US2318026A - Printing telegraph apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 1943" e AN 1 318, 026

PRINTING :TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 4- 7 Original Filed May 20, 1939 FIG. 1

' 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

CARL W. SWAN May 4, 1943. c. w. SWAN 2,318,026. PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W l. 4 2 if F 4 I I 33 O 6 3 l 4 3 i v o 3 W 4 5 1 7 m M m m m 6 mil m .l

o O W m m m M W m i J 5 Dr v o o%@ 0 w OR l\ W? w QU WQO O 953%0 E m ommwv o w Q n 0 Q A O O 7 B F A ORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1943 PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Carl W. Swan, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 20, 1939, Serial No.

274,811. Divided and this application July 5,

1940, Serial No. 344,099

4 Claims. (Cl. 19773) 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. 274,811, filed May 20, 1939.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a printer platen which is subjected to both automatic and manual control so that the positionment of the platen may be alterable independently of the automatic control.

A further feature resides in the provision of a dually controlled printing platen whereby the platen is not only shiftable selectively under the control of received signals to print upper and lower case characters, but is also shiftable manually, independently of the case shift mechanism, to render the platen accessible and readily interchangeable.

A more complete understanding of the foregoing objects and features of the invention may be had from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate the same parts throughout, and wherein,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the apparatu embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a keyboard perforator embracing certain features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, with certain parts broken away for clarity;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line (-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the punch block;

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

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a strip of printed tape perforated in accordance with the method of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on.

line88ofFig.7;

Fig. 9 is a view of the selector magnet partially deleted from Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing punch elements in operated position; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the signal control strip, produced according to the present invention, to show a lidded aperture.

Since the disclosure herein set forth is inIthe,

. vor similar printer mechanisms operative to prop- I erly select the various type elements, move the P perforate a tape so as to provide lidded apertures. The printed message corresponding to the perforated record appears on said tape directly over the hinged lids and remains fully'readable. The present invention, of course, is not limited to the type of printer exemplified by the aforementioned patent, but any printer to which the invention is applicable is contemplated.

As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent,

the platen ll (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) over which the paper tape passes from right to left is located in the front and central part, of the apparatus. However, the platen used in this invention is of different construction, comprising as will hereinafter appear,-a cylindrical plunger carried in a rectangular block and shiftable in the manner set forth in said patent.

Arranged above the platen l I is the ribbon feed mechanism indicated generally as I3, the left spool only of which is shown in Fig. 1. The inking ribbon I5 is directed in well-known manner over platen l I from one spool to the other; automatic ribbon reversing mechanism also being provided. Type bars l2 are positioned to the rear of the platen and are arranged for striking forwardly and downwardly. Just to the rear of the type bars I! is a series of notched code bars it which in the present instance are substantially semicircular in shape. Actuating bars I for operating the type bars l2 are located immediately in front of the code bars l6,v and are adapted to be pulled one at a time into the alignment of notches in the code bars it when the notches are selectively aligned for a particular character or function. As indicated in said patent, the actuating bars II are articulated to the type bars I 2 through a gear and rack means.

