US2331914A - Telegraph transmitting system - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19, 1943. s, JANISZEWSKI TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING. SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG. 3

AT ORNEY Oct. 19, 1943. s. JANISZEWSKI TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SYSTEM 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1941 ndl INVENTOR.

I STEPHEN JANISZEWSKI BY 3 M M% ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 1943. s. JANISZEWSKI TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SYSTEM 3 Sh'ets-Sheet 5 Filed April 18, 1941 FIG.6

fem/amine REPERFOIMTOR l-l'iE INVENTOR. STEPHEN JANISZEWSKI FIG. 8

ATTORNET.

Patented on. 19, 1943 Stephen ilaniszewski; Chicago, 111., assi'gnor it!) Teletype Corporation, Chicago, flit, acorpnra- :tion-ofDelaware 7,

Application Apri -is, 1941, serial o.:as9;1-41 -13lClaims. (curs-em).

This invention pertains to printing telegraph systems and apparatus and more particularly" to transmittingdistributors and control iar-' rangements therefor.

The primary object of the invention is-tofp ro vide a selector system to control transmission to a single channel of communication from .a group of transmitters.

Another object is to provide a countingchain selector system for controlling the automatic and sequential transmission of messages-fromva plurality of tape transmitters to a single .chan nel of communication. I

Another object of the invention is to,provide a telegraph system wherein a plurality" of prog ress switches are employed for facilitating the I transmission of messages to a single channel of communication automatically and sequentially,

from a plurality of tape transmitters. v g

A further objectzof the invention is to provide a record reader comprising means for sensing indicia in a record strip, control means, and means effective under certain predetermined conditions of operation of said sensing=means to operate said control means momentarily.

To iacilitatethe cross office handlingaofrmessages, particularly in commercial telegraph gotfices, this invention provides .a -:se1ector.=system;

and apparatus which will'permit sequential ;a11-- tomatic transmission of-messages to a single outgoing channel of communication 'frorn' individualtransmitting units of a numberof groups :or banks of units distributed about the ofiice'. That is, one ormore units of each group of unitsmay be connected to the same outgoing line, and the selector system according to the present inven tion controls the sequence in whichthetransmission from these units takes place. Theindividual units may be connected either direct ly to an outgoing line, or to a reperforatorlo'cate ed adjacent to a transmitter connected to an outgoing line and common to a plurality of. said J units. The individual transmitter unit identi fled with a particular'channel of communication may or maynot bein thesame bank.

A more complete understanding of the foregoing and other objects of the present invention may be had from the following description'when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is aperspective view'of atapeiitransmitter employed 'with'the system according'to thepresent invention, parts being *broken away to show otherelements more clearly Fig. *2 .is a vertical sectional view cif'the trans-i mitter shown-men. .1 Showin the manne .q 'i. cooperation between the tape sensing I means and the cam distributor; I

C .Fig. ,3.is a further1ciossesecticnal .view bfwthie transmittershowninFig.1; Q .Fig. ,4 .is'. a sectional view showing the jcafil means for causing .theLse'nsing .pins to sense'iihfl" tape periodicallyg I Fig. 5 is a. diagram-. oflth'e circuit arrangement? o'foneiorm of thepresentinvention;

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the circuit arrangement.

in accordance with a modified. form. ofthe} pres ent invention; 1 f v :51

Fig. 7 is-a schemati plan view of.a.loank.of

transmitters mounted on .a-common base drivenxbyacommommotor;.and T Fig. 8 is a schematic .representation 10f a:

of transmitting contacts.

The tape transmitter sillustrated I which is employed in the (arrangement accord ing to the present invention, -is of the i-orm; ,d-is--; closed -in copending application Serial N0 345,456, filed July .15, 1340, \by M. 'lf fioetzwto which reference maybe had ;for .a -,detailed;.-de

scriptionthereoft Referring -;to Fig. l, .the tape;

transmitter l-I :comprises -a=base ,-;plate L2 10h which are.mountedsupports m, IA, J5, and ifi for a top plate i1. Thezmechanismtcontained between baseplate l2 and top plateJ-l comprises tape :sensing instrument-antics and transmitting contacts :with1cams ffor their control, said .coina.

trcil being determined egby rthe :cooperation the: tween the sensing levers 'and 'J'the perforated tape. For the purposes of the present invention the tapetrans'mitterl lwillhe described-briefly. Journaled in-supports*F3and I-4 iS-ashaft P8 on' which are mounted a start stop cam T9; a: se-

ries of transmitting ;cams"-2 l a-tape sensin'g cam 2'2 and a tape feeding *cam 2 3. cam '1-9 "is the start-stop cam and cont-roi's'the --tra'ns'mission-6f the start and the "stopimpulses tdfthe start-jstclip permutation codeJsignai-S, transmission of which 1' l the device of;the present invention'is adaptedto control. Each off'th'e cams 21 isproviiiedwit notch ".24 (Fig. :2), and these notches are-a ranged successively around shaft .I'Bi'na helical manner such that upon" rotation *of the, cam as sembly, a .corresponding.series' of jcoritactsflZSl are operated sequentially lto ,effect thejtransmise ff sion of permutation. code;s'ignalsi ,a wellrknowh manner.

