US2303846A - Printing telegraph apparatus - Google Patents

Description

R. A. LAKE 2,303,846

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Dec. 1, 1942.

Original Filed May 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1 A

' FIGIZ FIG.|3 W 05 I M I "I05 :39 f A 73 80 FIG. I4 73 EM INVENTOR'. Ross A. LAKE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1942. R. A. LAKE 2,303,846

PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Original Filed May 20, 19153 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6 FIG. 2

- AMI 70 ll/gg y/myllllllllmwzl l 40 l l O\ I I h -J O nosd 4' 0 F167 3 I I06 OOQOOOOOOOOOOQO o sgseee- 90 50 I24 I 8 OQ QOQO O INVENTOR. J0 I O 01% ROSS A. LAKE I J U 26 I24 I20 HO Patented Dec. 1, i942 2,303,846 lRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Ross A, Lake, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation or Delaware Original application May 20, 1939, Serial No.

Divided and this application July 5- 1940, Serial No. M4341 2 Claims. (Cl. 197-26) The present invention relates to printing telegraph apparatus and more particularly to'improvements in printing elements therefor.

This application is a division of'application 'Serial NO. 274,796, flied May 20, 1939, which eventuated into United States Patent 2,255,794, issued September 16, 1941.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a platen which is readily interchangeable and is so arranged that the. wear thereof is spread evenly over its surface, thereby prolonging its effectiveness.

A feature of the invention resides in provid 7 ing a positionally changeable platen wherein,

due to each printing blow, the rotational position of the platen is automatically changed indeterminately.

A more complete understanding of the foregoing objects and features of the invention may be had irom the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference characters 'in-. dicate the same parts throughout, and wherein, Fig. l is s. perspective view of the apparatus embodying the present invention;

of the punch blockp Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the die plate according to the present invention;

7 is an enlarged plan view of a strip of printed tape perforated in accordance with the method oi the present invention} Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line of Fig. Ff; i

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspectivefliew of a portion oi the si control strip, produced soof the punch block showing'a modified form of ejector; and I Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line l5--li of Fig. 14.

Since the disclosure herein set forth is in the nature of an improvement of the printing telegraph receiver disclosed in U. 8. Patent 1,745,833, or similar printer mechanisms operative to properly select the various type elements, move the tape forward, move and reverse the inking ribbon (as on a standard typewriter), and shift the platen for figure case characters, only so much of the mechanism of said patent will be hereinafter set forth as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention. Reference may be had to said-patent for a full understanding of the printer mechanism not described hereinaiter in detail. A i

As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, the platen Ii (Figs. 1. 2' and 4) over which the paper tape passes from right to left is located in the irontand central part or the apparatus.

However, the platen used in this invention is oi 'diiie ent construction, comprising as will hereinafter appear, a cylindrical plungercarried in a rectangular block and shiftable in the manner set forth in said patent.

Arranged above the platen ii is the ribbon feed mechanism indicated generally at It, the

left spool only of which is shown in Fig. l. The

inking ribbon I5 is directed in well-known man-' semicircular in shape. Actuating bars it for opcording to the pt invention, to show a lidded v or function. As indicated-in said patent, the

aperture;

Fig. 1c is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing punch elements in operated position;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line H--il of Fig.5;

Fig. 12 is a view taken on line i2|2 of Fig.4 with electors removed;