The selecting mechanism for selectively operating the code bars I6 is of the sword-and-T type, fully disclosed in said patent. Briefly, this selector mechanism comprises a selecting or receiving electromagnet ll (Figs. 1, 3 and 9), the armature lever |8 of which comprises a selecting arm l9 having abutments 2| and 22 which cooperate with abutments 23 and 24 of 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 marking or current impulses) and under other conditions to'the pull of a spring 28 (for example, upon the receipt of no current or spacing impulses), the tension of spring 26 being ad- Justable 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 l9 by their individual operating levers 28 pivoted on a common pivot rod 29. 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 I6. The main operating shaft 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 rotation upon receipt of a starting impulse which causes the de-energization of the magnet thereby releasing the armature lever l8 which then responds to the pull of spring 26 to rotate the lever |8 in a clockwise direction. Upon this movement, an eccentric screw 4| (Fig. 9) co-operates with a plunger 42 which acts in the manner shown in Fig. 5 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 H3 is operated in response to received impulses, a cam 33 acts upon ward 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 cooperates with beveled notches 5| on code bars l8. Bar 49 is pivotally mounted and is moved into and out of engagement with the code bars I5 as the striker bar or 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 I4 and 49 to hold such bars out of engagement with the code bars I 6 so that the code bars |6 may be readily shifted in accordance with the operation of the selector mechanism. When the printing bail 52 is operated upwardly to perform th printing operation, the bars l4 and 49, due to the beveled edge 53, are permitted gradually to be actuated toward the code bar |6 by their individual springs 54. The actuating bars M are provided with a hook portion 55 which co-operates with the printing bail 52, which in its upward movement engages said hook 55 to lift the actuating bar l4, 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 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 l6 under the control of the printing bail 52 to lock the code bars its associated lever 28 to rock it counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) to bring its sword 25 against selector arm l9. Sword 2-5 will be swun clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on whether abutments 2| 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. 3. 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 I6 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 l6 are set selectively in their rightward or left- Hi 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 l5 when the printing bail '52 is in its lowermost position, co-operates with a series of bell cranks 56 (Fig. 3) to'hold said bell cranks in counterclockwiseposition. 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 Hi from rotating to their clockwise position. That is, if any one of the code bars I6 is set in the position indicated in Fig. 3, and the locking bar 49 is permitted to enter the V notch, the bell crank 58 associated therewith is blocked through the impingement of shoulder 51 upon the end of the associated code bar |6. 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 l8. Co-operating with each of the bell cranks 56 is a vertical lever 58 pivoted on a common stud 59. The upper end of each of the levers 58 cooperates with an arm of its associated bell crank 56. The lower ends of levers '58 co-operate with a corresponding series of bell cranks 6| pivotally carried on a common shaft 62. Levers 58 and GI are pivotally mounted on a bracket 63 secured to base plate 64. The series of hell crank levers 8| co-operates with a corresponding series of bell crank levers 65, pivotally supported on a pivot stud 86 secured to the bracket 63. The bell crank levers 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 co-operative relationship, rotational movement to levers 6I, 58, and 56. The depending arms of bell crank levers 65 are provided with enlarged portions which fit into corresponding notches in a series of interponents 68 (Fig. 4), whereby the bell crank levers 65 are pivotally articulated to the interponents 68. Interponents 68 are slidably arranged in a cradle 69 pivoted at II to the bracket 63 and are provided near the left-hand upper edge with a cutaway portion I2 adapted to clear associated punches I3 when said interponents are in a certain operative position. Interponents 68 termi- -nate at the left ends thereof with an enlarged portion I4 whereby they are adapted to co-operate with the punches I3 when the interponents 68 are operated to their rightward position, as viewed in Fig. 4. Cradle 69 is provided with a projection "I adapted to cooperate with a feed hole punch (not shown) to invariably perforate a tape feed hole in the tape I24 for each opera tion of the perforating mechanism. When the bell crank levers 56 are held in their counterclockwise position shown in Fig. 3, the interponents 68 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, as shown in Fig. 4.

Cradle 69 is provided with an arm I5 projecting upwardly, to the extremity of which is pivotally connected an extensible link indicated generally as I6; one end of link 16 being pivoted at 11 to arm I5 and the other end of link I6 being pivotally connected at I0 to a perforator operating lever I9. In the present form of the invention, the link I6 comprises one part 8I piv oted at I! to arm I5 and a part 82 pivoted at I8 to the operating lever I9. Parts Ill and 82 are slidably connected and adjustably mounted on clamp screws 83 and 84 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 lug 01 and 88.

