US2355657A - Printing telegraph apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug; 15, 1944. R. A. LAKE PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1941 v: N: w:

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5N N: 5 v3 0mm 09 mvm INVENTOR. ROSSA.LAKE

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 15, 1944.

R. A. LAKE PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1941 ATTORNEY.

Afig. 15, 1944. R. A. LAKE PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS File d Sept. 20, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. R058 A. LAKE TI'ORNEY:

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Ross A. Lake, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation,,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1941, Serial No. 411,660 7 14 Claims.

This invention relates to printing telegraph apparatus and more particularly to signal record-- ing and repeating apparatus and switching mechanism controlled thereby.

An object of this invention is to provide telegraph apparatus which will receive and store telegraph signal combinations, record the characters represented thereby, and redistribute the signal combinations to other locations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitary machine including a signal responsive printer, a reperforator, a tape sensing device, and transmitting and switching mechanisms.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved strip controlled apparatus operable to render a switching mechanism selectively responsive to a control strip.

In communication systems, particularly those in which messages may originate in any of a number of substations to be transmitted to certain of the remaining substations, it is frequently the practice to transmit the message to a central ofiice for rerouting or retransmission to the desired substation. In such a system, the message is generally stored as it is received, preferably in a record tape, until the necessary retransmission channels are selected and conditioned. The retransmission channels are generally conditioned manually through plugs and jacks or semi-automatically through relay circuits. After the message channels are established, the stored message is applied thereto and transmitted directly to the desired substation, if a through connection is available, or to a further central office for relaying tothe desired substation. At each message relaying point or central ofiice, there is provided a message receiving and storing mechanism, such as a reperforator, manually or relay operated switching mechanism for establishing message channels, and a message redistributor, such as a tape transmitter, adapted to be associated with the determined channels.

This invention features a telegraph apparatus which may be utilized in communication systems to facilitate and expedite message transmission between substations and which includes within one compact unit a printing reperforator, a transmitter and entirely automatic switching mechanism. Telegraph signal combinations received by this apparatus are recorded in a control tape and a sensing device senses the tape and conditions a retransmitting distributor in accordance with the received signal combinations to retransmit the message. The switching mechanism of this apparatus also operates under the control of th tape and the sensing device in response to switching signal combination received from the originating substation ahead 'of the message signal combinations to establish the necessary communication channels to direct the message to the desired substation.

This invention also features a device included in the telegraph apparatus to render the'switching mechanism selectively operable; that is, to enable the switching mechanism when switching signal combinations are being sensed by the sensing device, and to disable the switching mech anism when message signal combinations are being sensed.

Communication systems employing apparatus which embody features of this invention may operate rapidly and automatically to relay a message from an originating substation to the desired substation. For such automatic operation a series of switching signal combinations istransmitted from the originating substation to establish the necessary communication channels to the desired substation through the operation of the automatic switching mechanism. Thereafter, message signal combinations from the originating substation are directed over the established channels to the desired substations.

The apparatus for accomplishing the aboveenumerated objects of this invention includes a printing reperforator, a sensing or transmitting device, a transmitting distributor and an auto: matic switching device. Code signal combinations received by this apparatus condition the printing reperforator to store the received signal combinations and print the character represented thereby on a control strip. The printing reperforator includes a pre-punch unit to prepare feed holes in the strip and this pre-punch unit is operated concomitantly with the code perforating unit from a cam sleeve mechanically released for a single revolution by the printing unit operating bail in each cycle ofrotation of a selecting cam drum. The cam sleeve is adapted to be manually released, independently of the printer, for continuous rotation to feed a desired length of the tape or control strip through the operation of the feeding devices of the perforating units. The tape path through the reperforator is disposed at an angle to the code punches to enable the code punches to perform a shearing operating in perforating the tape. From the reperforator, the control strip passes into the sensing or transmitting device to control that device in accordance with received signal combinations stored in the tape.

contact operating lever of a cam type transmit-1 ting distributor and the code vanes when they have received a setting of the sensing device, es-

tablish the setting on the contacts of the distributor so that the signal is retransmitted by the distributor while the sensing device is performing the next succeeding sensing operation and through this arrangement signal overlap is provided. The code vanes condition automatic switching mechanisms as well as the transmitting distributor to perform switching functions responseto received switching signal combinations. 7 1 r The automatic switching mechanisms include a plurality of switching function levers having code notches which in response to the permutable setting of the code vanes permit selective operation of the switching mechanisms. In order to restrict the operation of the switching mechanisms to only those settings of the code vanes that represent a switching signal combination, a device comprising a plurality of control bars serves to hold the switching function levers normally nonresponsive to the settings of the code vanes. When a switching operation is to be performed, a predetermined sequence of signal combinations is set up in the code vanes by the control strip and this sequential conditioning of the code vanes is effective to operate the blocking device and render the switching function levers responsive to subsequent settings of the code levers. .After the desired switching functions have been accomplished, the control tape establishes a predetermined condition in the code vanes that restores the deviceinto blocking relation with respect to the switching function levers rendering them nonresponsive to the subsequent settings of the code vanes that relay the message signals over the determined communication channels through the agency of the transmitting distributor.

The sensing or transmitting device has a tape out pin that is operated cyclically with the code sensing pins to interrupt the operation of the transmitter at a predetermined point in message signaling, as determined by a special perforation in the tape, or when the tape supply is broken or exhausted. The transmitter is also equipped with a tape feed suppression device operable to arrest the tape feed through the transmitter so that a given signal combination may be transmitted several times in succession.

The pivoted transmitter is movable with the tape and when there is a predetermined length of tape intermediate the transmitter and reperforator a locking device, which serves to form this length of tape into a depending loop, locks the transmitter rendering it immovable with respect to the reperforator. Under the continuous operation of the transmitter, this length of tape will eventually be shortened and finally the tape will engage the locking device and move it out of transmitter to approach the reperforator to sense every code combination in the tape.

In the back-spacing operation of this apparatus, the transmitter is drawn by the tape toward the reperforator. A disabling lever carried on the pivoted transmitter engages and disables the back-spacing mechanism as the transmitter approaches abutting relationship with the reperforator so that further operations of the backspacing mechanism are ineffective on the tape. Disabling the back-spacing mechanism prevents operations after the transmitter has reached the limit of its travel.

engagement with the transmitter permitting the 75 Many features included in the disclosure of the present application are also disclosed in c0- pending applications Serial No. 411,665 filed September 20, 1941 by M. T. Goetz and Serial No. 412,829 filed September 29, 1941 by E. A. Gubisch. For a more complete understanding of the foregoing objects and features of this invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description which is to be interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of a portion of a telegraph apparatus embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; i v

, Fig. 3 is a view taken on section lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of the tape feed suppression mechanism of the transmitter;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the punch block;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on lines 1--'| of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the backspacing mechanism in the printing reperforator;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cognizance device;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the cognizance device; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of the transmitter control circuit.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawings embodies the several features of this invention and may be considered as including theffollowing principal units and associated driving mechanisms; a printing reperforator unit 16, a tape sensing unit I1, a transmitting distributor l8, and an automatic switching device I9, The several units are supported by a base casting 2|.

Printing reperforator The printing reperforator [6 included in the apparatus under consideration is substantially the same as that printing reperforator which is the subject of a copending application filed in the name of Ross A. Lake, Serial No. 274,796 filed May 20, 1939 and for a more complete understanding of the structure and mode of operation of this unit, reference maybe had to the aforementioned copending application which is incorporated herein by reference. Since the unit under consideration is substantially the same as that disclosed'in the above-identified copending application, the description of that mechanism to be set out hereinafter will be of a general nature and will be detailed only in the description of those features of the present unit which are different from features in the above-identified copending application.

A printing platen 22 is located in the front and central portion of the reperforator and an inking ribbon 23 is directed therover in well-known manner from ribbon supply reels 25 (only one of which is shown). A plurality of type bars 24, Fig. 4 (only one of which is illustrated), is positioned in an arcuate path about and to the rear of the printing platen 22 and are articulated to their supports in a manner to permit their striking forwardly and downwardly into cooperation with the platen to effect printing. A plurality of pull bars 26 (only one of which is shown) is assembled to the rear of the type bars 24 and is adapted to operate the type bars through a gear and rack connection (not shown). The .pull bars are normally urged against a series of notched code bars 21 which are semi-circular in shape and which may be conditioned in various permutable settings by means of a selector mechanism 28, Fig. 1, of the sword and. T-lever type, shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,745,633, to bring into alignment the notches on the code surfaces so that the pull bars may be individually selected for operation. A driving motor 29 carries on its shaft 3| a gear 32 which meshes with a gear 33 carried on the main shaft 34 of the reperforator to drive the reperforatingmechanisrn; a selecting cam sleeve (not shown) is rotatably supported upon shaft 34 and is adapted to be driven therefrom through a suitable friction or slip clutch.

A receiving magnet (not shown) is adapted to be conditioned in response to received line signals to release the friction clutch and cause the rotation of the selecting cam sleeve from driving shaft 34 in a manner set out in detail in the afore-mentioned patent. The cam sleeve is thereupon rotated at a speed substantially synchronous with the speed of the code impulsing so that the energization of the receiving magnet in response to marking and spacing code signals may be effective through the selector 28 to condition the individual code bars 21 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in accordance with a received code signal combination. The permutable setting of the code bars 21 results in the selection of one particular pull bar 26, de-

pending upon the alignment of the code notches in code bars 21, and with the selection thus determined the code bars are locked during the printing operation by means of a locking bar 36,

of the printing bail 31, Figs. 1 and 4, as it is raised and lowered. The printing bail 31 is suitably articulated to a bail operating plunger 38, Fig. '1, slidably mounted within a guide sleeve 39, and plunger 33 is controlled by means of a cam (not shown) on the main shaft 34. The precise operation of the printing mechanism including bail 31 from the main shaft 34 is set out in detail in said afore-mentioned patent.