Fig. 13 is an enlargedview showing the relation-between the feed hole punch and the code crating the type bars I: are located immediately of notches in the code bars it when the notches are selectively ali ned for a particular character actuatingbars it are articulated to the type bars I! through a gear and rack means. The selecting mechanism for selectively operating the code bars I i is of the sword-and! type, fully disclosed in said patent. Briefly; this selector mechanism comprises a selecting or receiving 'electromagnet l'l (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), the armature lever 18 of which comprises a selecting arm I. having abutments 2i and 22 which co-operate with abutments I3 and 24 o! a series of swords 25. The armature lever I8 is responsive under certain conditions to *the' energization of the magnet H (for example, upon receipt of mark-- ing or current impulses) and under other conditions to the pull of a spring 26 (for example, upon the receipt of no current or spacing impulses), the tension of spring 26 being adjustable by means of screw 21, The swords 25, of which there is a plurality corresponding in number to the series of code bars l6, are brought into operative engagement with the selector arm I9 by their individual operating levers 28 pivoted on a common pivot rod29. Swords 25 are pivotally articulated by a socket connection to their individual levers 28. Each of the levers 28 is provided with an arm 3| and is normally biased in a clockwise direction about the pivot 29 by a spring 32. Arms 3| co-operate with a series of helically arranged projections 33 on a selector cam drum 34, which is' frictionally driven by a main. operating shaft 35 located in a perpendicular position at the rear and to the right of the code bars 16. The main operating shaft 35 is driven continuously by a motor 36- through a pinion 31, secured to the motor shaft 38, which pinion meshes with a gear (not shown) operatively' associated with shaft 35.

As fully described in the aforementioned patent, the cam drum 34 is initiated into rotationupon receipt of a starting impulse which causes the de-energization of the magnet I1, thereby releasing the armature lever 18 which then responds to the pull of spring 26 to rotate the lever l8 in a clockwise direction. Upon this movement, an eccentric screw 4| (Fig. 3) co-operates with a plunger 42 which acts in the manner shown in Fig. of U. S. Patent No. 1,884,745 to release, through a lever arrangement, a stop arm (not shown) to initiate rotation of cam 34.

The speed of rotation of selector cam drum 34 is synchronized with the speed of code impulsing so that as the armature lever I8 is operated in response to received impulses, a cam- 33 acts upon its associated lever 28 to rock it counterclockwise (as viewed in ,Fig. 2) to bring its sword 25 against selector arm l9. Sword 25 will be swung clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on whether abutments 2i and" 23 or 22 and 24 co-operate; for example, if abutments 2| and 23 co-operate, then the sword 25 will be swung in a counterclockwise direction and will assume the position shown in Fig. 2. On the other hand, if abutments 22 and 24 co-operate, then sword 25 will be swung in a clockwise direction to assume the opposite position. After the sword 25 has been set in accordance with the nature'of the signal impulse and the cam 33 passes out of operative engagement with arm 3|, the lever 28 will be actuated in a clockwise direction by its spring 32, carrying its associated sword 25 along with it to impinge the sword 25 against arm 43 or 44' of a T-lever 45 pivoted at 46, thus rocking the T.-lever 45 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Each of the T- levers 45 is pivotally articulated to a code bar l6 so that when a T-lever 45 is actuated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, its associated code bar is actuated leftwardly or rightwardly, respectively, on studs 41 and 48. Accordingly, with the selecting mechanism just described, the code bars 5 are set selectively in their rightward or leftward positions in response to the impulses of a code signal.

As described in Patent 1.745.633. the setting of the code bars I6 is maintained during the printing operation by a detent or locking means. Accordingly, a locking bar 49 is provided which co-operates with beveled notches 5| on code bars [6. Bar 49 is pivotally mounted and is moved into and out of engagement with the code bars l6 as the striker bar of printing bail 52 is raised and lowered. The printing bail 52 is operated by a printing cam (not shown) on the main shaft 35, in a manner described in Patent 1,745,633. When the printing bail 52 is in its lowermost position, it co-operates with the beveled edges 53 of the bars l4 and 49 to hold such bars out of engagement with the code bars l6 so that the code bars l6 may be readily shifted in accordance with the operation of the selector mechanism. When the printing bail 52 is operated upwardly to perform the printing operation, the bars l4 and 49, due to the beveled edge 53, are permitted gradually to be actuated toward the code bars l6 by their individual springs 54. The actuating bars [4 are provided with a hook portion 55 which co-operates with the printing bail 52, which in its upward movement engages said hook portion 55 to lift theactuating bar I4, which through the rack and pinion engagement with the type bar causes the type bar to rotate about its pivot to bring the type face downwardly to impinge upon the platen l I. The locking bar 49 is not provided with a hook portion 55. Its function is merely to rock on its pivot toward and. away from the code bars It under the control of the printing bail 52 to lock the code bars I6 in their set position during the printing operation.

