US2478218A - Telegraph service equipment - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1949. J, WISE r L 2,478,218

TELEGRAPH SERVICE EQUIPMENT Filed April 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS R.J.WISE c. H. R DINGS ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1949. R. .1. WISE Er AL TELEGRAPHjERVICE EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 21, 1945 R.,J. WISE G.H.RIDINGS vm mm ATTORNEY Filed April 21, 1945 R. J. WISE ET AL TELEGRAPH SERVICE EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 21, 1945 TRANSIMITTER ,us I

AMPLIFIER R. J. WISE ET AL TELEGRAPH SERVICE EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 |57 3O -las |5| (I52 I50 I53 lss INVENTORS R.J.WISE Q P G.H.RIDING$ J J BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PTENT QFFEQE TELEGRAPH SERVICE EQUIPMENT Raleigh J. Wise, Dunellen, and Garviee H. Rid- "ings, Summit, N. 3., assignors to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y.,- "acorporation of New York Application April 21, 1945, Serial .No. 589,482

, 13 Claims.

Our invention relates to the handling of telegraph messages recorded at automatic receiving stations and itsma'in object is to provide novel means for reserving the secrecy of transmitted messages atthe place where they are received for delivery.

'It has been roposed to expedite telegraph service in small towns by placing automatic telegraph receiver's at convenient points, such as drug stores, hotel lobbies and even private homes. These locations thus b'ecome telegraph agencies where the received-messages are delivered by the person in charge of the agency, who may be a store attendant, h'ote'l clerk, housewife or anybody authori'zedto deliver the messages. In large cities, these machines may be placed in apartment houses and-office buildings with-one of the employees in charge.

The telegraph-receiversinstalledat such agenmiles are usually of the facsimile type and the received messages are recorded on tape or other suitable blank. In some cases, these machines also operate as transmitters, where the sender simply drops theimessageinto aslot for automatic transmission.

It is important, especially in small towns, that the messages received on these machines shall be kept secret, so as to remove the fear of gossip or spying into personalaflairs. To assure full privacy of the received message for delivery is the chief purpose of our invention.

The basic idea of this invention involves the automatic-handling of a recordedmessage inside the machine in such a way that when the message is taken out for deliver-y the text of the message is completely hidden and the'only portion visible is the address. The messages are removed from the machine in sealed condition to guard against tampering.

In a preferred embodiment of our invention, a telegraph receiver of the tape recording type is provided with -means' :for automatically feedingthe recorded tape into -a delivery container so constructed that only the address of the en closed message is visible, and the addressee is thus assured that no :prying eyes have seen a word of the message.

In the broad aspect of our'invention, the message may bereoorded' on tape or on sheets either by'ia'csiinile oi 'telepiint ing'niethod. 'When the message is recorded on tape, the container for receiving it may be a small shallow box something like a pill-'boxin which'the recorded tape automatically coils up as it is "fed into it from therecorder with the message side out. After CAT.

the recorded message'is completely enclosed, the tape is cut inside the box, which has a transparent section 'for reading the address on the outer portion of thecoiled-up tape. The text of the message on the inner coils of the tape is fully concealed by the opaque ends of the box.

To enhance the practical value of these machines, we provide a'ma'gazine for holding a mum ber of containers, oneofwhich is always in message-receiving position. After a container has received a recorded message, it is automatically ejected from the magazine and another one takes its place for the next message. Unless a container is in message-receiving position the machine will not operate:

Other novel features and practical advantages will be apparent froma' description of the accompanying drawings,'in whichv Fig. 1 shows a side View of a facsimile recording machine embodying our invention, certain parts being broken awayfor clearness;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at Fig. 1 from right to left, showing the delivery magazine and associated parts;

Fig. 3 represents a 'top'plan view of the apparatus s'hown'in Figs. 1 an'dz;

Fig. 4 is a detached vi'ew'showing'the magazine in tape-receiving position during the recording operation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the tapeguidin'g chute and. associated cutter;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig.5;

Fig, 7 shows an edge'view of a tape receiving box adapted for use in the machine of Figs. '1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 8 'is a perspective of a sealed-box containinga tape-recorded telegraph message for delivery to the addressee;

Fig. '9 shows a detail associated with the follower in the magazine;

Fig. 10 illustrates a structural detail of the box ejecting mechanism;

Fig.11 shows a modified form of box for receiving a telegraph message recorded on tape by a teleprinter as distinguished from-facsimile recording; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of the circuits that control the various electric devices used in our machine.