,ilnterpjosed betweeaeacneani :21 engage-ea ciated contacts 25 is a bell'cr'ank'lever zsinounted freely on a' shaft 21. The vertical arm of each of the levers 26 terminatesiin a goose-neck portion which controls the opening and closing of the associated contacts 25. Th horizontal arm of each of the levers 26 i provided with a cam lug or follower 23 which cooperates with the notch 24 of its associated cam 2| to close the contacts 25 momentarily and at the proper instant in the code cycle. In blocking relation with the free end of the horizontal arm of each of the bell crank levers 26 is the depending arm of a bell crank lever 29 pivotally supported on a shaft 3| mounted in the supports l3 and I4.

under the influence of its individual spring 32.

It should be noted that there is no bell crank lever 29 associated with the start-stop cam I9, and hence its associated contact 25. is invariably opened and closed for each cycle of rotation of the cam assembly on shaft 18. As is well known over the cam follower 28so that the contacts 25 associated therewith remain closed owing to the resiliency of the contact spring 33 of th pair Each of the levers 29 tends to rotate clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 2)

thereto will be blocked, and no rotation of gooseneck lever 26 for closing of contact identified therewith will occur.

The tape stepping cam 23 (Fig. 3) cyclically operates a tape stepping lever 43, and through a pawl 44 rotates a tape stepping ratchet 33 fixed to a shaft 40, to which is also fixed a tape feed roller 50 (Fig. 2) provided With tape feed pins 60 which cooperate with the tape feed perforations in the tape 35, to advance the tape in well-known manner.

As described in the copending application Serial No. 345,456, the shaft l8 and cams thereon' are rotated through the instrumentality of a P grab clutch (not shown) under the control of a clutch throw-out lever 45 which is controlled by an electromagnet 46, so that when the electromagnet 45 is energized (as will hereinafter apmotor 46 (Fig. 7).

of contacts 25. This condition is illustrated diaby a record reader comprising a group of senslng pins 35, each of which is carried on the horizontal arm of individual-bell crank levers 29. The bell crank levers 29, which will hereinafter be referred to as the tape sensing levers, are normally held in their counterclockwise position, as shown in Fig.2, by means of a bail 31 adjustably secured to a lever 38 (Fig. 4) by a slot and screw adjustment, indicated by the numeral 39. Lever 38 carries a cam follower roller 4| which cooperates with the cam 22' so that upon each rotation of cam 22 the lever 38 is actuated against the action of a spring 42. Theangular position of cam notch in cam 22 is so related to the notches 24 of the transmitting cam 2| that the bail3l is timed to rotate clockwise, permitting springs 32 to cause the tape sensing levers 29 to bring their sensing pins 35 into contact with the tape 35 in sufficient time so that the tape may be sensed and the blocking portions of levers 29 set correspondingly to allow control of contacts 25 by the goose-neck levers 25 in accordance with the code perforated in thetape 35.

In other words, when the bail 31 is operated clockwise to permit the sensing levers 28 to sense the tape 35, those levers 29 whose pins 36 have found a perforation in the tape 35 will be rotated clockwise by their springs 32, to swing their d pending arm out of blocking relation with the horizontal arm of the associated gooseneck levers 26, so that when the projections 28 thereof ride on the peripheriesjof their associated cams 2|; and register with a notch 24, the gooseneck lever 26 associated therewith will be rotated clock wlse by the action of contact spring 33, thereby permitting the associated contact 25 to close. On the other hand, if no perforation is found by the pin 36, the gooseneck lever. 26 corresponding pear) the lever 45 will be rotated clockwise against the action of its spring 41 to release the upper end of lever 45 from the driven portion of the grab clutch, thus causing rotation of the cams assembled on shaft l8. Constant rotation is imparted to the driving portion of the clutch through a train of gears in each unit H, by a As is shown in Fig. '7, the motor'48 is common to a bank or plurality of transmitting units I, such as shown in Fig. 1, the motor 48 and the series of transmitting units I! being mounted on a common base member 49.

A contact 5| (Fig. 3) is provided in the energizing circuit for thejmagnet 46 and a mechanism, as set forth in the afore-mentioned copending application, is efiective automatically when the end of the tape 35 is reached and stepped past the sensing pins 36 to open the contact 5! to suspend't'ransmission. e

The present invention provides for momentarily opening contact5l automatically, independently of the tape-out lever 6|. To achieve this result, the lever 52 (comparable to lever I04, Fig. 5, of the copending application Serial No. 345,456) is held in its clockwise position (Fig. 1) out of latching relation with arm 53 of lever 54 by a screw 55 which'is adjustably positionable in a slot 56 in plate 51, the said screw 55 being adjusted to its lowermost position in slot 56 to depress the horizontal arm of lever 52 and hold it against the action of a'spring 58. Thus lever 52, which normally latches with lever 53 to maintain contact 5| open when the tape has beendepleted, is here "the ends of the series of code hole sensing levers "to rotate lever 5| in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2)

shown out ofthe path of lever 53. in order to illustrate a. feature of the present invention whereby contact 5| is momentarily opened under certain conditions as hereinafter explained.