According to the present invention the locking bar 49, while held in its position away from the code bars l6 when the printing bail 52 is in its lowermost position, co-operates with a series of bell cranks 56 (Fig. 2) to hold said bell cranks in counterclockwise position. Bell cranks 56 are provided with shouldered portions 51 through the instrumentality of which the bell cranks 56 are permitted or prevented by code bars I6 from rotating to their clockwise position. That is, if any one of the code bars I6 is set in the position indicated in Fig. 2, and the locking bar 49 is permitted to enter the V notch, the bell crank 56 associated therewith is blocked through the impingement of shoulder 51 upon the end of the associated code bar 16. On the other hand, if a code bar l6 assumes its leftward position, the bell crank 56 associated therewith would not be blocked, but would rotate clockwise in response to spring tension hereinafter indicated and follow the movement of the locking bar 49. As viewed in Fig. 1 it is observed that there is provided a bell crank 56 for each of the code bars 16.

Co-operating with each of the bell cranks 56 is 9, vertical lever 58 pivoted on a common stud 59. The uppenend of each of the levers 58 co-operates with an arm of its associated bell crank 56. The lower ends of levers 58 co-operate with a'correspending series of bell cranks 6i pivotally carried on a common shaft 62. Levers 58 and 6| are pivotally mounted on a bracket 63 secured to base plate 64. The series of hell crank levers 6| co-operates with a corresponding series of bell crank levers 65, pivotally supported on a pivot stud 66 secured to the bracket 63. The bell crank levers 65 are normally urged in a clockwise direction by individual springs 61. The springs 61 associated with the bell crank levers 65 also serve to impart, through their cooperative relationship, rotational movement to ably arranged in a cradle 69 pivoted at II to the bracket 83 and are provided near the left-hand upper edge with a cut-away portion I2 adapted to clear associated punches I3 when said interponents are in a certain operative position. Interponents 68 terminate at the left ends thereof with an enlarged portion I4 whereby they are adapted to co-operate with the punches"! 3 when the interponents 88 are operated to their rightward position, as viewed in Fig. 4. Cradle 69 is provided with a projection I (Fig. 12) adapted to co-operate with a feed hole punch 80 to invariably perforate a tape-feed hole in the tape I24 for each operation of the perforating mechanism. When the bell crank levers 56 are held in their counterclockwise position shown in Fig. 3, the interponents 88 assume their rightward or marking position. Conversely, when the bell crank levers 56 assume their clockwise position, interponents 68 assume their leftward or spacing position shown in Fig. 4.

Cradle 69 is provided with an arm I projecting upwardly, to the extremity of which is pivotally connected an extensible link indicated generally as I8; one end of link 16 being pivoted at 17 to arm I5 and the other end of link I6 being pivotally connected at 18 to a perforator operating lever I9. In the present form of the invention, the link I6 comprises one part 8| pivoted at 11 to arm I5 and a part 82 pivoted at I8 to the operating lever I9. Parts 8i and 82 are slidably connected and adjustably mounted on clamp screws 83 and 80 disposed in slots 85 and 86 in part 82. Portion 82 of link I6 is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 81 and 88, the portion 8| being provided with a single lug 89 adapted to be positioned between lugs 81- and 88. In this manner, the length of link I6 may be readily adjusted by loosening the clamp screws 83 and 84 and inserting a screwdriver or similar instrument between lugs 81 and 89 or 88 and 89, depending upon whether link I6 is to be lengthened or shortened, and twisting said instrument until the proper length is attained, whereafter the clamp screws are tightened.