The recording and message sea'lingmechanism of our invention is housed in a suitable cabinet, notshown, which is .placed in a convenient location, as previously mentioned. This mechanism may be mounted as a unit on a base plate in removably positioned in the cabinet. It will not be necessary to show or describe the structural details of the tape recorder which we have selected by way of example for use in conjunction with the message sealing mechanism, for that type of recorder is well known and does not by itself form part of this invention. It suffices to say that the electrosensitive tape I2 is fed from a supply reell3 over guide rollers l4 and 15 to a recording device 16 which has a helical scanning rib ll in point contact with the tape. The latter is constantly held against the metallic scanning rib IT by a spring pressed rocking arm or frame l8 which carries the conductingroller l5. The tape passes between a pair of feed'rollers l9 which are operated at the proper speed relatively to the speed of the recording member it.

As to the operation of the recording device, we need only explain that the incoming facsimile signals are impressed upon the helical rib and produce markings on the tape B2 to duplicate the transmitted message. A recording blank suitable for this purpose is disclosed in Wise Patent No. 2,294,146, issued May 28, 1935. The helical scanner I6 and the feed rollers l9 are operated by an electric motor through suitable connections such as disclosed in Wise Patent No. 2,205,450, issued June 25, 1940. It will be understood that in the broad view of our invention any practical form of recorder may be used.

From the feed rollers IS, the recorded tape l2 passes through a chute 20 which is a flat tube with a smooth slot 2| for easy passage of the tape. The chute 23 is supported in fixed relation to the feed rollers l9 in any practical way. In Figs. 1, and 6, the chute 20 is attached to a bracket 22 which is mounted between the arms of a U-shaped frame 23, and this frame in turn is secured to an arm 24 projecting from the post 25 on the base plate It. The chute carrying frame 23 may also be used to support a tape cutter comprising a pair of arms 26 arranged on opposite sides of chute 20 and pivoted on pins 21 at the upper end of frame 23. A U-shaped wire spring 28, fastened at its ends in frame 23 and coiled around the pivot pins 21, passes under the tape cutter arms 26 and normally tends to rock the same clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1. This movement is limited by stops 29 arranged to engage the top of chute 20, as seen in Fig. 5. V A knife blade 3!) is attached to the free ends of arms 25 and normally lies below the tape slot 2! of chute 20 so as not to interfere with the free movement of the recorded tape through the chute. When the rear ends of arms 2| are rocked downward against the action of spring 28, the knife blade 30 is thrown up and cuts the tape. The adjacent end of chute 20 cooperatesrwith blade 3!! to shear the tape off cleanly at that point. The upward movement of blade 3!! is but a small fraction of an inch and may be limited by stops 3! on the arms 26 engaging the underside of chute 2B-.

The cutting movement of arms 26 is produced by an electromagnet 32 mounted on post 25 and operatively connected to the cutter arms in any practical way. In Fig. 1, the rear ends of arms 26 carry a depending bracket 33 to which the movable core 32 of magnet 32 is connected by a rod or wire 34. When the magnet is energized, the arms 26 are rocked counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) and the blade 30 moves up to cut the tape. As will be explained later, the cutter magnet 32 is automatically energized at the right moment after completion of the message.

The recorded tape l2 passes from the chute 20 directly into a container B which is adapted to receive the outlet end of the chute and allows the released tape to coil up automatically inside the container, as indicated in Fig. 4. The spiral 52 represents the coiled up tape on which the complete message has been recorded, including the name and address of'the sendee. The cutting of the tape takes place within the container while the parts are still in the position shown in Fig. 4.