The horizontal arm of the tape sensing levers 29 are provided with enlarged ends so that 2. laterally extending portion 55 (Figs. 1 and 2) at the extremity of the vertical arm of a three-armed lever 6|, pivoted at 62, will cooperate only with 29, and not with the special lever 63 (comparable to lever B of the afore-mentioned copending application). Lever- 6| is also provided with an .arm 64 which cooperates with a notch 24 in the No. 1 impulse oath of the series of transmitting so that the laterally disposed extremity of arm 64 constantlyrides on the, periphery of the No. 1 impulse'cani ofthe series of cams 2|. In this .manner, lever-5|, through its bail portion. 59, is

ass 1 ,91;

adapted to sense the ends of th tape sensing levers 29 once during each revolution of cam 2| when the end of arm 64 tends to fall into notch 24. The end of arm 64 can fall fully into notch 24 only when an all rnarkingi condition (p'er'fora tions in all sensing positions in a transverse row) occurs in the tape 35,. the sensing of which by pins 36 permits all levers 29 to rotate counterclockwise under the action of their springs 32 to cause the ends of the horizontal. arms of said levers 29 to clear the bail portion 59 of lever SI, whereupon lever BI responds fully to thepull of its spring 69 so that the end 68 of arm 6'! strikes against arm 53 of lever 5'4, causing lever 54 to rotate counterclockwise to open its associated contact 5|; Lever 6| remains in the fully selected clockwise position only fora short interval (corresponding to the transmission time of one impulse), and is restored to its initial position before the end of the same cycle in which its selection by a letters (all-marking) combination occurred. Lever 61 will remain in. its countere clockwise position until another all-marking code combination is sensed in the tape 35.

As previously mentioned; a bank or group of transmitters II is shown in Fig. 7 to be mounted on a common base 49 together with a motor 48. The plurality of transmitters II are shown connected in series for the preparation of a master tape made up of perforated messages from sections of tape inserted in separate ones of the transmitters I I from which the signals are transmitted in sequence under the control of the inserted tape. A circuit for controlling the sequential transmission from the series of transmitters I l is shown in Fig. 5

The transmitter distributors are designated as I la, IIb, and II'c, in Fig. 5, and have their startstop contacts 34 connected in series from positive source of current over interconnecting conductors I! and 12. The transmitting contacts of unit no are connected over. a conductor I3 to the winding of a line control relay I4, and from thence over a conductor 75 to a set of transmitting contacts I6 located in an automatic tape feed-out unit 1?. Thee-ending contacts F6 are connected over a conductor I8 to th winding of reperforator magnets 79 and from thence to ground. 7 j a p p The transmitters IIa, IIb,I I c (Fig. 5') are each provided with a start or clutch magnet 46 and a pair of contacts 5| and 8i, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, contact 5! (Fig. 3) is controlled by contact lever 54 which as described in the aforementioned copending application, Serial No. M53156 is adapted, upon absence of tape, to be held open by latch lever 52 (comparable tolatch lever I M of said copending application). As also describedin said cope nding application, contact SI (Fig. l) is adapted to be held open manually, through the instrumentality of depr'essible member 82 and cam lug 83, to facilitate the insertion of a n w strip of tape- In Fig. 5 the contact-s51 are indicated as open, and contacts SI are shown as closed. Now, when a strip of tape is to be inserted in a transmitting unit II, the lever 32 is depressed manually, which acts not only to -untacts 34 in the units I Ia, III), and Ilc, throughv conductors II and I2-, over conductor I3; through tne'windnfig of line jeontroi relay 74, then over conductor I5, through transmitting contact IF'o'f thetape-out unit 11, then over conductor 18 and throu h the winding or r'ep'errorator ma -net 1-9 to ground. "Over this circuit, the line control re my 14 remains energized; tnererore rrraiht'ainihg its contact closed. The sequence relays 86, 8-15 and 8-8:, the control relays 91-, 9-2. and ea -and the sequence release rela '94 are de energ ize'd si'nce rela 95 is normally energized. The sequence start relay 95 is maintained energized by a circuit extending from positive battery, through the winding or relay as, over conductor 95 through contact at of control relayor, over onductor 98 throughcontact 99 'of'c'ontrol relay -92, over con: doctor list, thence through contact l nz'or cootroi relay 9 3; to ground. While the sequence star-the"- l'ay 95=is thus energized, it's contacts i93 anu: open and its contact me is closed.- The effect or the opemng-anoo osing or the contacts 1 04- and me upon the tape feedmu't unit 'II' will be do scribed hereihafter. i a l Assuming that tape hasbeeh-ins'erted in trans-'- mitter Me of Fig. 5, both of the contacts 5| 7 and 81 are closed, whereby a circuit will be completed from ground-through contact 51} (now closed) contact S I, thence over conductor and through winding of control relay 9| to positive source or current. The energization of control relay 9| will cause its contacts 91 and I06 '60 open. The opening of contact 91 due to the readiness of transmitter unit I 10' for transmission, Will break the energizing circuit for the sequence startrelay 95, which u on tie-energize;- tion will close-'its'contacts Hi3 It)! and open its contact H35. The closing of contact 'mswnr complete an energizing circuit for sequence relay 86 from positive source of current, through con: tact 85 '0f line control relay I4, through contact I03, through the winding of sequence relay 86, then over conductor I01 and through contact I98 of sequence release relay 94 to ground; "Ilie" energization of sequence relay 86 wi-ll causethe closure of its contacts III, H2, and H3. The closure of contact III completes a lockingfir cuit' for the sequence relay 86 from a positive source ofcurrent, through 'contact"I II thence:

through the winding of sequence relay 86-, over' conductor I-Bi and through contact l'fifi'to' gr'ound-i Contact I12; when thus closed upon the 'e'nerconductor H8, then'c'e through the winding of magnet 46 and through the closed cont'actsBI and 5! to ground. The vibrating of the armature of line relay M will have no effect upon the sequence relay 86 since the latter relay is locked up over a circuit through its contact III.

The transmission of signals through the tape distributor IIc will proceed until the supply oftape therein is exhausted. In the meantime, however, while such transmission proceeds, tape may be inserted, in either of the units I'la or III), the effect of which is as follows: Assuming that tape ispnow inserted in unit IIb, the manu'-'-- ally depressible lever 82 thereat will be operated to efiect the closing of contacts SI and 8| therein in the manner previously described in connection with unit No. The closure of contacts 5| and 8| of unit III) will complete an energizing circuit for the control relay 92 from ground, through contacts 5| and 8| of unit I lb, over conductor II9, then through the winding of relay 92 to positive source of current.

Similarly, if the manually depressible lever 82 of unit II a is operated to permit the insertion of tape therein, contacts 5I'and 8| thereat will be closed to complete a circuit from ground to said contacts 5| and 8|, over conductor I2I, then through the winding of control relay 93 to positive battery. Transmission under the control of unit III) will not take place until the tape in unit He has been exhausted, at which time the energizing circuit for the control relay 9| will be broken by the opening of contact 5| of unit No, through the instrumentality of the tape-out pin therein. 'Ihede-energization of control relay 9| will cause contacts 91 and I08 to close, and a circuit for the squence relay 81 will be completed from positive battery, through, contacts H2 and I06, through the winding of sequence relay 81, thenover conductor I01 and through contact I08 to ground. The energization of sequence relay 81 will effect the closure of contacts I22, I23, and I24. The closing of contact I24 will complete a locking circuit for relay 81 from battery, through contact I24, winding of relay 81, conductor I91, then through contact I08 to ground. It is noted that at this time both of the sequence relays 86 and 81 are locked up. The closure of contacts I22 will cause an energizing circuit for.

clutch trip magnet 46 of unit I Ib to be completed from positive battery, through contact II4, over conductor US, through contact I22, over conductor I25, through the winding of clutch trip magnet 46 of unit IIb, thence through contacts 8| and 5| to ground. Transmission from the transmitting unit III) will proceed over conductors 12 and 13 to the line relay 14, over conductor 15, through contact 19, over conductor 18, then through the reperforator magnet 19 to ground.

,When the transmission from unit IIb is completed, as would be indicatedby a tape-out condition, transmission will automatically begin from unit IIa because the depletion of tape in unit No will cause contact 5| thereat to open, thus breaking the energizing circuit for control relay 92, and causing its contact I26 to close. This completes an energizing circuit for sequence relay 88 from battery, through contacts I23 and I28,

thence through the winding-of sequence relay.88,

'over conductor I91 and through contact I08 to ground. Sequence relay 88, upon energization, will close its contacts I21, I28, and I29. The closing of contact I29 completes a locking circuit forv the'sequence relay 88 over conductor I01 and through contact I88 to ground.

The closing of contact 528 prepares an energizing circuit for the sequence release relay 94, which will be completed when the control relay 93 becomes ole-energized in response to the depletion of tape supply in transmitting unit .I Ia, in which event, contact 5i therein will open, thus breaking the circuit for control relay 93. Upon the de-energization of relay 93 its contact I3I will close, thus completing a circuit for relay 94 from positive battery, through contacts 528 and I3I, and through the winding of relay94l to ground. The energization of sequence release relay 94 will cause its contact I98 to open, thereby breaking the locking circuits for the sequence relays 86, 81, and 88. The de-energization of the control relays 9|, 92, and 93 will effect the closure of their respective contacts 91, 99, and I02 to cause the energization of relay over its previously described energizing circuit.