In this manner, the length of link I6 may be readily adjusted by loosening the clamp screws 83 and 84 and inserting ascrewdriver 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 9I supported in arms 92 and 93 of bracket 63. As viewed in Fig. 3, the operating lever I9 is provided withan extension 94, at the extremity of which is mounted a cam follower roller 95 which co-operates with the perforator operating cam 96 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 63 is a punch block indicated generally as 91 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 cooperates with a backstop plate I03. Stripper member -I02 is urged downwardly by springs I04, to thereby hold the punches I3 in their lower positions free of the die plate I05. As shown in the enlarged sectional view, Fig. 5, the punch I3 is shown fitted into a guide plate 98 with its 3 upper face disposed slightly below 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 I 05 is so sheared along edge I06 as to remove a portion of the metal surrounding each of the holes I 01 and I00: 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 I3, when operated upwardly into co-operation with the die plate I 05 (as indicated in Fig. 10)

will cut away only a portion of the tape material, leaving a small hinge portion I I0 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 I20 (Figs. 7 and 11) of the hinge IIO (Fig. 10), as well as a very slight stretching of the tape material. To eject the hinged lid thus formed from the die plate I05, a stripper member I09 is provided to co-operate with each punch I3. 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 [05, and a compression spring H2 is provided for each ejector I09 to urge the ejectors I09 downwardly. The ejectors I 09 when in their downward position are adapted to extend slightly below the die plates I05 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 the tape may be readily determined.

It is understood, that the resultant position of thelid I25 with respect to the strip I24 is dependent upon the properties of the material of which the strip is composed, as well as the thickness thereof. For example, in a paper strip, the lids I25 take the form or position substantially as shown in Fig. 11, due to the inherent characteristics of the paper, such a 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.

The tape, after being partially perforated in this manner, passes over a tape feed roller II3 which is provided with a series of spaced feed pins or projections II4 adapted to co-operate with the lidded feed holes punch and die plate. The feed roll I I3 is provided with a series of toothed grooves II5 which co-operate with a tape feed pawl I I6 pivotally carried on the cradle 69 in well-known manner. Fixed to the shaft to which the feed roller H3 is secured is a star wheel II'I (Fig. l) which co-operates with a detent member I I8, pivoted at II9 to the bracket 63, having a spring I2I which urges the detent roller into engagement with the star wheel I". Fixed to the star wheel II! is a thumb portion I22, whereby the feed roller II5 may be rotated manually either clockwis or counterclockwise. Therefore, to perform a backspacing operation, the thumb portion I22 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 rightward- 1y for a backspacing operation, each of the ejector members I09 is provided with a wing portion formed by the feedv I23 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 wing portion I23 so as to clear the die plate I95.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 11 is illustrated a portion of the tape printed and/or perforated in accordance with the present invention. The tape I24 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 opening provided therefor. As shown in Fig. 7, 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 I26, Fig. 7, corresponds to the letter Q in the word Quic Of 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 a tape having prepunched feed holes would be desirable under certain conditions. In this event, the feed hole I56 (Fig. 7) would be indicated as fully perforated instead of being provided with a hinged lid.

As indicated in Fig, 1 each type bar I2 is provided with two type faces, thus necessitating 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. Platen I I is removably held in a block 99 slidably mounted on a shaft I66 which, in turn, is slidably supported in brackets 63 and I21. Fixed to shaft III is acollar I26 against which the block 99 is held by a spring I28 surrounding said shaft and compressed between block 99 and a shift arm I29 also fixed to said shaft. Block 99 is slidable rearwardly on shaft Ill, through the instrumentality of an arm I34 fixed thereto, against the action of spring I26, 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 "4 and unshift actuating bar I15. Platen II is shown in Fig. 3 in its unshift or letters position. To shift the platen II to figures position, the actuating bar.

' I14 is selected, which when picked up by the bail 62 is raised to rock lever I16 about its pivot III to lower its end I16 to eifect the disengagement thereof from shift arm I29, whereupon spring I19 compressed between bracket I21 and arm I29 causes shaft I69 to be moved forwardly until collar I26 thereon strikes against bracket 63. Since the relation between shift arm I29 and block 99 is unchanged, due to the compressive action of spring I23, block 99 is shifted with the shaft IIII to bring platen II into the shift or figures position. To return platen II to the letters or unshift position (shown in Fig. 3) the actuating bar I is selected, which when raised by bail 52 rocks lever I6l about pivot I62, and in turn rocks member I63 about its pivot I64 to actuate shift arm I29 rearwardly until arm I29 is again latched by end I16 of lever I16. It 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 I29 to render the platen II accessible and interchangeable.