The operating lever I9 is pivotally mounted on a pivot rod 9| supported in arms 92 and 93 of bracket 83. As viewed in Fig. 2, the operating lever I9 is provided with an extension 94, at the extremity of which is mounted a cam the upper surface of said guide plate. Disposed above the guide plate 98 is the die plate I05, shown in plan view in Fig. 6. The die plate I05 is sheared along edge I05 as to remove a portion of the metal surrounding each of the holes I01 and I08; holes I01 being representative of the code punch holes and hole I08 representing the feed punch hole. When the die plate I05 is arranged above the die plate 98, as shown in Fig. 5, the punches 13, when operated upwardly into co-operation with the die plate I05 (as indicated in Fig. will cut away only a portion of the tape material, leaving a small hinge portion H0 at the left side of the punch uncut (as viewed in Fig. '7), thus forcing the partially perforated lid, formed by each punch, upwardly into the die plate holes. During the punching operation, a slight tearing or shearing occurs at the point I (Figs. 7 and 9) of the hinge IIO (Fig. 10), as well as a very slight stretching of the tape material. To limit the clockwise movement of the cradle 69, a stop 39 is provided adjacent the punch block 91. .Stop 39 is adjustably carried in cradle 69, a lock nut being provided to lock said stop in adjusted position.

To minimize tearing of the tape material at the feed holes I08, the feed hole punch 80 (Fig I3 vary slightly in length, and since this variance follower roller 95 which co-operates withthe perforator operating cam 98 carried on the main operating shaft 35. A spring 90 acts upon lever I9 to hold cam roller 95 against the periphery of cam 96.

Supported in the bracket 83 is a punch block indicated generally as S'I in which is carried a series of punch elements I3. Each of the punches I3 is provided with an enlarged section IN, the upper edge of which co-operates with a stripper member I02 and the lower edge of which co-operates with a backstop plate I 08. Stripper member I92 is urged downwardly by springs I 88, to thereby hold the punches I3 in their lower positions free of the die plate I 05. As shown in the enlarged sectional view, Fig. 5, the punch 73 is shown fitted into a guide plate 98 with its upper face disposed slightly below in length causes these code hole punches to penetrate various distances through the tape, there will result (within small limits, of course) various degrees of tearing at point I20. This, however, is not detrimental in the case of the code holes because the tape sensing pins of the tape transmitter are smaller in diameter than the code holes in the tape. The function of the tape feed holes, on the other hand, is different in that the size and spacing of the feed holes must be practically constant, and it is desirable to minimize as far as possible any variation therein due to tearing at the hinge. It has been found that this manner of punching the feed holes assures uniform and invariable spacing thereof and hence insures proper co-operation with the tape feeding mechanism of both the tape perforator and tape transmitter.

To eject the hinged lid thus formed from the die plate I05, a stripper member I09 is provided to co-operate with each punch I8. Strippers or ejectors I09 are arranged to be guided at their lower ends by the die plate I05 and at their upper ends by a Z-shaped bracket III attached to the plate I05, and a compression spring H2 is provided for eachejector I09 to urge the ejectors I09 downwardly. The ejectors I09 when in their downward position are adapted to extend slightly below the die plates I 05 so as to insure the ejection of the hinged lid produced in the material or tape worked upon. After ejection in this manner the hinged lids are slightly in relief, as a result of which the upper surface of It is known that the lids I25 take the form or position substantially as shown in Fig. 9, due to the inherent characteristics of the paper. such as thinness and resilience. As the quality of the material worked upon tends toward softness, the lids I25 assume a position in relief, substantially as shown in Fig. 8, wherein the plane of the lid I25 would tend toward parallelism with the plane of the body of the material or strip I24. I