The present invention provides for the spacing out of a predetermined length of tape from the reperforator (exemplified by magnets 19) to insure the transmission of the last code combination to the signal line. This result is achieved by the tape feed-out-unit 11, which is effective automatically upon tape depletion from all of the transmitting units Ila, IIb, and I I0, because when this condition arises the sequence release relay 94 is energized and the control relays 9|, 92, and 93 are de-energized to cause their contacts 91, 99, and I02, respectively, to close to complete the energizing circuit for the sequence start relay 95. It is necessary to note at this point that when the relay 95 was ole-energized upon the commencement of transmission from units IIa, IIb, and/or 1 I c, dueto the opening of contacts 91, 99, and/or I02by their respective control relays, the contact I04 was closed, and an energizing circuit for a blank release relay I32 was completed from positive source of current, through the winding of relay I32, through contact I33, and then through contact I04 to ground. Contact I33 is one of a pairof make before break contacts I33 and I34, and upon the energization of relay I32 its armature is attracted to close the contact I34 before the contact I 33 is opened to complete a locking circuit for relay I32 from positive battery through the winding of relay I32,

' then through contacts I34 and I35 to ground.

Contact I35 is a normally closed contact located in the tape feed-out unit and is opened by a timing device I38 and I39 of the screw and follower type. Moreover, upon the energization of relay I32, its contact I36 is also closed to prepare an operating circuit for clutch trip magnet I31, from battery, through winding of magnet I31, through contact I36 (now closed), then to ground contact I05 (now open). In this manner the tape feed-outunit 11 is prepared for operation upon cessation of transmission from units Ila, IIb, and/or IIc.

If no tape has been inserted in the transmitting units II a, IIb, and He, their control relays 9|, 92, and 93, respectively, remain de-energized and hence contacts 91, 99, and I02 remain closed to complete the previously traced energizing circuit for the sequence start relay 95. It is noted that the sequence start relay 95 is of the slow acting typeso that at the instant that all of the control relays 9|, 92, and 93 become de-energized, the energization of the sequence release relay 94 will be completed before the sequence start relay 95 pulls up its armatures. This is to allow the reperforator exemplified by magnets 19 to feed out a predetermined length of tape upon cessationoftransmission. The circuit for the release relay I32 was completed and locked up so that its contact I38 was closed to prepare an energizing circuit for the clutch trip magnet I31 of the tape feed out unit 11. When the sequence start relay 95 again becomes energized it closes its contact I05 to complete the operating circuit for the clutch trip magnet I31 of the tape feed-out unit 11 from battery, through the winding of magnet I31'then through contacts I36 and I05 to ground. When this occurs, the transmitting cam shaft (which is of the type shown in Fig. 1) associated with contacts 16 is caused to rotate continuously, and the follower I38 is caused through appropriate mechanism (not shown), to be engaged with its Worm I39 and caused by .said worm to travel .therealong until it strikes the contact spring I40 and opens contact I35. The opening of contacts I35 breaks the energizing circuit for the magnet I32 which causes its contacts. I34 and I36 to open. The opening of contacts I36 will break the energizing circuit for the clutch trip magnet I 37 of the tape feed-out unit I'I, thus stopping rotation of the contact cam assembly and also disengaging. the follower I38 from the screw I36, and permitting contact I35 to close. However, due to the opening of contact I64, the contact I35 will have no effect upon the energization of the relay I32. The de-energization of relay I32 causes the closing of contact I33 to prepare an energizing circuit for said relay through contacts I33 and I04, contact I64 being open at this time due to the energization of the sequence start relay 95.

The feeding out of tape by the tape feed-out unit 'I'I may be interrupted at any time during this feed-out operation by the insertion of tape in any one of the units IIa, IIb, and Ho. The insertion of tape in said units will cause the energization of their respective control relay 9|, 92, or 93 to break the energizing circuit for the sequence startrelay 95 by opening any one of the contacts 91, 99, or I02. The de-energization ofthe sequence start relay 95 in this manner causes the closure of its contact I63 to complete a circuit for the sequence relays in the manner previously described. While the system is shown in Fig. to control only three transmitter units I I a, I II), and No, it is, of course, understood that the system of the present invention can be expanded to control additional transmitters by adding a sequence relay and a control relay for each transmitter.

Modification A modified control circuit is shown in Fig. 6 and is predicated on the use of progress or stepby-step switches instead of sequence relays. In this form of the invention the tape transmitter units are indicated as IId, He, and II and as previously mentioned, each one of these units contains a set of transmitting contacts compris ing a start-stop contact 34, a clutch trip magnet 46, and a pair of contacts 5| and 8| associated with the tape-out feature and the manually depressible lever, respectively.