The novel container B is so constructed as to permit the entry and withdrawal of the cutter blade and to conceal the enclosed message completely, leaving only the address to be read by the attendant of the machine. In the illustrated form of our invention, the container B is of pillbox shape comprising a pair of opaque end pieces 35 of stiff paper or like material and a transparent central section 36 of cellophane or similar material available in the market. The end pieces 35 are provided with hollow ribs 3'! which form grooves for receiving the ends of the transparent strip 36. By cementing these edges into the grooves of ribs 31 the parts are firmly connected, the ribs adding to the strength of the box.

The central strip 36 terminates in a tongue 3611 which is free of the holding ribs 31 and acts like a resilient flap to close the box. As seen in Fig. 1, the tip of tongue 35a normally rests against the fixed lower end 36b of strip 36, thereby completely closing the box. When the latter is moved toward the chute 20 by a mechanism to be presently described, the chute pushes the tongue 35a up, as shown in Fig. 4, to provide anopening for the passage of the tape into the box. The tape enters the box in a direction substantially tangential to the glassy cylindrical wall of strip 36, which therefore causes the entering tape to coil up automatically into a spiral. When the box is moved away from the chute after the cutting operation, the spring tongue 3611 automatically moves to closing position, whereby the message is sealed within the box. If desired, a separate seal bearing a distinctive mark can be applied to the transparent wall 36 over the tongue 36a.

In the particular embodiment which We have illustrated, the recorded message is at the bottom of the tape as it passes through the chute 20 into the box. Accordingly, the message is on the outer side of the tape coils in the box, but the only recording visible on the outer coil through the transparent wall 36 is the name and address of the person for whom the message is intended, as may be seen in Fig. 8. Since the address portion of the tape goes last into the box, the facsimile message must be recorded backward. However, if the message is recorded by teleprinter, the recording is done in the usual way except that the address is put at the end of the message,

' as shown in Fig. 11. In this case, the recording is on the upper side of the tape which is, therefore, inserted into the box at the top, so that the address is on the outer side of the last coil, the same as in Fig. 4. Otherwise what has been said for the box in Fig. 8 applies to the box in Fig. 11.

It should be noted that the automatic transfer of the received telegraph message from the recorder into box B takes place inside the cabinet of the machine unseenby anybody, and when the sealed box with the enclosed message is removed from the machine, the only thing visible through the transparent wall of the box is the address 5. portion'of the message. The textis fully-- con-'- cealecl by the opaque ends .35; even if the tape is loosely coiled up,- forv the inside of' the box is only slightly wider. than the tape.- By cutting the tape off inside the box; the closing of flap 36a prevents withdrawal of the tape.

It will .thus be seen that the received message remains concealed from. the time it leaves the recorder until it-is delivered to the addressee. in the sealed container: in which it was automatically wrapped inside the. receiving cabinet. This handling-f the message. to preserve; itssecrecy constitutes one of the main advantages-of our invention. For easy removal of the messagefrom the-box by the addressee, one of the end pieces 35 in the box may have a-perforated circular line 35 where the box can be ripped open with the thumb nail.

In the present machine, we have provided la.- magazine for holding a number of boxes and feedingthem one at a time into, message-receiving position. Referring to Figs. 2 and .3, a hori zontal magazine 38 isadapted to receive a certain number of boxes side by side. Afollower 3,5 operated by an expanding coil spring Minormally tends to push the boxes to. the left. The end box is the only oneintape-receiving position opposite the chute 20, as seenin the. plan View of Fig. 3. The follower 39, which may beladisk or plate engaging the last box, is connectedv to a rod 4! which passes throughthe magazine. and terminates in a knob GZ formanually withdrawing th follower to the. right when the-magazine is filled.