When the bail 31 is in its lowermost position under the control of plunger 38, it cooperates with beveled surfaces 41, Fig. 4, on the plurality of pull bars 26 to hold the pull bars out of engagement with code bars 21 so that the code bars may be readily shifted in accordance with the operation of the selector mechanism 28 under the control of received code signal impulses. When the printing bail 31 is operated upwardly to perform the printing operation, the bars 26 and 36 due to their cam surfaces 4| are permitted to be actuated gradually toward the code bars 21 by their individual springs. Pull bars 26 are provided with a hook projection 42 which cooperates with the printing bail 31 when a pull bar is permitted by the alignment of notches in the code bars 21 to be operated by its biasing spring into the path of bail 31 which in its upward movement engages hook projection 42 to lift the pull bar, and through the rack and pinion engagement with the type bar causes the type bar to rotate about its pivot and bring the type face downwardly to impinge upon platen 22. The locking bar 36 is not provided with a hook portion since its function is merely to rock on its pivot into and out of locking engagement with code bar's121'under the control of bail 31 to retain the permutable setting of the code bars during the printing operation. 'For a more comprehensive and detailed description of the printing operation performed by the printing reperforator, reference may be had to the aforesaid Patent No. 1,745,633 which is specifically directed to a printing mechanism of the type incorporated in the printing reperforator unit.

For the purpose of controlling code punches in the reperforating operation to record the code combination in a tape as well as print the corresponding character on the tape, there is provided a plurality of bell cranks 46, Figs. 1 and 4, one associated with each code bar and pivotally supported upon a stud 41 which is mounted in a supporting plate 43 secured to the frame of the reperforating unit. Each of the bell cranks 46 is provided with a projecting finger 49 adapted to overlap the locking bar 36 and be operated thereby to position the bell cranks 46 in a counterclockwise direction as the bar 36 under the influence of bail 31 is cammed out of looking engagement with code bars 21 preparatory to conditioning the code bars in accordance with a received code signal combination. The bell cranks are biased in a clockwise direction and each is provided with a shoulder portion 5| which performs a sensing operation on the associated code bars 21 when looking bar 36 under the con.- trol of bail 31 is moved into the locking notch 35 releasing the bell cranks to respond to their clockwise bias. If a code bar is in its counterclockwise position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the shoulder portion 5| of the associated bell crank 46 will be clear of the code bar and when locking bar 36 responds to the bail 31 and enters locking notch 35 as shown, the bell crank 46 will be permitted to assume its clockwise position. However, in the event that a'code bar is in its extreme clockwise position, locking bar 36 would engage the alternate locking notch on the particular code bar and that bar would be positioned in the path of its associated bell crank 46 so that when looking bar 36 has moved into engagement with the alternate locking notch 35 releasing the particular bell crank 46 for rotation, that rotation will be restrained. Accordingly, through the cooperation of the individual code bars 21 and the blocking shoulders 5! of the bell cranks associated with the particular code bars, the permutable setting of the code bars is transferred to the plurality of bell cranks 46 when those bell cranks are permitted to sense the position of the codebars as looking bar 36 is moved into a locking notch 35.

The frontward portion of supporting plate 48 as viewed in Fig. l, is slotted to provide a comblike structure which guides a plurality of vertically disposed pivoted levers 52 which are pivotally supported upon a stud 53, Fig. 4, carried in support member 48. The levers 52 which are guided by the comb portion of member 48 project into the path of operation of bell cranks 46 andeach lever 52 is controlled by one of the bell cranks 46. The lower ends of levers 52 cooperate with and control a series of hell cranks 54 pivoted on a pivot shaft 55 secured to the casting 63. Bell cranks 54, in turn, extent beneath the horizontal portion of a second set of bell cranks 56 pivoted on shaft 51 supported in the perforator casting 63. The bell cranks 56 are normally urged in a clockwise direction by means of individual springs 60 which springs also serve through the engagement of bell cranks 56, bell cranks 54, pivoted levers 52, and bell cranks 46 to impart a clockwise bias on'each of the bell cranks 46. Pivotally articulated to the vertical arms of bell cranks 56 are a plurality of punch interponents 58. Interponents 58 are guided by a comb out in a flanged portion 6| of a cradle member 62 pivotally supported by the casting 63 of the printing reperforator and serving as the punch operator as will appear hereinafter. The pivot for cradle member 62 is in substantial alignment with the pivotal connection between the interponent members 58 and 'the vertical arms of bell cranks 56. This pivot point is indicated 64. Through the mechanical linkage above described, each permutable setting of the code bars 21 is transferred when looking bar 36 assumes its locking relation with respect to the code bars, to the interponents 58 to permutably condition the interponents with respect to code punches 66, Fig. 4.

' Locking bar 36, in being retracted from a locking notch 35 preparatory to setting up a signal combination in code bars 21, rocks bell cranks 46 in a counterclockwise direction and through the mechanical linkage described, similarly rocks bell cranks 56 and advances all interponents 58 leftwardly. After the code bars have been set, locking bar 36 releases bell cranks 46 permitting the interponents 58 to be selectively moved from their normal, leftward position. If any of the bell crank levers 46 is held in its counterclockwise position by the engagement of its looking shoulder with its associated code bar 21, the corresponding interponent 58 through the mechanical linkage above described is retained in its leftward position in alignment with its code punch 66. However, if a bell crank 46 is permitted to assume its clockwise position by its associated code bar 21, its spring 60 is effective to shift its associated interponent 58 to its right,- ward position as illustrated in Fig. 4 and out of alignment with punches 66. The connection between the selector mechanism 28 and code bars 21 is such that when a marking impulse is received a code bar is moved to its clockwise position, the associated interponent 58 is retained in alignment with its code punch 66 and conversely, when a code bar is positioned in its counterclockwise position in response to the reception of a space impulse, its associated interponent is shifted from its normal position and moved out of alignment with its associated code punch.

" A punch block 61, Fig. 4, secured to the reperforator casting is suitably apertured to receive in a slidab-le manner the code punches 66 which project through the punch block and a guide comb 68. The punches 66 are flattened or hammered out at their lower extremities to provide suitable shoulders beneath comb 68 so that as cradle 62 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction, comb 68 may withdraw punches 66 to their lowermost positions.

The front surface 69, Fig. 6, of the punch !block is at an angle inclined to the vertical for a purpose which will be hereinafter described, and the top surface 1| is at an acute angle with respect to the axes of the punch to provide an inclined path for a tape through the punch block. The front surface 69 of the punch block is chamfered back to the apertures 18 which accommodate the code punches'to prevent accumulation of tape chips over the code punches. The punch elements 66 may be associated with the punch block 61 in much the same manner as disclosed in detail in the above-identified copending application and that detail'will not be repeated here.

Disposed above th punch block 61 is a die plate 12 and there is provided in the die plate a die sector for each code punch located in punch block 61. The die sectors are similar to the die openings described in detail in the above-identified copending application and illustrated in particular in Fig. 6 thereof at 61, the construction being such that the cooperation of a die punch with such a die opening will produce a lidded aperture in the tape. The bottom surface of die plate 12 is cut at such an angle that, when the die plate is assembled into a punching unit with punch block 61, the lower surface thereof will define with the upper surface 11 of the punch block, a tape guideway 13 for directing a tape to, be perforated at an angle to the top surface of the code punches 66. With this construction, the lidded aperture is provided in the tape through a shearing rather than a blanking operation; that is, with the tape lying at an angle across the top surface of a code punch, as the punch is elevated in the perforating stroke into cooperating engagement with the die plate 12, the punch, due to the incline of the die plate, initially blanks a small sector in the tape and, as the punch is further advanced into the die plate, the punch and die plate. engage along an inclined shearing plate to produce a perforation.

A lidded apertureis produced in the tape with each perforating operation and because of the angular relationship of the tape and code punches, the lagging edge of the lid is forced well above the tape web and into the die plate while the neck of the lid is not raised appreciably. A plurality of stripper pins 14 is provided to remove the lids'from the die plate at the end of each perforating cycle. Secured to each stripper pin 14 is a deflecting blade 15 effective during the back spacing operation in a manner to be described hereinafter. Secured to the die plate 12 is a pivot pin 16 upon which is pivotally supported a plurality of spring operated levers 11 operated by compression springs 18 to depress the stripper or ejector pins 14 at the end of each perforating cycle and eject the lids from the die plate. The compression springs 18 are he d between a frame member 16 secured to die plate 12 and a projecting lug extending from each of the levers 11. In each perforating cycle, the operated code punches 66 project into the sector openings provided in die plate 12 and force the stripper pins 14 upwardly and at the completion of the perforating cycle, the code punches 66 are retracted from the die plate by comb 68 rendering the levers 11 operative under the influence of springs 18 to depress the ejector pins 14 and eject the lids from the die plate.

A feed wheel 8|, Fig. 4, provided with'sprocket teeth to engage feed perforations in the tape and feed the tape through the perforating mechanism, is rotatably supported within the punch block on a shaft 82, Fig. 1 and is stepped intermittently by'means of a feed pawl .83 which is supported by cradle member 62 and engages a feed ratchet 84 with each operation of the .cradle 62 in a wellknown manner. See copending application filed by Erwin A. Gubisch, Serial No. 412,829; filed on Sept. 29, 1941 and directed in part to the feed wheel located within the punch block. A spring pressed detent 85 is provided to bear against the ratchet and hold the feed wheel immovable between feeding strokes of the pawl 83.

A pre-punch unit is provided to perforate a feed hole in the tape prior to the code perfora ing operation and comprises a feed punch SI, Figs; 1 and 4:, which is adapted to be reciprocated vertically in a feed hole punch block S2 by means of a bell crank 93 pivoted on stud shaft 94 and provided with a fork shaped extension member 96; the tines of which engage beneath the flared upper end of the punch 9| and confine the head of the punch between the fork member and the bell crank so that the punch is recipr-ocated as the bell crank is oscillated about pivot 96; Feed pins 98 are'secured to a shaft 91 rotatably supported in the pre-punch unit and provided'at one end" with milled ratchet teeth 98 to be engaged by a feed pawl l'fil to intermittently advance the pins 98 and cause the feed of the tape by the engagement of pins 93 with the feed perforations invariably provided in the tape by the pre-punch M. 'A star wheeliiik and detent, #53 are provided for holding the feed shaft inter mediate the feeding strokes of pawl It I. A spring pressed guide H34, Fig. lfof the general contour of shaft 931' presses the tape against the feed pins to assure positive tape feed from the pre-punc'n in the direction'of the printing platen and code perforating point. I

By providing a pre-punch for perforating feed holes in the'tape andindependent feeding mechanisms at both the pre-punch and code punching units, it is possible to vary the position of the code holes with respect to the feed holes in the tape. That is, with the feed holes already prepared in the tape the 'detent 85 associated with feed wheel 8| may be adjusted so that each operation of feed pawl 83 positions a feed hole in or out of alignment with code punches 66. Thus the code perforations and feed hole perforations may or may not be aligned transversely of the tape.