The selection of the transmitters Hit, Me, and III for operation is accomplished in a prede termined sequence through the instrumentality of a two-gang progress switch I4 I The signal circuits of the transmitters IId, He, and IIf are connected to one section|42 of the switch MI, and the control circuits are connected to the other section I43. The progress switch MI is provided with a shaft I44, indicated diagrammatically, which carries thereon a pair of seeker arms I45 and I46 fixed to said shaft. Section I42 of progress switch I4! is provided'with a plurality of contacts I 5|, I52, and I53 connected to transmitter units IId, He, and II respectively. Moreover, section I43 is provided with a corresponding plurality of contacts I6I, I52, and I63 also connected to the units IId, He, and II in the same order. It is, of course, understood 'that any predeterminednumber of units II may be employed, and a corresponding number of contacts I5I-I53 and I6I-I63 will be provided.

Progress switch MI is operated in a step-byoperated), then over conductor II4, through con,-v

step manner through stepping mechanism (not shown) actuated by a stepping magnet I 64 under the control of a selector switch relay I65. When the relay |65'is de-energized, a circuit for magnet I164 is'completed from battery, through contact I66 of relay I65, through the winding of magnet I64, thence through contact I6'I of magnet I64 to ground. It is apparent that the circuit just traced constitutes a buzzer circuit for the stepping magnet I64 so long as relay I65 is de-ener-' gized, due to the making and breaking ofcon'tact I67. It is contemplated that some sort of pawl and ratchet stepping means will be associated with magnet I64 to impart rotation to shaft I44,- andhence to arms I45 and I46; With no tape inserted in any of the transmitters II'd, 'Iley-or IIf, the relay I65 wil1 remain de-energ'ized to maintain the buzzer circuit for'magnet I64 er fective.

- Assuming that tape is inserted in transmitter I Id, the contacts 5| and 8Iywi1l be closed topre pare a circuit for energizing the relay I65, which circuit will becompleted (when seek-er arm I746 engages contact I6I) from ground, overconductors I68 and I69, through the winding of clutch trip magnet 46 of transmitter.v I I d, th;en through contacts 5| and 8| (now. closed), over conductor "I, through contact I-6I, over seeker arm M6, through the winding of relay I65, and through the winding of slow-to-release relay I'I2 (to be' hereinafter referred to more specifically) to battery. Relay I65 will become energized, and will attract its armature to open contact I66 to arrest the operation of the stepping mechanism.

-The energization of clutchtrip magnet 46..wi'l1 initiate the operation of the transmitter IId to eiTect, through contacts 34 and 25, the transmission of code combinations of signaling impulses to a reperforator selector magnet I73 from ground, overconductor I68, through contacts 25 and 34 (as they are sequentiallyand permutably;

tact I5I, over seeker arm I45, over conductor I15, through contact I16 of the set of blank send ing contacts of the tape-feed-out unit II'I (here-a inafter described), over conductor I18; and through the winding of magnet II3 to battery.

In the meantime, while transmission is proceeding irom transmitter II d,-tape mayhave been inserted in either of the transmitters He or II or both, in which event other circuits for the energization of relay I65 will be prepared, to be completed automatically when the tape supply in transmitter IId is exhausted, whereupon contact 5| will be opened (in the manner previously described in connection withFigs. 1 to 3) and the circuit for relay I65 will be broken, thus permit-- ting contact I66 toclose to complete again the buzzer circuit for stepping magnet I64. The stepping operation will again proceed until the seeker,

arm I46 of the-control section or portion I43 of the progress switch |4I engagesa contact I62, I63 identified with a transmitter] Ie or I If, in which tape has been inserted. Since, it was assumed that tape was inserted in transmitterunit Me (which caused contact 5| to close), an

energizing circuit for relay I65will be completed from ground, over conductors I68, I82, and I19,

through the winding of clutch trip magnet '46.

of transmitter I I6, through c0ntacts5| and 8|- (now closed), overconductor I8I, through con-, tact I62, over seeker arm I46 (now positioned thereat), through the windings of relays I65 and I12 to battery, The buzzer circuit for stepping magnet I 64 will thereupon be held open, and the seeker arm'l46 will remain at contact I62 so long as there is tape in transmitter I Is. Transmission will thereupon ensue under the control of the tape in unit IIe, from ground, over conductors I68 and I82, through contacts 25 and 34, over conductor I83,'through contact I52, over seeker arm I45 (now engaging contact I52), over conductor I15, through contact I16, over conductor I18, and through the winding of reperforae tor selector magnet I13 to battery.

When the tape has become exhausted in transmitter I Ie, the progress switch I4I will be caused to operate, as previously described, to step, the seeker arms I45 and I46 around in search for a contact II-I53 and I6I-I63 associated with a prepared transmitting circuit.v If tape has been inserted in transmitter II 1, then the progress switch will stop at contacts I53 and I63, to effect transmission thereat. If tape has not been inserted in transmitter I If, but has again been inserted in transmitter IId, then the progress switch v I4I willcontinue to advance the seeker arms I45 and I46 until a preparedicircuit is found, which in this instance would be contacts I5I and I6I. I

Now, in the event that tape has not been in.-

serted in any of the transmitters I Id, He, and

IIf, means is provided for automatically feeding out a predetermined length of tape from the reperforator (exemplified by magnet I13), to insure that the last code combination perforated by the reperforator will be retransmitted. To achieve this result, the tape feed-out unit I11 is provided, which is operative under the control of the feed-out relay I12. Relay I12 is of the slow-release type and normally remains energiz ed during transmission from units IId, He, and IIf. However, if the progress switch I4I passes through three or more idle transmitter positions, the feed-out relay I12 will release (as shown) and close its contact I84. A relay I85 controls the effectiveness of the tape feed-out unit I11, and is deenergized while the transmitters Ild, He, and II 1 are idle, and the prede termined length of tape has been fed out of the unit I11, as will presently appear.