The tape, after being partially perforated in this manner, passes over a tape feed roller H3 which is provided with a series of spaced fee'd pins or projections H4 adapted to co-operate with the lidded feed holes formed by the feed punch and die plate. The feed roll H3 is provided with a series of toothed grooves H5 which co-operate with a tape feed pawl H8 pivotally carried on the cradle 88 in well-known manner. Fixed to the shaft to which the feed roller H3 is secured is a star wheel H1 (Fig. l) which co-operates with a detent member H8, pivoted at H8 to the bracket 82, having a spring I2I which urges the detent roller into engagement with the star wheel H1. Fixed to the star wheel H1 is a thumb portion I22, whereby the feed roller H5 may be rotated manually either clockwise or counterclockwise. Therefore, to perform a backspacing operation, the thumb portion 122 is rotated clockwise so as to move the tape rightwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5. In order that the perforated tape may be readily moved rightwardlyfor a backspacing operation, each of the elector members I08 is provided with a case shift mechanism, which comprises means for shifting the platen II. As shown in Fig. 4 the platen II is illustrated as consisting of a cylinder capped with a hard rubber (or other suitable) printing surface. PlatenII is removably held in a block 88 slidably mounted on a wing portion I22 (Figs. Sand 11) having an inclined lower edge, so that as the tape is moved rightwardly, any of the hinged lids/which may be projecting upwardly at an angle will be cammed downwardly by the wingportion I22 so as to clear the die plate i051 In Figs. '1, 8, and 9 is illustrated a portion of the tape printed and/or perforated in accordance with the present invention. The tape I20 is perforated in such a manner that the lids I25 are not completely severed but are hinged or attached at their left sides to the tape material so that when the tape is introduced into a 'tape transmitter, the sensing pins will force the lids I25 upwardly and the pins will protrude through the openings provided, therefor. As shown in Fig. '1, the printing appears directly over the hinged lids as if the tape had not been perforated and is readily legible. In the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown, the perforated code combination is six steps in. advance of the corresponding printed character.

That is, the code combination represented by the transverse row I28, Fig. '1, corresponds to the letter Q" in the word Quick." 01' course, it is understood that if a wider tape is provided, the characters printed can be printed adjacent to the transverse row of code combinations of perforations corresponding thereto. It is conceivable that tapes having prepunched feed holes would be desirable under certain conditions. In

this event, the feed hole I50 (Fig. '1) would be indicated as fully perforated instead of being provided with a hinged lid. Moreover, although I in the present embodiment the perforated record to actuate shift arm I28 rearw ar I28 is again latched byend'I18 of lever I18. It

shaft I00 which, in turn, is slidably supported in brackets 63 and I21. Fixed to shaft I00 is a collar I28 against which the block 88 is held by a spring I28 surrounding said shaft and compressed between block 88 and a shift arm I29 also fixed to said shaft. Block 88 is slidable rearwardly on shaft I00, through the instrumentality of an arm I30 flxed thereto, against the action of spring I28, to bring the platen II from beneath the tape and inking ribbon, so that said platen thereby becomes accessible for ready removability and interchangeability. The platen II is also shiftable under the control of received code signals through the medium of shift actuating bar I14 and unshift actuating bar I15. Platen II is shown in Fig. 2 in its unshift or letters position. To shift the platen II to figures" position, the actuating bar I18 is collar I28 thereon strikes against bracket t3.v

Since the relation between shift arm I28 and block 88 is unchanged, due to the compressive,

action of spring I28, block 88 is shifted with the shaft I00 to' bring platen II into the shift or figures position. To return platen II to the letters or unshift position (shown in Fig. 2) the actuating bar I15 is selected, which when raised by bail 52 rocks lever I8I about pivot I02, and in turn rocks member I82 about its pivot I38 until arm is manifest that platen II is shiftable under two operating conditions, one selectively in response to received code signals to shift or unshift position, and the other manually through the instrumentality of arm I80 to render the platen II accessible and interchangeable.

The platen II is in the form of a cylindrical plunger and is adapted to fit closely loosely in block 88. Platen II is capped with a substantially resilient printing surface so that upon each printing stroke of a type bar, its type face impinges against the printing surface of the platen, causing, due to the percussive effect incident to printing, said platen to bounce and vibrate slightly, thereby disturbing its position and causing it, when it shall have come to rest; to have changed or altered its angular position somewhat; This action causes the platen II to present a new and/or different angular position to the printing element, thus tending to preserve the printing surface and prolong the life of the platen cap.

General operation Inthe operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, the motor 08 is conprecedes the corresponding printed record, it is possible to position the punch block 81 to the right of the platen II, as viewed in Fig. 4, whereby the printed record would precede the corresponding perforated record.