The code erforating punches and pre-punch are operated from a common operating means which is controlled by a perforating shaft I06 journaled in suitable bearings I01 and driven by motor 29 through a gear I08 secured'to shaft 34 and in engagement with a gear I09 secured to shaft I86. The bearings ID! are carried by supporting members which depend from the, base casting 2| and support shaft I06 beneath the horizontal section of the frame casting and transversely of the printing reperforator. Secured to shaft I86 to rotate therewith is the driving element II I of a positive or grab clutch which is adapted to be engaged by adriven element I II2,to impart driving force to the perforating unit. The driven element of the clutchis slidably carried upon shaft I06 and normally urged into engagement with drim'ng element III by meansof a compression spring I I3 but normally held from engagement with the driving portion of the clutch by meansof a clutch throwout. cam H4 formed on: the periphery of the driven element II 2 Ofnthe clutch which is normally .in engagement with a clutch throwout' lever IIB pivotally supported on a shaft I I1. Clutch throwout lever H6 is normally held into the path of the clutch throwout cam H4 by -means of a spring H8, Fig. secured to a spring stud I19 on the throwout clever and a portion of the frame. A cam sleeve I2I is adapted to. be driven through a splined connection from the driven ortion of the clutch when the clutch is engaged and a grooved cam I23 is driven or carried .by. the sleeve I21 and through a follower roll [24 operates a pivoted lever I26 pivoted at I21 to the base casting 2|. Lever 126 has articulated thereto in a pivotal manner a :link l3l, Fig. 4, which is pivotally connected to the operator of the pre-punch 9I. Pivoted code punch hammer 62 :is urged by means of a spring I30 secured thereto and to a spring post depending from base casting 2'] toward the frontward extremity of pivoted lever I26 and carries an adjustable stop member I28 extending from depending portion I29 of hammer 62 into abutting relation with lever I26.-

Link I31 is pivotally connected to three-arm lever I32 which carries an eccentric I34 on arm I 33, and the eccentric provides an adjustable engagement between lever I32 and the bell crank '93 of the pre-punchj Feed pawl IOI for the prepunch is adjustably secured to arm I36 of the lever I32 by means of an eccentric so that the feed stroke maybe adjusted. Through the engagement of abutment I28 with lever I'26 and the linkage from pivoted lever 126 to lever I32, the

code punchesand. the pre-punch are operated witheach oscillation of ivoted lever 126 under the control of grooved cam I 23. i

"As has already been pointed out, the selector mechanism 28 which controls the code bars -21 conditions in this one operation both the printing mechanism through the alignment of the code notches in the code bars 2-! and the code punches through the conditioning of punch interponents 58, and means hasbeen provided for carrying out the printing and perforating operations concomitantly as follows: A' depending member I31, Fig. "7, is threadedly secured to the plunger 38 which operates bail 31 and has pivotally articulated to it a mechanical linkage to trip the clutch throwout lever 116 which permits the engagement of the driving clutchto drive the cam sleeve I21. mechanical link, indicated 139,-is pivoted to member I31 by astud I38. The link I39 carries a hook-shaped extremity which is. normally positioned into the path of a leftwardly extending projection of the clutchgthrowout lever H6, as'viewed in Fig 7, and is retained in this position by means of a biasing spring MI and a limiting stop pin M2 carried upon member I 31. Accordingly, as the plunger 38 is elevated in the course of the printing cycle, the hook projection of member I39 engases the clutch throwout lever I13 and rocks it in a clockwise direction about pivot 1:11 to release the driven element H2 of the clutch so that compression spring H3 is effective to place clutch elements III and I12 into engagement and cause the rotation of cam sleeve I21 and the consequent operation of the perforating mechani-sms concomitant with the operation of the printing unit. .-A continuous tape guide 143, Fig. 4, extends from the feed pins 98 at the .pre-punch unitto the printing platen- 22 to serve as a guide for the tape and revent the: tape from becoming. en-

This guide for the "sake of a better understandingof the perforating mechanism has been omit- .ted from Fig. 1. A similar guide IMdirects the tape from a supply into thepre-punch unit. By

providing individual tape feeding mechanisms at :both. the pre-punch unit and the code punch :unit, a tape loop may be maintained between .the units and supported by guide I43. This tape .loop. removes the drag of the tape. supply reel :from the feeding mechanism at the code periforating unit and consequently greatly reduces .the. tape loadat this point. Furthermore, since .the'feed pawl at the code punch unit may be se- :cured'to. the cradle member 62 in an adjustable manner similarto the articulation of the feed pawl at the re-punch unit to its operator, there isgiven a flexibility to the printing reperforator .not otherwise attainable through the use of a .single tape feeding device.

Tape feed out mechanism the base castingv 2| is inalignment with the projection I46 offltheclutch throwout lever] I6 so that when the plunger I41 is manually operated, the clutch throwout lever .I I6 may be held away from clutch throwoutcam II4 against the tension of its ,biasing spring I I8, and the clutchheld or'permitted to beengaged so long. as the plunger I4;I remains in its operated position. .In this manner, the perforating cam sleeve I2I may be released for any desired number of revolutions which will cause the operation of the perforating mechanism and tape feeding pawls only, since the clutch onthe main cam shaft which operates the printing mechanism will remain disengaged. This feature enables feeding the tape through .the machine without operating the printing unit. As distinguished from this continuous operation of the perforating cam shaft, it is obvious that in the normal operation of the printing reperforator as a plunger 38-is elevated, the hook portion I39 trips the clutch throwout lever II6 for a single revolution of the perforating sleeve. The. printingreperforator is provided with pull bar operatedxcontact Hi9, Fig. 4, which may be selectively operated by predetermined pull bars to perform anydesir'ed circuit functions.

Sensing unit Associatedwith the hereinbefore described printing reperforator. is a sensing unit II provided-to sense the perforated tape as it leaves the printing reperforator to control'functions to be hereinafter indicated and described- In order to take full advantage of line time, the sensing or transmitting unit employed with the printing reperforator islof the pivoted or traveling type whichis adapted to sense every code perforation recorded in a tape by the printing reperforator, without the necessity of stepping the perforated tape a plurality: of feeding distances from the perforating unit intothe transmitting or sensing unit.. This pivoted transmitter, isdescribed in gaged with the perforating unit I mechanism.

detail in copending application Serial No. 219,770 filed July 18, 1938 by Ross A. Lake and reference may be had to that copending application for the details both in structure and mode of operation of the pivoted transmitter. The transmitter comprises essentially a plurality of sensing elements to sense the perforations in a tape, a member for feeding the tape through the transmitter having imparted to it rectilinear motion, and a cam drum for controlling the operation of the sensing elements and the tape feeding member.

Unit I! has a base casting I5I', Fig. 1, which is removably mounted upon the base casting 2I of the apparatus. The casting I5I consists of a pair of parallel vertical wall sections I52 interconnected by a relatively flat web portion I53, Fig. 4. The leftward extremity of portion I53 is formed into a vertical portion I54 which is channeled to serve as a journal for a shaft I56 and slotted to provide a comb I57 which serves to guide the vertical oscillations of the members which support and operate the sensing elements. The rightward portion of wall sections I52, as viewed in Fig. 1, support pivot studs I58 upon which the movable or pivoted portion of the sensing unit is secured. Specifically, the frame members I59 and I60 are secured to the pivots I58. A plate I6I is carried by the pivoted frame members and carries ahinge post I62, Fig. 2, upon which is hingedly supported a tape gate I63 which in conjunction With the plate I6I defines the passage way for the perforated tape through the transmitter. A spring latch I64 holds the tape gate in cooperating relation with the plate I6I. This structure of the transmitter is substantially identical with that disclosed in the above-identified copending application, and reference may be had to that application and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, for a more detailed disclosure of the mechanical details of the transmitter frame. Both plate I6I and the tape gate I63 are pro- .vided with a plurality of apertures which are in alignment when the tape gate is in cooperative relation with plate I6I.

Apertures in plate I6I receive the reduced portions of sensing pins I65, Fig. 4. There is provided a sensing pin or finger for each of the possible perforations appearing in a transverse row of perforations in the tape, plus an additional pin to be employed as a tape-out indicator in a manner to be hereinafter described. In the particular apparatus under consideration there are provided six sensing fingers, inasmuch as it is contemplated to utilize a five-unit code.

A slidably movable feed member I66, Fig. 5, which is formed with a cam groove I6! is provided to feed the tape through thetransmitter in accordance with a rectilinear feeding movement precisely as has beendescribed in great detail in the above-identified copending application Serial No. 219,770 and illustrated in Figs. 9 and 12 thereof. In view of the detailed description of this tape feeding mechanism, in'the latter copending application, the apparatus de-' scription and the mode of operation will be set out herein only briefly, and reference should be had to the aforementioned application for a more complete understanding of both the structural details and the precise mode of operation of this rectilinearly operable feed mechanism. Member I66 carries on its upper extremity pins I68 which enter and normally engage the feed perforations in a tape to advance the tape or advance the transmitter, depending on which of the two is held'immovable and cooperating with cam groove I 61. in lever I66 is a pin I69 secured to the free end of a camoperated lever I1I. 1 s As will .be described hereinafter, members I66 and IN are operated in timed relation, andas lever I.II is drawn downwardly in slot I61, the pin I69 due to the particular shape of cam groove I61wil1 oscillate-member I66 in a counterclockwise direction to effect relative movement between the pivoted frame of sensing unit I1 and the tape. Following this operation, lever I66 is moved downwardly to withdraw pins I68 from engagement with the feed perforations in the tape after which arm I1I is moved upwardly and under the influence of the cam groove, member I66 is moved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, and the member I66 is thereafter elevated to cause the pins I68 to engage other feed perforations in the tape to achieve on a subsequent cycle, a relative movement between the sensing unit I1 and the perforated tape.