The magazine 38is closed by adoor GS-hinged at 44 alongthe lower edge and heldclosedby a. spring latch 45. A handle 45 projects from. the. door for easy manipulation. As shown.in-Fig.. 9; a latch 47 is pivoted on a pin flfiiproje'cting from the end wall of the magazine anda spring 49 normally pulls the latch up. The rodALhas a slot or notch (see Fig. 2) arranged toreceive the latch 41. To fill the magazine, the door 43- is swung down and the knob 32. is pulledout until the spring-pressed latch 4T snaps. into. the .1

This holds the follower. 31$.

notch 50 on rod 5!. in withdrawn position, sothatthe. boxes. carnbe readily inserted;

It is necessary'that the boxes be correctly positioned in the magazine; that is to say,,,the..

tape inlet'closed by the flap 36a must be. opposite the outlet of chute 2%, as shown in Fig. 1'. we. have provided means for compelling. the. correct insertion of the boxes intothe. magazine. The

top rear-edge of the magazine isformediwitha r slanting face 5| (see Figs. 3"and ll adaptedltd receive a correspondingly bevelled corner 52; on. box 13; It is' only when these two angular. sur faces engage, that the box goes fully into. the-- magazineandonly then is the box incorrectposie tion, aswill be clear. from Fig; 4. Should-the. attendant carelessly'put'a box into. the magazine the wrong way; it'will be impossible toclose the door 43. Therefore, whenthe doorcan. beclosed it indicates the correct positioning, of! all the boxes inthe'magazine.

We may also provide means for automatically releasing the follower 39 when thedoor. 434sclosed. A lug .53 projecting from thezdoor strikes the end 5401" latch l'i when thedoor is-closed-and. therefore, moves the latch out of the: notch. 58: on rod 4!; The coil spring 40 thereupon-moves the follower 39 against the. last box and maimtainsthe follower inoperative position untilall the boxes, have been. removed from. the magazine".

mounted .on. top of. the magazinebymeans 0 a bracket 13., An. ejecting fingerv 'l i is pivoby; ejector r mechanism: to be describedilatenfom- The magazine 3811s: slidable asiar unit toward andaway; from theoutlet ofthe; stationary chute 20. Anwpractical form of: mounting: may beused. forslidablysupportingt the; magazine; By way of "example, we have showna-pa-ir of upright plates or standards .55 and 56 secured 'to the: base l0. and carrying, atv their uppfer ends: a; ir of slotted rails 5:1 and .58; respectivelyi. Theendsof. the bottom plate: ES-ofthe-magazine: extend into the slots ofirails-:5 'l"and58,- as. best sh own iniligi 2.; whereby themagazine is support'edifor transverse sliding. movement.v To limit this movement; which need not be-more than: a: half-inch; stop; pieces Bilandtl are attachedto. theopposite erids' of rail-s51 and 58. Themagazineilti-movesato ward the. chute-29 until the base plate:59-strikes the. stops 6!), .while-thestops Sllimitt the reverse movement of the magazine; as-will be clean-from? Figs. 4: and- 1,.respectively.

We will now describecthemechanismsfor mov= ing the magazine: 38\ from one positionto the: other. Referring to Figsi 1-, 2-an'd'. 4;,twospaced. links 62 are pivoted-at the-:lower endson pinata carried by the main base IB-andthe-upperends of these links are connected. torpins-64 project-- ing. from. the. bottom plate. 59. of: the-:- magazine-.3 The links 62.- arerigidly connected-bya -crosserod- $5 which carries an. arm 66-preerably-at or near: the center ofv the. rod.- The'arm:66-.hasa:-hl1b 61 through which. the. rod fiiipassesa A; coil; spring. 68,.connectedat-one=endto-hub fi1 andiat the other end'to post 69 on base ll), normally holds the. mechanism in withdrawn.- positiom against the. stopsfiil; as shown .in. Fig. 1. Them-magazine. 3.8 is moved. toward-the tapechute' 2 O- byan eleca tromagnetll) mountedona:bracket ll-i Themovable core. E2 of. this magnetis connected-tether arm 66. When the magnet!!! isenergized, the core. 121s pulled. in and themagazine38 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 1 totha-t-shown in? Fig. 4, where the outlet of chute and. thecuttingblade are insidethe :box.B. The magnet- Hf-remains energized. to-hold the boxin. tape: receiving position untilthetape has beenicut after completion. ofthe. message; When the magnet 18 isid'eenergized, thespring 68 pullsthe: magazine to the. withdrawn position. shown-in-v Fig. 1. The control. ofImagnet 'm.willbeexplainede in the description of Fig 12.-

