preventing escape or the noise caused by operation of the printer, a platen handle disposed outside of the cabinet and means slidably connecting said handle with the platen to permit transverse movement of the laten during printing operations without causing transverse movement of the platen handle.

13. A unit for supporting and enclosing a telegraph sending and receiving printer having mechanism including a keyboard for transmitting outgoing messages and selecting and printing mechanisms for receiving and printing incoming messages, said unit comprising a sheet metal cabinet in which said printer is mounted, the cabinet having upper and lower portions, said upper portion comprising a compartment having sound dampening means and acoustically enclosing the printer, said cabinet having side wall portions which support the upper portion of the cabinet and the printer keyboard at the proper height for the operator when sitting at the cabinet, said upper portion oi the cabinet having a front Wall with an apertured portion through which the keyboard projects to enable operation of the keys by the operator, means acoustically closing the space between the keyboard and apertured portion, said front Wall including a door hinged at its upper end and adapted to have its lower end raised to provide ready access to the printer, said door including a transparent portion through which the messages transmitted and received may be read and having a shearing edge at its upper hinged end for tearing oil the paper containing the printed messages, the cabinet having an apertured portion through which the paper passes adjacent to said shearing edge, said side walls being spaced apart to provide unobstructed leg room for the operator, means for supporting a somce of paper supply for the printer, a Well depending from the upper portion of the cabinet and acoustically enclosing the paper loop between the paper supply and the printer, guide means disposed in the well for maintaining an elongated bight in the paper loop to enable the loop to iollow the lateral movements of the printing mechanism, and a support secured to said cabinet and movable to a position between said side walls and fiat against the bottom of the upper portion of the cabinet when the support is not in use, said support being movable into position to receive and support the printer at the front of the cabinet when the printer is moved out of the cabinet for inspection, adjustment, repair, or other purpose.

VICTOR WEIDNER.

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