On the shaft I56 which is supported by the channel I54, Fig. 4, formed in the base casting of the sensing unit are pivotally supported a plurality of Y-levers I12 as well as other levers including those required to control the operation of the members I66 and HI of the tap feeding mechanism. The Y-levers are individual to the sensing fingers I 65 and those fingers are pivotally secured to one arm of the Y-levers on a centerline substantially coincident with the pivots I58. The leftward portions of the Y-levers are supported in a member I13-secured by screws I14, Fig. 1, to the vertical wallsections of the base casting of the sensing unit, and member I13 is suitably slotted to provide a comb guide structure to guide the vertical'operation of the'Y-levers about the shaft I56. Depending from the rightward extremities of the Y-levers, as viewed in Fig. 4, are guide fingers I15 which when the Y-levers are rotated in a clockwise direction about shaft I56 are received-in horizontal slots I16 of the casting of the sensing unit, which in this manner guide the oscillating movements of the Y-levers. Each Y-lever is provided leftwardlyof the shaft I56 as viewed in Fig. 4, with an upstanding projection I18 to which is secured a spring I19 the other end of which is anchored to a spring post I11 carried by member I13, and springs I19 tend normally to rotate the Y-levers I12 in a counterclockwise direction about shaft I56, and elevate the sensing fingers I65 vertically to sense the perforation in a tape I80 presented to the transmitter.

It is preferred that the sensing fingers I85 be secured to the Y-levers in the same manner in which the sensing elements I of the aboveidentified copending application Serial No. 219,770 are secured to their operating bell cranks I48--I52; that is, each sensing finger is provided near its lower extremity with an aperture arranged to be engaged by a pin secured near the end of the horizontally extending arm of the Y- levers. A reed spring riveted to the horizontal arm of the Y-lever serves to retain the lower end of the sensing finger and prevents accidental displacements. This described preferred association of the sensing fingers and Y-levers is not illustrated in the drawings but is adequately illustrated in Fig. 2 of the latter copending application.

,Also pivotally supported by shaft I56 is a lever IBI, Fig. 1, which is cam controlled to effect the vertical reciprocation of feed member I66, a lever .I,82-;which controls the operation of lever I1I,- and'the resulting oscillation of member I 66 aboutits pivot, and a lever I83 which operates a pair of contacts I84, see:Fig. 2, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. V.

A cam drum I86, Fig. 2, carries a plurality of cams which operate, as followers, the several levers pivotally supported by shaft I56, and located on this cam drum, are a plurality of cams I81, six in number to control the operation of the Y-levers, and the operation of the sixth sensing pin which may be carried by a Y-lever or a bell crank lever, a cam I88 to control the operation of contacts I84, a transfer cam I89 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, a cam I90 for controlling the operation of feed lever I66 through lever I8I, cam I9I for controlling the operation of feed lever I'I'I through lever I82, and cam I92 for controlling the operation of a bail to be identified hereinafter. In Fig. 2, the cam drum has been illustrated and the elements of the structure which would obscure the view of the cam drum have been omitted for the purpose of giving a clear showingof the drum.

The power for driving cam drum I86 is derived from motor 29 through a grab clutch. Gear I93, Fig. '1, which is continuously rotated by shaft I06 meshes with a gear I94 secured to shaft I06 which is journaled in suitable bearings I91 depending from'the horizontal portion of base casting 2|. Grab clutch driving element I98 is driven continuously fromshaft I96. The driven ele ment I99 of the clutch is-loosely supported on shaft I96, and normally held out of engagement with'driving' element I98, by means of a clutch throwout lever 20I which normally is in engagement with a clutch throwout cam formed on the peripheryof driven element I99, similar to the construction ofdriven element II2 of the aforedescribed positive clutch. A compression spring 262 normally urges the clutch elements into engagement with one another and by means of a splined connection driven element I99 of the clutch imparts rotation to the cam drum I86 when the clutch elements have been engaged. An electromagnet 203, when energized, retracts the clutch throwout lever 20I from engagement with the throwout cam on the driven element of the clutch and permits engagement of the driving and driven elements, to rotate the cam drum I86. So long as electromagnet 203 remains energized the cam drum will rotate continuously and upon de-energization of the electromagnet the clutch is disengaged after cam drum I86 completes its instant cycle of revolution.

\ The energization of electromagnet 203 is under the joint control of a manually operated switch 204, Fig. 11, and a transmitter operated switch 205 so that the operation of the transmitter may be initiated when desired and terminated automatically upon the operation of the transmitter as the transmitter senses the last code signal combination perforated in the tape by the printing reperforator. The manually operated switch 204 may be located within the apparatus or may be external to the apparatus as may be best suited for the installation, but the transmitter controlled switch 205 is located within and is part of the apparatus. Frame member I59 of the transmitter structure carries a rightwardly extending projection 206, Figs. 1 and 4, and when the transmitter in pivoting about pivots I58 has reached its limiting clockwise position, projection 206 will have been brought down into engagement with a plunger 201 which is reciprocally mounted within an aperture in the base casting 2| and normally rests upon 'a-contact of switch 205 so that as the projection 206 bears against and depresses plunger 201, the plunger in turn depresses and operates the switch 205 to break the circuit to the electromagnet 203, and shut down the operation of cam sleeve I86.

Cams I81 are arranged on cam drum I86 with their respective cam recesses in axial alignment so that a cam recess is presented to each of the Y-levers I12 and to the operator of the sixth sensing finger simultaneously whereby the six sensing fingers are elevated to their probing positions simultaneously and. depending upon the presence or absence of a perforation in the tape over an individual finger into its restrained or it extreme counterclockwise position. The recesses of cams I81 are of sufficient length circumferentially of the cam sleeve I86 to retain the fingers I65 in tape probing position ,until the operation of a transfer mechanism, to be hereinafter described, has been completed and thereafter the cams rotate the fingers simultaneously in a clockwise direction, retractin them from probing relation with the tape preparatory to advancing the tape through the transmitter. orientated to operate, respectively, followers I8I and I82 in precisely the same manner in which cams 201 and 205 in the above-identified copending application Serial No. 219,770 cooperate, respectively, with their followers I61 and I10, to impart a rectilinear feeding movement to members I66 and HI of the transmitting device. Furthermore, cams I90 and I9I are orientated on cam drum I86 with respect to the cams I81, which operate the sensing fingers, in the same relation as the feed cams are orientated on the cam drum of the latter above-identified copending application with respect to the cam therein which operates the tape sensing fingers. This orientation is important and necessary to assure the proper operation of the feeding mechanism for if the feeding mechanism were permitted to operate in other than the timed relation set forth in the above-mentioned copending application with respect to the operation of the sensing pins, there would result a tearing of the tape and incomplete transmission.

As has already been mentioned, the motion imparted to the transmitter, through the operation of the pin I69 carried on lever I1I which is in engagement with cam groove I61, imparts a feeding stroke to the tape to feed the tape through the transmitter, and so long as there is a tape loop or a tape surplus between the printing reperforator and the tape transmitter, the tape will be advanced in this manner, but when the tape is r taut between the reperforator and the transmitter, the operating movement of the transmitter will be restrained in a counterclockwise direction because of the engagement of the pins I68 in the taut tape and will result in the clockwise movement of the transmitter frame about its pivots I58. This movement of the transmitter will continue so longas the tape remains taut between the transmitter and the reperforator, providing that no stop abutment has been reached and that sleeve I86 is maintained in operation. IAS may be clearly'seen inFig. 4, the sensing unit I1 is pivoted to oscillate about a vertical center; that is, to either side of a vertical center. This overeenter travel of the transmitter requires the inclined feed of the tape through the perforating, punch block, which has been defined in detail above, in order that there-may be a substantially straight line feed of the tape from the reperforatorinto Cams I90 and I9I are the transmitter when the;transmitter has as- 7.5.

sumed its most clockwise position; that is, in abutment with the punch block. The forward or leading surface 69 of the punch block, Fig. .4, is cut back at an inclined angle, inclined to the vertical, to present a plane which is substantially parallel to the position of the transmitter frame when it has engaged the punch block so that there is in effect a plane of contact between the two units. With the transmitter in this extreme clockwise position, the tape guideway defined by plate I6I and the tape gate I63 above mentioned, will be in a plane inclined to the vertical necessitating the feed of the tape from the reperforator at a similar angle so that the tape may feed in one continuous line from the reperforator into the transmitter in thi extreme position.

It is clear from the detailed description of the rectilinear movement of the feeding mechanism of the sensing unit, which has been pointed out above and which is defined in greater detail in the above-identified copending application Serial No. 219,770 that the pins I60 are normally in engagement with the tape, and it follows that if the printing reperforator operates at a greater rate than the operation of the sensing unit thereby accumulating tape therebetween, the tape will advance the transmitter in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot I58 until finally the transmitter has reached its extreme counterclockwise position; that is, in abutment with an adjustable limit stop 203, Fig. 4. This adjustable stop is suitably secured to a substantially U-shaped frame member 209 which spans the sensing unit and is secured thereto by means of screws engaging the vertical wall sections I52 thereof, Fig. 1.

Frame member 209 has a depending portion centrally thereof, which secures or supports the stop abutment 208, Fig. 2. A pair of tape supporting fingers 2, Figs. 1 and 4, are carried by the web portion of the frame 209 and extend forwardly of the transmitter unit toward the perforator unit, extending, when the transmitter is in its extreme counterclockwise position against the stop 203, between the spaces which intervene the first and second, and fifth and sixth tape sensing fingers. Fingers 2 may project between any desired sensing elements of unit I1. The tape supporting fingers by projecting through the tape sensing unit serve to support the tape and sustain the weight of the tape loop between the tape sensing unit and the tape reperforator preventing bending of the tape over plate I6! of the transmitter. Should the tape be supported by the sensing fingers; and the edge of plate I6I and there be a substantially large tape loop intermediate the tape sensing unit and reperforator, it is possible :for the weight of the tape to bend orsubstantially break the tape at the plate I6I and prevent the feed of the tape through the transmitter. The tape supporting fingers which are provided obviate this danger.