After the message bearing tape has, beeniullyenclosed. in boxB, the latter is automatiallyrew moved" from the. magazinexby ejector mechanism: indicated as a. whole by J.. This mechanism-is t'o'thefi'ee end ofan arm '-'5 by a pin 75. A-wire: pring??? coiled around the pin? 6 normally=holds a. projection. 18 on fihger l l againsta pinl9-om arm. as shown in Fig.1- In. this vwayatheeject-- ingfihger 113. forms arigid extensloniofltherarml'lii when the latter; swings counterclocltwise; However,. during the: return. movement of. thee'a'rm. 15;: the fingerllelis-lfree to rook-omits pivot -l For conveniencewe mayre-fer to the connected-meme bers 14-1 5 asan, ejecting lever;

The upper endsofarm l5 ispivotally mounteda. on. thetbracket 'l-3- byymeans ofiapin tiim'igt .19) l which turns in a bushing ill carried .bythe bracket; The .pivot pin-B6: has: a screw "threaded extension 82 which form La shoulder-3 at the inner endofthepingxthig: shoulder projecti g slightly beyond. the face-c offthe': bracket 73? A nut. 84 clamps the: arm 1 1.5% rigidly? aga-irst the shoulder 83550 rthat therarrrrzandi imaiways oa erate as aunit. A wire spring 85, coiled around the pin extension 82, is attached at one end to the bracket I3 and at the other end it engages the lower edge of arm I5, whereby the spring normally hold the arm against a stop 96 on the bracket. The pivot pin 89 carries at its outer end a pulley 81 on which is wound a cord or wire 88. One end of this cord is fastened to the pulley, as indicated at 89, and the other end is connected to the movable core 90 of an electromagnet 9i mounted on the bracket 13. When the magnet 9| is energized the core 99 turns the pin 89 and the ejecting lever 'I4l5 is swung toward and over the magazine to the dotted line position J in Fig. 1 until the arm I strikes a stop 92. Upon deenergization of magnet 9I the spring 85 moves the lever 'I4'I5 back to normal position.

' The ejecting finger M terminates in a lateral bar I4 arranged in alignment with the box that is in tape receiving position, as shown in Fig. 3. The width of the bar M is preferably such that it engages the sides 35 of the box during the ejecting operation, which is completed when the lever Id-15 reaches the dotted line position J. The door 43 of magazine 33 does not cover the end box that receives the message, so that this box is free to be pushed out of the magazine into a chute 93 which guides the message holding box to a suitable point in the cabinet for removal. The action of ejecting magnet 9i may be slowed down, as by a dashpot arrangement, so that the bar I4 will not strike the box with too hard a blow.

As soon as the message holding box 33 has been ejected from the magazine, the spring-pressel follower 39 pushes the next box into message receiving position, and this may take place before the ejecting lever IE-I5 has started on it return movement. In that event the finger M rocks on its pivot I5 and i dragged by the arm I5 over the new end box without disturbing the latter. In other words, while the lever ll'5 acts as a single rigid member during the ejecting operation, it collapses to permit return of the parts to normal position.

Ordinarily the pressure of spring 49 in the magazine will be sufficient to hold the end box firmly in operative position. However, to guard against a possible displacement of the box when it is pushed against the chute 29 into tape receiving position, we provide a positive stop 94- which extends across the rear edge of the box (see Figs. 2 and 3) and looks it in the magazine. It is necessary, of course, to withdraw th stop 94 prior to. the ejecting operation and that is done automatically by an electromagnet 95 mounted on the end plate 99 of the magazine. The stop 94 is a pawl pivoted on a vertical pin 91 carried by a bracket 99 on the plate 95. A pulley 99 rotatably mounted on pin 9? is attached to the stop 94, so that these two part always turn together. A cordor wire I99 connects the pulley 99 to the movable core Iiil of magnet 95. A coil spring I02 normally holds the stop 99 in box engaging position, as shown in Fig. 3. When the magnet 95 is energized, the stop 9 is instantly swung out of the way to the position 99. A slot I03 in delivery chute 93 allows free movement of the stop.