General operation In the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention. the motor 36 is considered to be running continuously, and thus rotates the main operating shaft 35. Carried on the main operating shaft 35 are sleeve members rotatably associated therewith through clutch members as disclosed in Patent 1,745,633, which sleeves are normall held against rotation. The selector magnet I1 is normally energized so that upon the receipt of a start impulse of spacing nature, the magnet II is de-energized and its armature lever I8 is released under the tension of spring 26 whereby the stud 4I thereon urges the plunger 42 leftwardly to release through a series of levers -(not shown) the sleevemembers on the shaft 45 for rotation in timed relation to each other. As indicated in the Patent 1,745,633, the cam drum selector 34 is released for rotation so that the cam projections 33 thereon operate levers 28 in such a manner that through the cooperation of selector arm I9 therewith the swords 25 are caused to abut said arm I9 and are actuated to one or the other of their selective positions. The operative relationship of the abutments on the swords 45 and selector lever I9 is determinative of the positions of said swords to operate the T-levers 45 to one or the other of their operative positions, the T-levers in turn actuating the code bars I6 to their rightward or leftward position in accordance with the received code combination.

In timed relation with the rotation of cam drum 34, the sleeve carrying the printing cam (not shown) and the perforator operating cam 96 is initiated into rotation. The printing cam operates through mechanism, not here shown but described and shown in said Patent 1,745,633 to reciprocate the printing ball 52 which, on its upward movement, permits the actuating bars I4 to respond to the pull of their individual springs to be urged into engagement with the code bars I6, one of these actuating bars finding an alignment of slots or notches in the code bars I6 and thus traveling or rotating farther so as to bring its hook portion 55 into the path of the ball 52, so that the bail 52 in its upward movement, picks up the hook portion 55 and raises the selected actuating bar to effect rotation of the type bar I2 associated therewith through its rack and pinion connection. The type pallet on the type bar I2 is therefore caused to impinge upon the platen II to print a character on the tape interposed therebetween.

Simultaneously with the actuation of the type bar for printing 'a character through the operation of the actuating bar I4 by printing ball 62, the locking bar 49 is permitted to respond to the pull of its spring 54 so that the upper edge of the locking bar 49 moves into the V notches 5| in the code bars I6. In so doing, the levers 56 are permitted to follow this movement of the looking bar 49 in response to the action of spring 61 (Fig. 1). However, when any one of the code bars I6 is in its rightward position, the shoulder 61 of lever 56 will strike against said code bar and the corresponding bell crank lever 56 will be blocked against movement. Therefore, the levers 53, bell crank levers 6| and 65, and interponents 88 associated therewith will have no motion or movement imparted thereto and will assume the position opposite to that shown in Fig. 4, that is, with the portion 14 of interponent 68 in register with the punch 13. However, when any one of the code bars I6 is in its leftward position, the shoulder 51 of lever 56 will not be blocked by its associated code bar I6 and will be permitted to rotate in a clockwise direction under the action of spring 61 through the interconnected levers 65, 6|, and 58. This movement will cause the interponent 68 (Fig. 4) associated therewith to be actuated leftwardly to bring the portion 14 of the interponent 68 out of register or aligne ment with the punch 13. .In proper timed relation with these operations, the cam 96 for operating the perforator will actuate the perforating lever 19 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, so that, through the link 16, the cradle 69 will be rocked clockwise to bring all of the interponents 68, which have not been moved, into engagement with their respective punches 13, thus urging said .punches upwardly through the tape. As the cradle 69 is permitted to rock backward to its counterclockwise position, the stripper plate I04 acts to withdraw the punches 13, and the ejectors I99 act to expel the hinged lids from the die plate I05. Thus, there is produced withthe present invention a printed and perforated tape, as shown in Fig. 7., g

Modification The present invention is applicable to a keyboard perforator such as is indicated in Fig. 2. The keyboard perforating device illustratedls of the type shown in U. S. Patent 1,965,572, and

Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 4 of said patent. Al-

chanically operated type shown in Fig. 1. For a fuller understanding of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, reference may be had to said Patent 1,965,572.

multaneously more than one key lever, the key levers can only be depressed part way when they will be blocked by the high portions of the code bars I38. Connected-to the depending portions of each of the rocker arms or T-levers I39 is a longitudinally movable permutation bar I44.