It is to be understood that the tape fingers which are. shown in Fig. 4 as being mounted upon the frame 209 may, if desired, be supported by the frame members of the transmitter itself, so that the fingers would travel with the transmitter and support the tape in all positions of the transmitter. However, with such a construction it would be necessary to 'movably mount the fingers on the frame so that upon the frames approaching'the perforating punch block these fingers could be deflected downwardly or otherwise soas not to impede the movementessary for the unit to sense the last code combination perforated in the tape.

The tape I80 as it leaves the sensing unit I1 is supported upon a tape guide I85, Fig. 4, and directed thereover out of the apparatus. The guide I85 supported by base casting 2I, extends across the transfer mechanism and code vanes, to be described hereinafter, and has been omitted from the remaining figures of the drawings for the sake of disclosing elements of the apparatus which would be obscured by the guide.

A tape deflector 2I2, Figs. 1 and 4, is provided intermediate the sensing unit and reperforator and is pivotally secured to the punch block of the perforator, Fig. 1, with the rightwardly eX tending arms of the deflector 2I2 pivotally supported upon shaft I6 of the reperforator which also supports the stripper elements IT. From the profile in Fig. 4 of the tape deflector 2I2, it may be seen that the deflector is of substantially Z-shape in cross section and normally tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of gravity and, if desired, a biasing spring. Due to the contour of the deflector, tape as it emerges from the reperforating punch block and abuts against the deflector is directed downwardly into a depending loop between the re' perforator punch block and the sensing unit. A storage container may receive the tape as it accumulates between the units. The tape dcflector is relatively narrow, Fig. 1, and does not extend throughout its entire length, across the full width of the tape, but exposes that portion of the tape on which is printed the code characters and, accordingly, the message printed on the tape intermediate the transmitter and reperforator may nevertheless be read even though the tape deflector is in its operative tape loop forming position. The deflector 2I2 may, if desired, be rotated over center in a clockwise direction to an inoperative position; that is, out of the path of the tape as it emerges from the perforating code punch block. The deflector may be rendered inoperative in this manner when it is necessary to thread the tape, initially through the transmitter.

Extending forwardly of the deflector is a latching finger 2 I 3 which serves to engage the plate IBI of the transmitter'when the transmitter is in its extreme counterclockwise position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and renders the transmitter immovable with respect to the perforating punch block, so long as there is a sufficiently large'tape loop intermediate the transmitter and reperforator. If, because the reperfcrator unit operated at a greater speed than the transmitter, there is a suffici If the transmitter continues to operate at the greater rate, the tape loop will become entirely taken up, and in so doing, the tape will engagethe depending portion of the tape deflector 2I2, and as the tape becomes taut it will cam the deflector upwardly, and latching finger ZI3 will be lifted out of the path of the transmitter so that under the subsequent operation of the rectilinear feed mechanism of the transmitter, the pivoted transmitter will be permitted to advance toward the reperforating unit without having its movement in this direction impeded in any way by the latching projection 2 I 3 of the tape deflector. In Fig. 4 there is indicated in dotted construction, the position of the, tape deflector when it has been cammed by the tape in a counterclockwise direction about shaft -76 due to the tape loop being taken up.

Briefly the operation of the transmitting or sensing unit is as follows:

Assume switch 2&4 to be manually closed and that the transmitter I? is in its extreme clockwise position against the perforator code punch block. In this condition projection 286 secured to frame member :59 of the transmitter, will have depressed plunger 29? and opened switch205, deenergizing the electromagnet 203 and disabling the power drive to the cam drum I86 by reason of the engagement of clutch throwout lever 2M and the throwout cam on the periphery of the clutch driven element Its. Toward'the completion of a cycle of operation of the printing reperforator in response to received code signals, a perforated code combination will bemade inthe tape and advanced from the reperforator to the transmitter, and this advancing movement of the tape, because of the fact that the pins I68 of feed member I56 are in engagement with feed perforations in the tape, will rock the pivoted transmitter in a counterclockwise direction for adistan ce corresponding to the tape feed, and this movement is sufficient to withdraw projection 296 from engagement with plunger Z5! and permit the spring element of the switch 295 to elevate the plunger and close the switch 295 completing the circuit to electromagnet 283 which attracts its armature resulting in the removal of clutch throwout lever 2M from the path of the throwout cam on the clutch driven element I99, permitting the engagement under the influence of spring 202 of the elements I93 and I99 of the clutchand connecting the power drive from motor 29 through to the cam drum iiiii. As cam drum I85 rotates, cams I81 simultaneously present camdepressions .to the ently large, tape loop formed between the two units. the deflector ZIZ will pivot about its shaft 16 and come into locking engagement with the transmitter I? which would have been advanced to its extreme counterclockwise position by reason of the movement of the tape with respect to the transmitter caused by the operation of the reper-forator "at a greater rate than the operation of thetransmitter. Sensing will then be carried out with the sensing unit held by the latching finger 213, so long as there remains a sufiiciently large tape loop intermediate the two units. However, assuming that the sensing unit should operate at a rate greater than the rate of operation of the reperforator, the tape loop will be shortened as it is fed through the transmitter at a greater rate than incoming tape is fedafrom the reperforator.

plurality of Y-levers :12 to elevate thesensing fingers I55 into tape probing position under the influence of biasing springs I19 individualto each Y-lever. If a given Y-lever finds a perforationin a tape, its associated spring I19 will be permitted to rotate the Y-lever to its extreme counterclock wise position about shaft 5 55, positioning the leftward extremity of the Y-lever in the lowermost position in its guide comb I13 but if a sensing finger I65 does not find a code perforation in the tape, the counterclockwise rotation of its associated Y-lever is restrained so that its spring I18 can rotate the Y-lever I12 to a very limited extent about shaft I5I resulting in a positioning of the Y-lever in an upper position in the guide comb H3. The'relative position of the Y-levers, that is, whether the Y-levers remain in a relatively high portion of the guide comb I13, or are positioned in the lower portion ofthe guide comb, controlled in accordance with the code perforated in the tape, is utilized in a manner to be hereinafter described, to control a transmitting distributor and function levers to perform switching operations in accordance with the permutable setting. of the Y-levers. As cam drum I86 continues its cycle of rotation, cams I81 retract fingers I64 from probing engagement with the tape, cams I90 and I9I, controlling the operation of levers I66 and VIII in a manner above described, effect a rectilinear feed of member I66 and advance the transmitter again to its extreme clockwise position to cause projection 206 to open switch 205 and interrupt the operation of the transmitting, cam shaft at the completion of the cycle of operation of the sensing unit.

If during the operation of the sensing unit, a second advancement is given to the tape and consequently to the sensing unit by the operation of feed wheel 8I in the printing reperiorator, the movement of the transmitter frame at the completion of the instantcycle of operation of cam drum I86 will not cause the switch 205 to open and the sensing unit will continue to operate. If the printing reperforator continues to operate at a greater rate than the sensing unit, a tape loop will form intermediate the units and the tape deflector 2I2 will be effective to latch the sensing unit against its counterclockwise stop 208 until the deflector is cammed out of engagement with the sensing unit by the tape resulting from a subsequent operation of the transmitter at a greater'rate than that of the printing reperforator. With the deflector 2| 2 cammed out of the path of the transmitter, the continued operation of the transmitter and its rectilinearly operated feed member I66 will advance the transmitter toward the printing reperforator and ultimately interrupt the operation of the transmitter by opening switch 205 as the transmitter is moved into a position to sense the last code perforation in the tape.

Tape-out indicator In Fig. 1, it may be clearly seen that there are provided six sensing fingers I65 only five of which are employed to probe the code perforations in the tape as indicated above, the sixth finger being employed as a tape-out indicator to interrupt the operation of cam drum I86 (Fig. 2) when the tape in the transmitter has become exhausted or broken or in response to a special perforation in the tape. The sixth sensing finger may be carried by a Y-lever similar to the Y- levers which carry the code sensing fingers but provided with a depending projection 2i 6, Fig. 4, which. is effective to operate contacts 2M when the spring I19 associated with the lever carrying the sixth sensing pin, is permitted to rotate that lever in its extreme counterclockwise position aboutshaft I56, moving projection 2I6 to engagement with the contact 2I4. In view of the fact that contact 214 is closed cyclically upon each rotation of cam drum I86 and is immediately reopened, and since the electromagnet 203 should remain de-energized during the depletion of tape supply, the contacts 2I4 are connected to a control circuit shown in 11. This control circuit forms no part of the present invention but is illustrated only for the purpose of showing the relation between contacts 2M and clutch magnet 203. The control circuit shown in Fig. 11 is described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 448,878, filed by D. E. Branson et a1. Briefly, however, the momentary closing of contact 2I4 efiects the energization of magnet 250 over an obvious circuit,

which is locked up over an obvious locking circuit. The circuit for a warning lamp is closed, and the circuit of the clutch magnet 203 is opened due to the operation of armatures of magnet 250. By the closing of manually operated contact 204, the lockin circuit of magnet 250 is broken and the reenergization of clutch magnet 203 is effected. However, instead of employing a Y-lever to support the sixth finger, a pivoted lever pivoted about shaft I55 and supporting at its rightward extremity, Fig. 4, a sensing pin I65 associated therewith in a manner similar to the association of the fingers I65 with the Y-levers and terminating at its leftward extremity in a simple cam follower 25? may be provided. It is, of course, understood that the contact operating projection 216 would be carried by such lever when that lever is employed rather than the Y-lever for supporting the sixth pin.