When tape is inserted in any of the transmitters I Id, I Ie, and l I Land the progress switch I stops at a contact I6I-'I63 associated with a ready transmitter, an energizing circuit will be completed for relays I65 and I12, as previously described, and the relays I65 and I12 will become energized. The energization of relay I65 acts to break the buzzer circuit for the-stepping magnet I64 of the progress switch I4I. At the same time, the energization of relay I12 causes armature I86 toswing from contact I84 to contactfl81. The closing of contact I81 completes an energizing circuit for relay I85, from ground through armature I86, contacts I81 and I88, and windingof relay I85 to battery. The energization of relay I85 causes armatures I89 and I8I to be attracted to close contacts I82 and I83, and to open contact I88. Therelay I85 becomes locked up over a locking'circuit extending from battery, through the winding of relay I85,"

through contact I93, over armature I8I and conductor I94, and through contact I85 to'ground. Contact I85 is normally closed, andis momentarily opened, as willpresently appear, by a follower arm I86 cooperating with a worm I91 of a screw and follower timing device. I

The closing of contact I92 prepares an energizing circuit for a clutch trip magnet I88 of the tape feed-out unit I11. So long as transmission is ensuing from transmitters (1, He, and Hi, this condition of the relays I12 and I85, and the feed-out unit I11 persists. However, if transmission ceases, due to the depletion of tape in the transmitters IId, He, and IIf, the energizing circuit'for relays I65 and I12 will be opened. The relay I12 is slow-to-release and hence, after the cessation of transmission for a predetermined interval, the tie-energization thereof permits its armature I 86 to open contact I81 and to close contact I84, to complete an energizing circuit for the clutch trip magnet I98, extending from ground, through armature I 86, contact I84, armature I88, contact I82 (now closed), over conductor I88, and through the winding of magnet I98 to battery. Upon the energization of magnet I88, a transmitting cam mechanism (not shown, but similar to that shown in Fig. l) is initiated into operation to effect the continuous cyclical operation of contacts I16 and MI, to transmit to the reperforator magnet I13 a plurality of blank code combinations of impulses. The number of blank code combinations so transmitted is predetermined by the cooperation of follower I86 and screw I81. Upon energization of magnet I98 the follower I86 is caused (through instrumentalities not shown) to en gage the screw I91 which is constantly rotating. The ,follower I96 travels along screw I81 until it strikes arm 282 of contact I95, thereby causing contact I to open to break the locking circuit for relay I85 (it being remembered that contact I93 is at this time closed and contact I88 is open). The cleenergization of relay I85 causes armatures I89 and I9l to be released to open contacts I92 and I93 and permit contact I88 to close. The opening of contact I92 breaks the energizing circuit for'magnet I88, which arrests .the transmitting cam distributor associated with contacts I16 and MI, and also lifts follower I86 out of engagement with screw I91, permitting the follower I96 to return to its initial position,

and the contactl to close. V

In this condition of the apparatus, the relays I65, I12, and I85 will remainde-energized, and the progress switch I4I will continue to operate, until tape is again inserted into one or more of the transmitters IId, He, or II). Upon the insertion of tape in any of said transmitters, the,

relays I65 and I12 will become energized when arm I46 engages one of the contacts "SI-I63 associated with a transmitter in the freadyf and II f, the relay I12 is again de-energized,'

thereby completing, through contacts I84 and I 82, theenergizing circuit for the clutch trip magnet I98 of the tape feed-out unit I11. While the system shown in Fig. 6 controls only three tape transmitters, it is understood that this system could be expanded to control additional transmitter units by utilizing additional segments on the progress switch I4I.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connecticn with certain specific; embodiments thereof, it is understood; that: such embodiments aremerely illustra-tiye and? not restricti-ve, and that all forms coming within the scope-of equivalency of the appended: claims, are intendedto be covered by the invention.

What is claimed. is:

1. In a tape transmitter,av plurality of; contacts, a correspondin plurality of contact operating levers, a series. of camsfor con-trolling theoperation of said levers successively, a series of tape sensing levers, each of said levers. having an. arm for blocking, under certain operatin conditions, said contact levers againstoperation, a control means, and an instrumentality cm operating with said sensing letters for actuating, in response. toa certain setting of said sensing levers, said control means momentarily; v

2. In a record reader, means for sensing indicia in a record strip, control means, cyclically rotatable cam means, a multiple armed lever comprising one arm cooperable with said sensing means, one arm cooperable with said cam means and one arm cooperable with said control means, and means efifective under certain predetermined conditions of operation of said sensing means to operate through the cooperation of said arms said control means momentarily.

3. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a tape controlled contact in each transmitter, 21, channel of communication, a starting circuit, a signal controlled relay connected in said channel to control the efiectiveness of said starting circuit, said circuit comprising a counting chain selector system having a control relay individual to each transmitter and rendered operative by the closing of its associated tape controlled contact, a sequence relay associated with each control relay, means controlled by said sequence relays to govern'the sequential operation of said tape transmitters, a sequence start relay, and means governed by each of said control relays for controllin the operation of said sequence start relay whereby said signal controlled relay initiates the counting chain selector system for facilitating under the control of said first recited means the automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication.

4. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, means including a counting chain selector system for facilitating automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication, and means effective automatically in response to tape depletion in all said transmitters to insure the completion of transmission of messages to said channel of communication.

5. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, means including a plurality of progress switches for facilitating automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication, and means effective automatically in response to tape depletion in all said transmitters to insure the completion of transmission of messages to said channel of communication.

6. In a telegraph system, a plurality of message tape transmitters, a blank transmitter, a signal storage device operated by signals from each of said transmitters for preparing a record tap amastertransmitterfor ceivin -tape fr s id, i nal stora e device for retransmission of me ages, nd means: r sponsive to. tap epletion in; all; of said message tape transmitters to feed tape from said tape signal storage device to; said master transmitter.

7. In a telegraph system; a plurality of tape transmitters, an auxiliary tapefeeding means; a single channel of communication, and means, responsive to the depletion of tape in all of said transmitters to operate said auxiliary tapefeeding means to insure the completion of transmission of a message to said channel of communication.

8. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, an auxiliary tape feeding means, a single channel of communication, means to sequentially operate said transmitters, means controlled by the depletion of tape in all of said transmitters to effect the operation of said auxiliary tape feeding means to insure the completion of transmission of a message to said channel of communication.

9. In a telegraph system, a plurality of transmitters, a single channel of communication, transmitting circuits for each of said transmitters, control circuits for each of said transmitters, means including a counting hain selector system for sequentially operating said transmitters, means associated with said counting chain selector system to respond to a closed condition of one of said transmitting circuits to initiate transmission, and means operable by tape depletion during transmission to effect the control of of the first mentioned control circuit to cease transmission of the particular unit transmitting.

10. In a telegraph system, a plurality of trans' mitters, a single channel of communication, transmitting circuits for each of said transmitters, control circuits for each of said transmitters, a plurality of rotary stepping switches, a circuit for controlling rotation of said stepping switches, said stepping switches being rotatable to close a transmitting circuit to operate its first mentioned control circuit to initiate transmission to said single channel of communication, means operable by the selection of said closed transmitting circuit to operate the controlling circuit of'said stepping switches to stop rotation of said stepping switches during transmission, and means responsive to the depletion of tape during transmission to control said first mentioned control circuit to stop transmission and to operate the controlling circuit of said stepping switches to permit rotation of said stepping switches. I

11. In a telegraph system, a plurality of message tape transmitters, a blank tape transmitter, a single channel of communication, transmitting circuits for each of said message tape transmitters, control circuits for each of said message tape transmitters, means including a counting chain selector system for sequentially operating said transmitters, means associated with said countin chain selector system to'respond to a closed condition of one of said transmitting circuits to initiate transmission, means operable by tape depletion during transmission to effect the control of the first mentioned controlling circuit to stop transmission of the particular unit transmitting, and means responsive to the depletion of tape in all of said transmitters to operate said blank tape transmitter to insure the completion of the messages to said channel of communication.

12. In a telegraph system, a plurality of message tape transmitters, a blank tape transmitter, a single channel of communication, transmitting circuits for each of said transmitters, control circuits for each of said transmitters, a plurality of rotary stepping switches, a circuit for controlling rotation of said stepping switches, said stepping switches being rotatable to select a closed transmitting circuit to operate its first mentioned control circuit to initiate tape transmission to said single channel of communication, means operable by the selection of said closed transmitting circuit to operate the control circuit of said stepping switches to stop rotation of said stepping switches during transmission, and means responsive to the depletionof tape during transmission to control said first mentioned control circuit to stop transmission of the particular unit transmitting, and to operate the controlling circuit of said stepping switches to permit rotation of said stepping switches, and means responsive to tape depletion in all of said message tape transmitters to effect the operation of said blank tape transmitter to thereby insure the transmission of a complete message to said single channel of communication.

13. In'a telegraph system, a plurality of message tape transmitters, a blank tape transmitter, a reperforator operated by signals from each of said transmitters for preparing a record tape, a master transmitter for receiving tape from said reperforator for transmission, and means responsive to tape depletion in all of said message tape transmitters for operating said blank tape transmitters to feed tape from said reperforator to said master transmitter to insure the transmission of a complete message by said master transmitter.

STEPHEN JANISZEWSKI.

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