The perforator disclosed in Fig. 2 comprises a punch block, constructed'as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The distiguishing feature between the punch mechanism, shown in Fig. 2 and that shown in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1 is that in the former the punch mechanism is magnetically operated. The punches I (Fig. 2) are selectively operatedby an actuating member or hammer I46 through the instrumentality of interponents I41. Operatively associated with each of the punch interponents I41 is a pivoted member I48 which is connected to the permutation bars I44 by means of'a link I49. Thus, upon the permuted setting of the permutation bars I44, the punch interponents I41 will be set correspondingly through the movement of the link I49 and the pivoted arm I48 associated therewith.

.The hammer I46 rocks about its pivot and, forms the armature of an electromagnet I5I.'

The interponents I41 are moved back and forth along the face of the hammer I 46, and, depending upon their selected position, the associated punch I 45 will be operated. In addition to the several pairs of code bars I38, there is provided an additional bar (not shown) which is operated by the key levers I31 invariably, to cause through its associated permutation bar I44, link I49 and a lever I48, the closure of a contact I52, which is connected in the operating circuit for the electromagnet I5I. Upon each setting of the permutation bars I44, the electromagnet I5I is energized, and the punch hammer I46 will be rocked clockwise to form a transverse row of perforations in thetape I53 corresponding to the permuted setting of the punch interponents I41.

Briefly, the keyboard apparatus as shown in Fig. 2 comprises a housing I3I with which is associated a perforator mechanism indicated generally as I32, and a transmitter mechanism indicated generally as I33. Supported in said housing on bearings I34 and I35 is a key lever pivot rod I36, on which are pivotally supported at their rear extremities key levers I 31, which at their forward ends are provided with keytops I40, as indicated in Fig. 1. Arranged below the key levers I31 and disposed transversely thereof are a plurality of pairs of code bars I 38. Each pair of code bars I38 is supported at each end on a T-shaped lever I39. Each horizontal arm of the T-lever I39 is provided with a lug II, the lugs ll of each T-lever I39 being oppositely directed so that each lug I4I supports a code bar of each pair. T-levers I39 are rockable about pivots I42. The bars of each pair of code bars I38 are complemen tary; that, is to say, each bar is coded oppositely to its companion so that the high portions of one bar are opposite the low portions I 43 of its Also, for each operation of the punch hammer I46 and the punches I45, a row of feed holes, adapted to be engaged by the pin teeth of a feed wheel I54, is perforated in the tape. The feed wheel I54 is mounted on a shaft to which there is also secured a ratchet wheel I55 which is adapted to be engaged by the pawl I56 secured to v the end of the punch hammer I 46. The spring I51 secured to the pawl I56 serves to restore the pawl and the hammer I46 to their normal or unactuated position upon the de-energization of the electromagnet I5I When the electromagnet I 5| is energized in response to the closure of contact I52 connected in its energizing circuit, the pawl I56 will be moved vertically against the tension of spring I51 to cause its Operating portion to engage the next succeeding tooth of, the

companion bar. The connection between the code bars I38 of each pair is such that the simulratchet wheel I55. Upon the de-energization of the electromagnet I5I,'the spring I51 is effective to cause the pawl I56 to move downwardly and thus effect the rotation of the ratchet wheel I55, and the corresponding rotation of the feed wheel. I54 to advance the tape I53 to bring an unperforated area thereof in alignment with the punches I45.