The sixth sensing pin or tape-out pin will be permitted to be rocked into its extreme counterclockwise position to operate contacts 2 when the tape is exhausted or broken. If it is desirable to arrest the operation of transmitter I! at a predetermined point, a special perforation may be made in the tape in alignment with the sixth sensing pin so that as this special perforation is presented in the transmitter over the sixth pin, that pin in moving to tape probing position will sense the special perforation and interrupt the operation of the transmitter at this predetermined point.

Tape feed suppression Under certain conditions of operation of communication systems in which the apparatus according to this invention may be employed, it may be desirable to sense and transmit the same perforated code combination a plurality of times and for that purpose, a tape feed suppression means is provided which, when operated, disables the operation of the tape feeding mechanism in the transmitter so that as the cam drum I65 effects a plurality of operations of the 'sensing unit, the unit will sense one code combination in the tape a plurality of times. In Fig. 5, the details of the tape suppression device are illustrated. The device comprises a tape suppression magnet 2I8 which may be energized by any local, manually closed circuit or relay operated circuit, not shown, a pivoted armature 2I-9 provided with a laterally extending-blocking projection 220 and projections 22I and 222 provided on follower levers I8I and I82, respectively, of the tape feeding mechanism. A spring 223 extending between the base casting 2| of the apparatus and armature 2I9 normally holds the armature in its counter-clockwise position about its pivot 224 out of engagement with projections 22I and 222.

When it is desired to operate the tape suppression device, the circuit to magnet 2 I8 is manually conditioned, energizing the magnet which attracts its armature, rocking the armature in a clockwise direction about pivot 224 introducing the blocking projection 220 of armature 2I9 into blocking relation with respect to projections 22I and 222 on feed levers I8I and I82, respectively, holding the members I8I and I82 of the feed mechanism from responding to the influence of their respective biasing springs when a depression in their cams I and I9I, respectively, is presented to the cam followers secured to levers I8! and I82. Accordingly, as cam drum I36 continues this cycle of revolution, the cams I90 and. I9I are ineffective upon the feed levers I66 and HI since their operating levers I8I and I82, respectively, are held nonresponsive to the control of said cams. Therefore, as cam drum I86 is. rotated through a plurality of revolutions it causes the sensing elements I65 under'the control of cams I61 to sense the. same code combination of the tape a plurality of times.

Transfer mechanism and transmitting distributor The sensing unit, in the manner described above senses thesuccessive code perforations in the tape as the tape passes from the printing reperforator to the sensing unit, and in each sensing operation positions the Y-levers I12 in guide comb I13 in accordance with the code combination sensed; that is, the Y-levers are permutably positioned in the upper or lower portions of the guide slots in comb I13 in accordance with theextent of the counterclockwise rotation of the Y-levers under the influence of their biasing springs I19 as controlled by the perforations in the tape. The permutable setting of the Y- levers I 12 is transferred through a transfer mechanism to control the contacts of a cam type transmitter distributor I8, Figs. 2 and 3, which redistributes or retransmits the received and recorded code signal combinations.

The transfer mechanism is supported by a pair of depending structural elements depending from base casting 2|. These elements 226 and 221, Figs. 1 and 4, are provided with pivot studs 228 to which is pivotally articulated a yoke frame which carries the transfer levers and which comprises a pair of vertical arms 229 and 23I interconnected by a horizontally disposed member 232. A horizontally disposed pivot shaft 233, Fig. 4, extends between the upper portions of vertical frame members 229 and 23I of the transfer frame and there is mounted on the shaft a plurality of transfer levers 234 which are substantially T- shaped and suitably spaced horizontally along shaft 233 by means of spacing discs 235. The upper and lower extremities of the vertical sections of T-levers 234 face the fork elements of the Y-levers I12, Fig. 4, and when the Y-levers are positioned in the upper portion of the slide groove of comb I13, the upper tines of the Y-levers are in substantial alignment with the upper extremities of the T-levers and, conversely, when the Y- levers are positioned in the lower portion of the comb, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the lower tines are in substantial alignment with the lower extremities of the T-levers.

In order to transfer the permutable setting of the Y-levers to the transfer levers, the frame of the transfer mechanism is pivotally supported as described above, and cam I89, Figs. 2 and 4, which is included in cam. drum I86, operates upon a cam follower 236, Figs. 1 and 4, formed as a projection on the member 229 of the frame of the transfer mechanism. A biasing spring (not shown) operates normally to hold the transfer frame in its counterclockwise position, but the operation of cam I89 on cam follower 236 is sufficient to overcome this spring bias and rotate the transfer frame and the T-levers 234 into a clockwise position in which the terminals of the T-levers come into abutting relation with the tines of the Y-levers in accordance with the permutable setting of the Y-levers, and this engagement of the T-levers with the Y-levers rocks the T-levers in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about shaft 233 and transfers, in this manner, the'setting of the Y-levers to the T-levers.

Mor particularly, if a. Y-lever is assumed to be in its lower position in comb I13, in response to its associated sensing finger I65 entering a code perforation in the tape under the influence of its biasing spring I19, when the cam I89 operates the transfer mechanism in timed relation to the probing of the tape under the control of cams I 81, it will bring the T-lever associated with the particular Y-lever toward the Y-lever, the lower tine of which will engage the lower extremity of the vertical section of the T-lever 234, and through this engagement will rock the T-lever 234 in a clockwise direction about shaft 233. Conversely, when the Y-lever is in its upper position in the comb I13 due to the failure of its finger I65 to enter a perforation in the tape, when the associated T-lever is brought into engagement with the Y-lever, the upper tine of the Y-lever will engage the upper extremity of the vertical section of the T-lever and in this engagement rock the T-lever in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 233. The transfer of the setting of the individual Y-levers to the associated individual T-levers takes place simultaneously and after it has taken place, the return spring on the transfer mechanism is effective under the control of cam I89 to rotate the transfer mechanism, and the T-levers in their permutable relation with respect to one another, to their normal or counterclockwise position and, in this manner, free the plurality of Y-levers which may then be returned to their normal position by cams I81 retracting the fingers I65 from engagement with the perforated tape, preparatory to the sensing of a subsequent code combination. When the transfer mechanism is returned to normal, it maintains control over a transmitting distributor to transmit the signal combination transferred from the Y-levers and during this transmission, cam drum I86 initiates another cycle of the sensing unit, setting the Y-levers in accordance with the following code signal combination recorded in the tape, thereby providing signal overlap between the sensing unit and transfer mechanism.

There is associated with each T-lever a code vane 24I, Figs. 1 and 4, and this association is through a member 242 affixed to each code vane and provided at its rightward extremity as viewed in Fig. 4, with a bifurcation to which is slidably articulated the leftward extremity of the associated T-lever. Each code vane 24! is pivotally supported at each of its extremities upon pivot post 243, Fig. 2, mounted in a vertically extending support plate 244 carried upon the base casting 2I of the apparatus. There are as many pivoted code vanes provided as there are T-levers, one vane being associated with one T-lever in the above-described manner. In this particular embodiment of the invention, wherein it is contemplated to employ a five-unit code, there are provided five Y-levers, five T-levers and five pivoted code vanes mutuall associated with one another. The code vanes 24I (Fig. 2) extend from the front to the rear and at one side of the printing telegraph apparatus to provide a compact unitary structure, and at its leftward extremity, Fig. 2, each code vane is provided with a blocking lever 248 to control the transmitting contacts of cam type distributor I8.

Cam type distributor I8, Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a cam drum 241 upon which are mounted the five code impulse controlling cams and the start-stop controlling 'cam, as is well known in the art, and described with particularity in PatentNo. 1,595,472 to Krum, Cam drum 24'! is loosely mounted on shaft 248 which-receives its driving power from shaft I66, Fig. 4, which carries gear 249 meshing with a gear 25[ secured to shaft 248. A grab or positive clutch comprising a driving element 252,- Fig. 2, secured to shaft 248 and a driven portion 253 rotatably mouunted upon shaft 248- and controlled by clutch throwout lever 254 is provided to connect the power from shaft 248, through the grab clutch, to cam drum 241 when magnet 256 is energized, retracting the clutchthroughout lever 254 from engagement withthe cam on the peripheral portion of clutch element 253 permitting engagement of the elements of the grab clutch in a manner referredto hereinbefore in connection with another similar grab clutch construction. Shaft 248 is suitably journaled n supports provided in the base casting 2I, one of which isillustrated at 251. I

Associated with the cam drum 24'! are a plurality of levers 258, Fig. 3, pivoted on a shaft 259 and operated by camson cam drum 241 when permitted to move by the blocking levers 246 to control the operation of transmitting contacts 260 associated with a telegraph line (not shown).

In Fig. 3 the levers 258 and cam drum 241 are illustrated, and from that View it may be seen that the horizontally extending portion of each lever 258 comprises a cam following element 258 and a vertically extending blocking projection 26I. A spring (not shown) individual to each lever 253 tends normally to rotate each lever in a clockwise direction about pivot 259, When cam drum 241 is permitted to rotate due to the energization of magnet 256, the code impulse controlling cams, successively present cam depressions to the cam followers 259 and in response thereto, the biasing springs rotate the levers in a clockwise direction to close the associated contact 256 if the blocking lever 246 associated with the particular lever 258 is in its counter-clockwise position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, due to the counterclockwise position of its respective code vane, under the control of the T-levers. If a code vane has been conditioned in its clockwise position by its T-lever, the blocking lever 246 carried by that code vane will be positioned in its clockwise position or into abutting relation with the blocking projection 26I of the lever 258 associated therewith, and when the cam recess is presented to the cam follower 250 of that lever, the clockwise rotation of the lever is restrained through the engagement of the blocking lever 246 with the blocking extension 26I, preventing the closure of the cam operated contacts 260 associated with that particular lever.

The energization of electromagnet 256 is under the control of cam I88 on cam sleeve I86 of the sensing unit which, through the orientation of cam I88 on the sleeve, releases the distributor shaft 248 to drive the cam sleeve 24! in timed relation to the sensing and transfer of the code combinations in the tape Cam I88 operates a bell crank I83, Fig. 1, pivoted on shaft I56 to close contacts I34, Fig. 2, which complete a simple energizing circuit (not shown) to the electromagnet 256 in each cycle of revolution of the sensing unit cam drum I86 to cause the grab clutch 252253 in the transmitting distributor unit to be engaged for a, single cycle of revolution.

