US2302033A - Signaling system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1942. R. B. JOHNSON SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 8, 1941 FIGA.

AZ A TTORNE Y INVENT R E Patented Nov. 17, 1942 SIGNALING SYSTEM Reynold B. Johnson, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 8, 1941, Serial No. 401,477

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to signaling systems, and more specifically to means capable of initiating groups of control impulses upon the sensing of code marks, such as coded data designations, disposed upon a control sheet or tape.

The present invention is particularly applicable to printing telegraph systems or similar systems wherein tapes or sheets having code marks are utilized for controlling impulse initiating circuits.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of improved sensing means for analyzing a sheet or tape provided with coded designations formed, for example, by conductive ink and initiating control impulses whenever the designations are presented to a sensing station.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of sensing means consisting of pairs of spaced circular electrically conductive elements having dissimilar diameters.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the tape advancing and sensing means.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of an assembly 1? of the individual sensing elements.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connections of the control elements.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the possible points of contact by employing sensing rollers of equal diameters.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the single point of contact by employing sensing rollers of unequal diameters.

Referring now to Fig. .l, the control sheet or tape ID to be analyzed is shown to be provided with a plurality of code marks ll, which code marks are conductive, and can be formed thereon by any suitable and well known type of conductive ink. The coded tape referred to can be arranged similarly to the perforated tapes employed in printing telegraph systems, that is, the code marks disposed on the sheet or tape can be formed in various combinations, in transverse rows, in accordance with a combinational code, such as the Baudot code. Suitable tape advanc- Ill ing means are diagrammatically shown in the form of a motor with the associated feed rollers, which are indicated generally by the reference character 12.

The means for sensing the conductive marks are disposed above the tape l0 and comprise the individual sets of electrically conductive rollers l3 and I4. Each sensing roller consists of two spaced metallic or conductive discs, indicated by the reference characters I30. and Ma, which are connected electrically by the pin shafts l5 and 16, respectively. The discs l3a and Ma. of each set of rollers are of different diameters, and as shown, the diameters of the discs l3a are smaller than the diameters of the discs Ma. The purpose of this arrangement will be understood as the description progresses.

With reference now to Figs. 2 to 4, a suitable mounting for the sensing rollers is shown. Each of the rollers I3 is carried by an individual conductive member I1, and each roller [4 is carried by a conductive member I8. Each of the conductive members I1 and I8 are inserted in suitable slots or openings l9 formed in the support ing block- 20 which is made of suitable insulating material. The said members I! and I8 are held frictionally in the indicated positions in the block by means of individual spring members 2|. Each member I8 is also subjected to a force exerted on one end thereof by a suitably positioned conducting spring blade 22, which in turn is secured to the said insulating block 2 0". In this manner the rollers M are directed agcinst the tape or sheet to be analyzed. The members ll are provided with and urged ,by individual coil springs 23 so that the related rollers H! are directed against the tape orsheet to be analyzed. Obviously, other suitable and known methods of mounting the said sensing rollers may be employed, such as securing the individual rollers to pivoted and spring urged conducting arms or levers.

Now, upon advancement of the tape ID to present each row of code marks to the sensing position, individual code marks are effective to interconnect or bridge the related set of rollers l3 and I4, and thus complete the circuits connected to the said rollers.

With reference now to Fig. 5, a well known type of impulse initiating system is shown. The rollers l3 and I4 of each set are connected to the input of a suitable amplifier unit, indicated generally by the reference character 25. The amplifier unit is arranged so that, when the rollers 13 and M are not bridged by the code marks, the unit is normally non-conductive, but is rendered conductive each time a code mark is sensed by the related rollers l3 and I4. The individual output circuits of the amplifier units are connected to the individual pick-up coils of the relays Rl to R5. Now, upon the sensing of any cod:v mark or groups of code marks, circuits are completed to the related amplifier units to energize the related pick-up coils of relays Rl to R5 which are connected to the sensing rollers encountering the code marks. Holding circuits are established immediately through the Rio to RM contacts, and a typical circuit can be traced from grounded battery to the normally closed contacts 21, contacts Rla, holding coil of relay Rl to the common ground 28. This holding circuit is maintained until the common contacts 28 are opened.

A second group of contacts Rib to R5?) are provided, each contact being connected to an individual conducting segment 29 of a well known type start-stop distributor. The distributor briefly comprises the said conducting segments 29, brushes 30 which when released engage successively the said segments and connect them to the common conducting strip 3|, which in turn can be connected to any suitable transmission terminal or medium.

As is well known, normally the brushes are held from rotation under control of the latching magnet 32, which is shown connected to one of the amplifier units designated 25a. Each time a row of code marks is presented to the sensing rollers, the rollers connected to the amplifier unit 25a sense a code mark which is provided on the tape for each row of marks presented thereto. In this manner, it is seen that the magnet 32 is energized, momentarily, each time a row of code marks is presented to the sensing position, to release the brushes 30. As mentioned, brushes 3!! traverse the conducting egments 29 progressively to initiate signals at differential times, depending upon which contacts of the group Rib to R51) are ..osed during the signaling cycle.

Cam 33 is suitably secured to the start-stop shaft carrying the rotatable brushes 30, and is arranged to open the contacts 28 momentarily, near the end of each signaling cycle to break the established holding circuit, and thus reset the system to the normal condition shown. The rate of advancing the tape is adjusted so that the brushes can complete one revolution, or stated in other words, so that a signaling cycle can be completed, before another row of code marks is presented o the sensing position.

With reference now to Figs. 6 and 7, the advantages of the suggested sensing rollers will be explained. In Fig. 6, it is assumed that the pair of sensing rollers indicated by the reference character 35 are of the same diameters, whereas in Fig. '7 the rollers I3 and H are of dissimilar diameters as suggested herein. It has been found that with rollers of the same size, the point of contact on the tape or sheet may vary, whereas with rollers of different sizes the contact of the rollers with the tape or sheet is restricted to one point. For example, assume in Fig. 6 that due to the pressure of the rollers upon the tape H], the tape is positioned along a line indicated AD, for this assumed condition, the point of contact between the rollers and tape is from the points Y to Z, or if the tape assumes a position along a line indicated CD the point of contact is from points X to Z. In Fig. 7, it is evident that, irrespective of the positions assumed by the tape, the point of contact is restricted to the single point Y. Obviously, the two rollers l3 and H are tangent to the tape only at the single point Y, and consequently the contact between the rollers and tape is restricted to this point. This single Point of contact is of particular importance, especially when the rows of transverse marks are spaced relatively close to each other. This feature also is of great importance when it is desired to sense tapes of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,209,- 106. It is obvious that the particular type of code arrangement of the marks employed is immaterial.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may he made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the pirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sensing sheets having columns of code marks comprising means for feeding a control sheet, individual means, one for each column of code marks for sensing the said marks on the sheet, each of said sensing means comprising a pair of spaced circular conductive elements, said elements having dissimilar diameters, and means controlled by said sensing means for initiating control impulses upon the sensing of the marks in the columns on the said sheet.

2. Apparatus for sensing sheets having columns of code marks comprising means for feeding a control sheet, individual means, one for each column of code marks for sensing the said marks on the sheet, each of said sensing means v comprising a pair of spaced metallic rollers, said rollers having dissimilar diameters, and means controlled by said sensing means for initiating control impulses upon the sensing of the marks in the columns on the said sheet.

REYNOLD B. JOHNSON.

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