The form of the invention in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 may have associated therewitha transmitting mechanism I33, in which event the permutation bars' I44 are each provided with a forked member I53 (Fig. 2).- Articulated tofl member I58 is a depending arm of alocking latch I59 pivoted ona common shaft IIiI. .In thismanner, locking latches I59 are articulated to thepermutation bars I44 and are adapted to be rocked about pivot shaft I6I to either of two positions. Associated with latches I59 is a corresponding series of contact levers I62 for making and breaking individual contacts I63. Contact levers I62 co-operate with individual contact cams on cam drum I64 mounted on the transmitting shaft I65, which is provided with a clutch M depression of a key lever I 31 moves the bars I39 permutably in accordance with a predetermined code combination, the setting of which, through permutation bars I44, determines the positions of the locking latches I59. The rotation of cam drum I64 is initiated substantially simultaneously with the setting of the locking latches I59 through the instrumentality of trip member I61 which releases the clutch I66 for rotation, and a locking loop I12, controlled by a cam I13 carried on the cam assembly I64, is permitted to rotate in counterclockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 2) to lock the latches I59 in their selected positions. The setting of latches I59 determines whether the contact levers I62 shall or shall not respond to their associated cams on cam drums I64 to transmit, through contact I63, over a signal line to the receiving station, a predetermined code combination of signaling impulses. Incidentally, as is the usual practice, the receiving magnet I! (Fig. I) is included in the line circuit so that the printer of the home receiver will operate in response to the transmitted signals. The respective notches in the cams on cam drum I64 are.

arranged in a helical progression so that upon the rotation of the cam assembly I64, the contacts I63 controlled by levers I62 will be operated successively. The apparatus herein disclosed is operated in accordance with an equal length letter code, fir which each code combination is a permutation of marking and spacing conditions and is preceded by a start impulse and followed by a stop impulse according to the familiar startstop system.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is of course understood that such disclosure is merely illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the invention, and all variations coming within the range of equivalency of the appended claims are deemed to be embraced within the purview of the appended claims- What is claimed is:

1. In a recorder, a recording mechanism comprising a set of recording instrumentalities, a shift shaft. a platen carrier normally operable within a restricted zone subjacent certain of said instrumentalities, a platen removably inserted in said carrier, said platen normally rendered inaccessible by said certain of said instrumentalities, means for yieldably retaining said carrier on said shaft for operation in said zone, case shift mechanism for altering the positionment of said carrier within said zone, and means to render said carrier movable manually from its restricted zone of operationagainst the action of said retaining means independently of said case shift mechanism to facilitate the accessibility of said platen. I

2. In a recorder, recording mechanism comprising a. set of recording instrumentalities, a shift shaft, 9. platen carrier slidably mounted on said shaft and normally operative in unison therewith within a predetermined zone of effectiveness subjacent certain of said instrumentalities, a platen removably inserted in said carrier, said platen normally rendered inaccessible by said certain of said instrumentalities, case shift mechanism for altering, through said shaft, the positionment of said carrier within said zone. and means to facilitate the positionment of said carrier outside said zone independently of said case shift mechanism to render said platen accessible.

3. In a recorder, a recording mechanism comprising a set of recording instrumentalities, a spring-loaded shift shaft, a spring-loaded platen carrier mounted on said shaft and normally movable therewith within a restricted zone subiacent certain of said instrumentalities, a platen removably inserted in said carrier, said platen normally rendered inaccessible by said certain of said instrumentalities, case shift mechanism effective to load said shift shaft, and means operative to position said carrier outside said restricted zone independently of said case shift mechanism to facilitate the accessibility of said platen.

4. In a recorder, a recording mechanism comprising a set of recording instrumentalities, a spring-loaded shift shaft, case shift mechanism effective to load and release said shaft for case shift operations, a spring-loaded platen carrier mounted on said shaft and normally movable therewith'within a restricted zone subjacent certain of said instrumentalities, a platen removably inserted in said carrier, said platen normally rendered inaccessible by said certain of said instrumentalities, and means operative to position said carrier outside said restricted zone independently of said case shift mechanism to facilitate the accessibility of said platen.

CARL W. SWAN.

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