The grab clutch driving the distributor cam drum 241. may be-mechanically released, rather than electromagnetically; if suchrelease is desired. The mechanism for this operation of the clutch is indicated in dotted construction in Fig. 3 and comprises a sixth pivoted code vane which would be operated by'bell crank I83 under the control of cam I88 to move a pivoted bell crank 282, secured to the sixth code vane, in a clockwise direction to engage a cam section 263 provided on. the horizontally extending portion of clutch throwout lever 254, and pivot the clutch throwout lever 254 in a counterclockwise direction, removing the lever from engagement with the throwout cam on the driven element of the grab clutch.

The operation of the transfer mechanism and the transmitting distributor briefly is as follows:

In timed relation to the setting of the Y-levers I'I2, cam I89 operates to move the transfer mechanism including the transfer T-levers 234 to their clockwise position and permutably set the T- levers in their clockwise or counterclockwise position about shaft 233 in accordance with the engagement of the T and Y levers; that is, by engagement with the lower extremities of the T-levers, the levers are rotated in a clockwise direction in response to a marking impulse indicated in the perforated tape and, conversely, are rotated in a counterclockwise direction in response to the spacing impulse indicated in the tape. Through their association With the connecting links 242 the code vanes will be correspondingly conditioned in a permutable setting corresponding to that setting which has been transferred to the T-levers from the Y-levers and in this setting the T-levers which have been rotated in a clockwise direction, rotate their associated pivoted code vanes in a counterclockwise direction and, conversely, those T-levers which are positioned in a counterclockwise direction condition their code vanes in a clockwise position. Correspondingly, the blocking levers 246 are moved respectively out of and into engagement with the blocking projections 26I on the levers 258. Those code vanes 24I which have been positioned in a counterclockwise direction in response to a marking impulse rotate their blocking levers out of engagement with the blocking projection 26I on their associated levers 258 permitting the contacts controlled by those levers to be closed under the control of the cam drum 241, to initiate a marking impulse. Conversely, the pivoted code vanes 24I which have been moved in a clockwise direction in response to spacing impulses, position the blocking levers 246 into blocking relation with their levers 258, to prevent the closure of the contacts 260 asso ciated with those levers and thus initiate a spacing impulse. In this manner, the code combination, sensed by the sensing unit and transferred to the code vanes by the transfer mechanism, is set up in the transmitting distributor and retransmitted.

Automatic switching mechanism In order to effect automatic switching or any of the various functions which it may be desired between successive bell cranks. For the purpose of effecting switching operations, contacts 21! associated with communication channels are suitably supported in a position to be operated by the vertical arms of bell cranks 266 as illustrated in Fig. 4. Each function bell crank 266 is provided with a biasingspring 212 tending to rock th bell crank about its pivoted shaft 261 in a clockwise directionto operate the contact pair associated therewith.

Each function bell crank is provided with code notches 213 which respond to the permutable setting of the code vanes 2M to enable selective operation of the bell cranks'in response to received code signal combinations. That is, for a given permutable setting of code vanes 22!, there would respond for operation a selected bell crank 268, that selected bell crank being the one which carries on its coded surface the code corresponding to the permutable setting of the code vanes 24L When a bell crank is thus selected, its biasing spring 212 is effective to rotate the bell crank in a clockwise direction and operate through its vertical arm the associated contacts 2'.

A selected function bell crank 265, selected in response to the setting of vanes 24!, is restored to its counterclockwise position against the tension of itsbiasing spring by a cam I92 on cam drum I86 atthe completion of the instant cycle of operation which is ample time to accomplish the selected switching operation. For this purpose, a shaft 3lB, Fig. 1, is rovided extending parallel to vanes 24! and suitably supported benath the horizontal portion of main casting 2|.

A bail 31! extending transversely of and benea h function bell cranks 266 is pivotally supported by shaft 3l'6 and has a cam following projection 3|8, Fig. 4, operated by cam [92. Near the completion of each cycle of cam drum I86, cam I92 operates follower 3l8, rocking bail 311 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and moves all bell cranks 2B6to an extreme counterclockwise position, away from vanes 24l, freeing the vanes for the next permutational setting. In the following cycle of operation, after cam drum I85 has caused a succeeding permutational settin to be transferred to vanes 24!, cam )2 permits a restoring spring 3| 9 to rotate bail 311 in a counterclockwise direction freeing all of the bell cranks266 to rock on shaft 261 and probe the new setting of the vanes 24l resulting in a selected operation of the bell cranks and associated switching contacts.

A cognizance device, illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10, is provided to render the function levers 2B3 responsive to the code setting of the codevanes 24l only when it is desired to perform switching or other functions and to render the switching function levers nonresponsive to the permutable setting of the code vanes at all other times. The cognizance device comprises a plurality of selectively operable control bars which must be properly conditioned to render the function bell cranks-28B responsive to the permutable setting of the code vanes 24!. Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, the control bars 214 and 216, are supported by a frame member 211, which in turn is supported in any suitable manner '(not shown) to the base casting 2|. The control bars 214 and 216 are slidably supported upon pins 218, 219, and 28!! which are mounted in the frame member 211 projecting throughslotted apertures 28! in the control bars, Codebars 2,1,4 and 21% extend transverselyof and beneath the function bell cranks 266 and normally present blocking projections 282 to each of the function bell cranks which prevent the clockwise rotation of the bell cranks under the control of their springs 212 in response to the permutable setting of the code vanes 24i. However, each control bar 214 and 216 is provided with notches 283 which, when the control bars have been operated in a predetermined manner, will be positioned beneath the function bell cranks 26E rendering the bell cranks responsive to subsequent operations of the code vanes 24!.

Pivotally supported on pm 218 is a bell crank 284 one arm of which isprovided with a bifurcation to engage a pin 285 secured to code bar 214. Similarly, bell crank 286 is pivotally supported on pin 219 and one arm of the bell crank engages a pin 281 incode bar 219. A third bell crank 288 is pivotally supported on pin 28!] and one of its arms engages a pin 289 which extends from .control bar 214 through control bar 215. A plurality of control function levers indicated 29!, 252, and 293 is provided for operating the bell cranks 284, 286, and 288 to effect the responsiveness of the switching function levers 255 to the permutable setting of the code vanes 241. Although any particular function levers of the groupindicated 266 may be employed to condition the control bars 21 4 and 216, specific ones to be identified presently have been selected in this embodiment of .the invention. Control function lever .29! is the Fig. function lever, control function lever 292 is the shift H function lever and control function lever 293 is the letters function lever. When the function levers 296 are held from responding to the permutable setting of the code vanes 24!, control bars 214 and 215 are positioned in their leftward position as viewed, in Fig. 10, presenting a blocking tooth 282 beneath each of the, function control levers exclusive of the Figs. function lever 29l and letters function lever 293. In this condition of the cognizance device, control function lever 292, the shift H function lever, has a blocking projection 282 on the control bar 214 positioned beneath it. When it is desired to perform a switching or other function through the agency of the function bell cranks 266, the signal combination toselect the Figs. function lever is set up from the perforated tape in the code vanes 24! in response to which control function lever 29l is selected and operated about pivot 261 into its extreme clockwise position, as viewed in Fig. 4, since there is a notch in thecontrol bars 214' and 216, beneath this particular bell crank. In assuming its most clockwise position, lever 29l depresses bell crank 234 rocking it in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, about pin 218, and accordingly, the bifurcated portion of the bell crank through its engagement with pin 285 shifts rightwardly the first control bar 214. This positionment of control bar 214, presents a notch under control function lever 2 92, asindicated in Fig. 10, so that control function lever 292 may be operated, but the pathjof the remaining function levers 256, other than the control function levers 291, 292, and 233, are blocked due to the leftward position of control bar 216.

Following this step in preparing the operation of the function levers 266, the shift H function lever code. combinationis set upin the code vanes 24I bycontrol exercised from the perforated tape which selects the control function lever 1292 which mayoperatebecauseof the Shiftedp sition of the first control bar 214. In selectingandoper- 'ing signal combinations,

ing signal combinations, the letters function sigating control function lever 292, bell crank 235 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, and through the engagement of the bell crank 286 with pin 28! the second code bar 216 is shifted ina rightward direction which removes the remaining blocking projections 2532 from beneath the function levers 266 and in this condition the cognizance device permits selective operation of the control or switching function levers 269 in response to subsequent code signal combinations set up in the control vanes by the perforated tape.

When the required switching or other functions have been accomplished through the code combinations set up in vanes 24l subsequent to the final conditioning of the cognizance device, the letters selection combination is set up in the code vanes which operates the control function lever 293. In operating, control function lever 293 rotates bell crank 288 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, and through its engagement with pin 289 which extends between both control bars slides both the control bars in a leftward direction disabling the function levers 266 from responsiveness to the subsequent permutable settings of the code vanes, until the cognizance device has again been operated in the above-described predetermined sequence.

Although there has been disclosed a cognizance device including only two control bars, it is to be understood that the system is very flexible and may be enlarged to accommodate any switching requirement by merely adding more control bars to the cognizance device, and having each controlled through the permutable setting of the others, in a manner similar to the one in which control bar 216 is controlled through the setting of the first control bar 214. The number of control bars required in the cognizance device will be determined, of course, by the complexity of the system in which the particular apparatus is employed.

In order to utiliz the automatic switching mechanism, the substation at which a message is to be originated, transmits in sequence, the Figs. signal combination and the shift H signal combination followed immediately by switch- Following the switchnal combination is transmitted after which the message signal combinations may be transmitted. At the receiving station these signals are received, recorded, and stored in a tape, transferred to the transmittin distributor and automatic switching mechanism to first condition the switching mechanism for operation, selectively operate it,;' and disable it in sequence. The switching signals preceding the message signals may set up any desired switching combinations for signal distribution.