As indicated in Fig. 1 each type bar I2 provided with two type faces, thus necessitating a 75 sidered to be running continuously, thus rotating the main operating shaft 25. the main operating shaft 25 are sleeve members rotatably associated therewith through clutch members, as disclosed in Patent 1,745,633, which sleeves are normally held against rotation. The selector magnet I1 is normally energized so that Carried on its racir and asoeeee upon the receipt of a start impulse of spacing nature, the magnet ll is lie-energized. and. its armature lever 58 is released under the tension of spring 2% whereby the stud iii thereon urges the plunger e2 leftwardly to release through a series of lever (not shown) the sleeve members on the shaft $5 for rotation in timed relation to abutments on the swords 35 and selector lever,

is are determinative of the positions of said swords to operate the r ievers 55 to one or the other of their operative positions, the T-ievers in turn actuating the code bars to their rightward or leftward position in accordance with the received code combination.

- In timed relation with the rotation of cam drum 35, the sleeve carrying the printing cam (not shown) and the periorator operating cam 95 is initiated into rotation. The printing cam operates through mechanism, not here shown but described and shown in said Patent 3,745,633 to reciprocate the printing coil 52: which, on its upward movement, permits the actuating bars i i to respond to the pull or their individual springs to be urged into engagement with. the code bars it, one of these actuating bars finding an alignment of slots or notches in the code hers is and thus traveling or rotating farther so as to bring its nook portion 55 into the path of the ball 52, so that the ball in its upward movement, picks up the hook portion 55 and raises the selected actuating bar to effect rotation of the type bar associated therewith through connection. The type pallet is therefore caused to impinge i to "int a character on the the some time printing pus 1.1 pas oh the typ e bar it user d i s tion somewhat.

Simultaneously with the actuation of the type car for printing a character through the op= oration of the actuating bar it by priut hg hail 52, the locking her G9 is permitted to respond to is the pull oi its sprine so that the upper of the locking oar ii) moves into the t notches- 55 in the code bars to. hi so doing, the levers are permitted follow this movement or the locking bar 351 in response to the action oi springs @571 (Fig. 1}. However, when any one of the code here is in its rightward position, theshoulder oi lever will strike against said code her and the corresponding cell crenir lever 58 will loiocireci against movement. l

Therefore, the-levers cell cranir levers ti 55, and interponents associated therewith will have no motion or movement imparted thereto and will assume the position opposite to that shown in Fig. d, that is, with the portion it of interpouent E3 in register with the punch However, when any one of the code bars 5 5 is in its leftward position, the shoulder oi lever will not be blocked by its associated code her it and will he permitted to rotate in a clock wise direction under the action of spring ti through the interconnected levers t5, ti, and 58. This movement will cause the iuterponent 63 (Fig. 4) associated therewith to'be actuated leftwardly to bring the portion it of the inter ponentfiii out oi register or alignment with the punch it. In proper timed relation with these operations, the cam 95 for operating the perforator will actuate the perforating lever i9 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, so link it, the cradle 6t will be rocked clockwiseto bring all of the interponcnts 63, which have not been moved, into engagement with their re spective punches 13, thus urging said punches upwardly through the tape. As the cradle to is permitted to rock backward to its counterclock= Wise position, the stripper plate acts to with draw the punches i3, and the electors iiiii act to expel the hinged, lids from the die plate hi5. Thus, there is produced with the present invention a printed and perforated tape, as shown in Fig. 7.

Modification Although the present invention been shown and described in connectio r o certain specific embodiments thereof, it of course understood that such disclosure is sorely illustrative and not restrictive, ref being had to the app-ended claims to det e scope of ention, and all veri Log within uded claims not is claimed is: i. in s. recorder, recording mechanism comprising plurality of pivoted type bars, a resiliently capped cylindrical platen member, means for pivoting said type hers downwardly to coopwith said member to effect printing, and a carrier freely and otatably supporting said :41 member l ,v in response to the pe said. type bars vito cause said member nsuraole amounts to alter the at of said member.

recording mechanism cornpool 1 reocrug a Zillli pris sits of pivoted type bars, a rotata oioer, means for pivoting said type iv to cooperate with said platen -tihg, and a carrier in which said platen is loosely and removahly inserted whereby in response to the percussive efiect produce by said type bars vibratory forces are created. to cause said member to rotate incomro hicamounts to alter the angular posieaid member.

ROSS A. LAKE.

that, through the.

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