Back spacing mechanism A back spacing mechanism is provided for the printing reperforator, Fig. 8, comprising an operating lever 296 pivotally supported on a stud 29'! mounted on the reperforator casting 61, a back spacing pawl 298 and a back spacing ratchet 299. The back spacing pawl 2 98 is pivotally supported on a pin 31H mounted in the leftward extremity of the back spacing lever 296, and is normally urged in a. clockwise direction by a spring 302 secured'to a pin 303 on the back spacinglever 296 and a spring post projecting from the pawl 293. A limiting pin 304 limits the clockwise rotation of the feed pawl. The back spacing ratchet 299 is secured to shaft 82, Fig. 2, upon which is mounted feed wheel 8!. A thumb nut 300 on the extremity of shaft 82 is provided for the manual, adjustment of the tape; that is, to provide for manually advancing the tape in either a forward or back spacing motion. A pin 395, Fig. 1, projects at right angles from the forward extremity of the back spacing lever 296 extending transversely of the reperforator into engagement with the feed pawl 83 and is operable in the customary manner to disengage the feed pawl 83 from feed ratchet 84 when the back spacing lever 296 is rotated in a clockwise direction to effect a back spacing movement.

When there is a tape loop between the tape sensing unit and the printing reperforator, the back spacing mechanism operates in a manner similar to any back spacing mechanism well known in the art; that is, the back spacing lever 29% is operated about pivot 29'! which reciprocates the back spacing pawl 298 in a vertical plane and on the upward stroke of the pawl it engages the back spacing ratchet 299, stepping ratchet 299 in a clockwise direction which results in a similar rotation being imparted to shaft 82 and feed wheel 8| to back space the tape. During the back spacing operation, the blades '75 carried by stripper pins 14 are in the tape path and in horizontal alignment with rows of perforations, serving to engage the lids of the lidded apertures in the tape and cam them downwardly into the web of the tape to facilitate passage of the tape through guideway 13 in the code punch block. The tape gate I03 of the sensing unit is slotted to receive blades 15 as the sensing unit approaches its extreme clockwise position, in abutment with the code punch block.

As has been carefully described in copending application Serial No. 274,796 identified in connection with the above description of the sensing unit, the mechanism in the sensing unit for feeding the tape through the sensing unit is provided with tape feeding teeth which normally engage the feed perforations in the tape and accordingly, when the tape is back spaced or moved from the sensing unit back to the printing reperforator in the back spacing operation, the tape tends to carry the sensing unit with it. If the back spacing operation is not terminated when the transmitter has been drawn by the tape back into engagement with the perforating punch block, the continued operation of the back spacing device will cause a tearing of the tape due to the engagement of the feeding teeth of the feed member in the pivoted transmitter with the feed perforations in the tape.

In order to disable the back spacing operation and save the tape when the pivoted transmitter has reached approximately its most clockwise position, a projection 306, Figs. 1 and '7, carried by frame member 50 of the pivoted transmitter operates to disable the back spacing mechanism. A disabling lever 301, Figs. 7 and 8, is piv otally supported on a pin 308 secured to the reperforator punch block 61 and the lever carries at its lower extremity a pin 309 extending across the back spacing pawl 298, Fig. 7. Normally the lever 30'! is confined between the back spacing pawl 298 in one direction and a pin 3l0 secured to the punch block in the opposite direction resulting in a substantially vertical positioning of the lever 3M during the normal operation of the back spacing device. Projection 39B carried on frame member I60 of the pivoted transmitter is in alignment withthe pivoted'lever 301 and as the pivoted transmitter is moved by the tape in a continuous series of back spacing operations, the projection 306 is brought into abutting relation with pivoted lever 301. Upon the next back spacing operation the pawl 298 will be in the dotted position illustrated in Fig. 8, when it engages the ratchet to rotate it in a clockwise direction to eifect back spacing and in this position, pin

309 is opposite the recess portion 3| I of pawl 298 and upon the completion of that particular back spacing operation, the frame member I60 of the pivoted transmitter Will rotate'member 301 in a clockwise direction moving pin 309 into the recess 3 so that when the back spacing lever 296 is released andpawl 29B islowered the pin 309, being held in a clockwiseposition by the engagement of projection 306 on the transmitter frame 160, will cam the back spacing pawl 298 in' a counterclockwise direction out of alignment with ratchet 299. Subsequent back spacing operations are thereby rendered ineffective.

On subsequent operations of the printing reperforator which impart a forward feeding stroke to the tape, the transmitter as explained above,

is rocked in a counterclockwise direction about its pivots I58 withdrawing the projection 306 from engagement with the pivoted lever 30'! and the pawl 298 is effective then through its return spring 332 to rotate lever 30'! in a counterclockwise direction until it'engages the limiting stop 3). In this position of thepawl 298, the back spacing mechanism is again conditioned to efiect backspacing of the tape until the pivoted transmitter is brought into its final clockwise position against the printing reperforator.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the drawings and described in the specification, it is to be understood that-the invention is not limited to such specific embodiment but may be modified and rearranged without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph apparatus, means for applying record indicia to a record strip, a record sensing apparatus in juxtaposition with said indicia applying means and rotatable theretoward, and

. a tape loop former to direct the tape in a predetermined path between said indicia applying means and said sensing apparatus, said tape loop former provided with means for preventing under predetermined operating conditions rotation toward said indicia applying means.

2. In a telegraph apparatus, the combination of a recording mechanism to record indicia on a strip, a record sensing mechanism to sense the strip, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposie tion with said indicia recording mechanism and movable relative thereto, and a tape deflector to form the tape into a loop between said indicia recording mechanism and said sensing mechanism and operable to render said sensing mechanism immovable with respect to said recording mechanism when the tape loop is greater than a predetermined size.

3. A telegraph apparatus comprising a recording mechanism to record indicia on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense the indicia recorded on the tape, means for moving one'of said mechanisms with respect to the other so that said sensing mechanism may sense every indicia recorded on the tape, and means interposed between said mechanisms to direct the tape between said mechanisms into a loop and to render said mechanisms immovable with respect to one another when said loop is greater than a predetermin ed size.

4. In a telegraph apparatus, means to record characters on a tape, means to sense recorded characters, said recording and sensing means being in juxtaposed relation and movable with respect to one another, and means to direct the tape into a loop form intermediate the recording and sensing means and to render said recording and sensing means immovable with respect to one another when said loop has exceeded a predetermined size, said tape directing means being operated by the tape when the loop is less than a predetermined size to render said recording and sensing mechanism movable with respect to one another. V

5. A telegraph apparatus comprising a recording mechanism to record messages on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense recorded messages, said mechanisms being in juxtaposed relation and movable with respect to one another, and a tape deflector to direct tape into a loop between said mechanisms and movable into blocking relation with said mechanisms when the loop exceeds a predetermined size and movable out of blocking relation with said mechanisms when the loop is less than a predetermined size.

6. A telegraph apparatuScOmpriSing in combination a recording mechanism to record message signals on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense the tape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relation and movable with respect to said recording mechanism, and a blocking lever pivotally supported on said recording mechanism and extending towards the sensing mechanism, said blocking lever being responsive to the tape intermediate the recording and sensing mechanisms to control the movability of said sensing mechanism.

'7. A telegraph transmitter comprising a plurality of sensing elements for sensing indicia on a control strip, a cam shaft for operating said sensing elements cyclically, a feeding means for advancing the control strip through said transmitter, a feed cam on said cam shaft for operating said feeding means cyclically, and means operable to render said feeding means nonresponsive to the operation of said feed cam whereby a signal may be repeated a plurality of times by said transmitter.

8. A telegraph transmitter including a plurality of sensing elements for sensing indicia on a control strip, transmitting contacts, conditioned by said elements in accordance with the indicia on the strip, a feeding mechanism to advance the strip cyclically through said transmitter, means to impart a rectilinear movement to said feeding mechanism, power driven means to operate said sensing elements and said feeding mechanism, and means to remove said feeding mechanism from operative relation with said power driven means to cause said transmitter to repeat one signal a plurality of times.

9. A telegraph apparatus comprising in combination a recording mechanism to record indicia on a control tape, a sensing mechanism to sense the indicia on the tape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relation with respect to said recording mechanism, one of said mechanisms being movable with respect to the other, means to advance the tape from the recording mechanism to the sensing mechanism, means to back space the tape, and means to disable said back spacing means when the tape section intermedimeans to disable the back-spacing mechanism when said sensing mechanism is within a predetermined distance of said recording mechanism.

11. In a telegraph apparatus the combination of a recording mechanism to record indicia on a tape, a tape sensing mechanism movable by the tape, means to feed the tape from said recording to said sensing mechanism, means to back space the tape, and means controlled by said sensing mechanism to disable said back spacing means.

12. In a telegraph apparatus, a mechanism to record indicia on a tape, mechanism to sense indicia on the tape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relation with and movable with respect to said recording mechanism, a plurality of sensing elements in said sensing mechanism to be cyclically moved into probing relation with the tape, and means controlled by a predetermined one of said sensing elements to interrupt the operation of said sensing mechanism in response to a predetermined condition of the tape.

13. A telegraph apparatus comprising in combination a recording mechanism to, record mes sage signals on a tape, a sensing mechanism to sense the tape, said sensing mechanism being in juxtaposed relation and movable with respect to said recording mechanism, and a blocking lever associated with said recording mechanism and extending towards the sensing mechanism, said blocking lever being responsive to the tape intermediate the recording and sensing mechanisms to control the movability of said sensing mechamsm.

, 14. In combination in a perforator-transmitter apparatus, a perforating mechanism for recording messages in a tape, a pivoted transmitter comprising a plurality of tape-probing elements, said transmitter being in juxtaposed relation to and movable with respect to said perforating mechanism, tape feeding means in said transmitter, a tape guiding means in said transmitter associated with said tape feeding means, a tape loop forming instrumentality operably interposed between said perforating mechanism and said transmitter and effective automatically after a predetermined rotation of said transmitter to initiate a. depending loop therebetween, and a plurality of supporting members adapted to be threaded between certain ones of said tape probing elements to provide with said perforating mechanism spaced abutments for said tape loop whereby during tape loop formation the introduction of the tape into said tape guiding means is facilitated and mutilation of the tape by said tape feeding means is obviated.

ROSS A. LAKE.

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