It is necessary to prevent operation of the recording mechanism unless a box is in message receiving position. For this purpose we provide means whereby the end box in the magazine holds certain switches closed to maintain the recording mechanismin its operative condition. Re-

8 ferring to Figs. 1 and 2, the end plate of the magazine has a bottom slot I04 adapted to receive a bar or strip I 05 carried by a pin I95. This pin is connected to a pair of switch arms I01 and I08 which are associated with contacts I07 and I08 respectively. The pin I05 i insulated from the switch arms I0! and I08, which are shown as spring blades inherently tending to move away from their respective contacts. The switch members I0I-I0I and I08I08' are carried by an insulating block I 09 which is mounted on the upright plate 56. It is clear from Fig. 2 that when a box is in message receiving position, it engages the bar I05 and thereby holds the switch arms I0! and I 08 pressed against their contacts I91 and I08. However, when no box is in message receiving position, the spring arms I01 and I09 move to open position and break the circuits controlled by those two switches. As long as this condition prevails, the recording mechanism can not operate, as will be explained more fully in 7 connection with Fig. 12.

The switch arms I01 and I08 move to open position during the momentary interval between the ejection of a box and the positioning of the next one, but when the magazine is empty, the switches I0I-I0'I' and l08-I08 remain open to prevent operation of the machine until the magazine is filled again. It is desirable to inform the attendant of the fact that the magazine is empty. One way of doing this is shown in Fig. 2, where the knob 42 on the follower rod 4| closesa normally open switch II 0 after the last box has been ejected from the magazine. The closing of switch I III, which may be mounted on the standard 55, operates a suitable signal I I2, such as a buzzer or a light, to let the attendant know that the magazine needs replenishing. At the same time the operation of signal II2 informs the attendant that the machine in his charge is not in message receiving condition.

We now come to the automatic control circuits of Fig. 12 to explain the timed operation of the magazine shifting magnet I0, the tape cutter magnet 32, the ejector magnet 9|, and the unblocking magnet 95. The signal impulses that operate the recording device IB may be assumed to originate in a transmitter II 3 which is connected by lines I I4 to an amplifier I I5. The output circuit H6 of the amplifier is connected to the recording device I6 for producing a, facsimile record of the transmitted message, as will be clear without further explanation.

The lines P and Q represent a source of alternating current for the various electrical devices in our new machine, and this source of power is primarily controlled by a rela II'I connected to the amplifier II5. This relay is of the delayed or slow action type so that it remains energized for a certain length of time after the cessation of signal impulses in circuit H4. The tongue N9 of relay H1 is connected to contact I01 and the contact 9 of the relay is connected to the power line P through a conductor I20. The tongue or switch arm H8 is normally open and is in series with the switch I0II0'I' which is held closed by the end box in the magazine, as previously described.

A relay I2I is connected to switch arm I 91 by a wire I22 and to the power line Q by a wire I23. A motor I24 is connected to conductors I22 and I23 in shunt to relay I2 I. It is to be assumed that this motor drives the recording device It and the tape I2 through properly geared connections. The tongue I25 of relay I2I has a break contact '19 I ZB-a'n'd a make contact I21, th'e tongue being connected to the powerilineP through conductor I20.

A relay I28is connectedat one sideto .the power line'Q by a wire I29 and atthe other side to the relay contact'I2'I by a wire I30. This relay has a tongue I3I with a make contact I32 and a second tongue I33 witha make contact I 34 and a break contact I35. The tongue I3! is connected to a wire I36 and thetongue I33fis connected by a wire I31 to the break contact I26 of relay I2I. Themakecontact I32 of. relay I28.is connected toa wireI30,.the.make contact I34is connected by a wire. I38jto thecutter magnet -32, and the .break contact I35.is connected to a wire I 39.

A relay I40has-a tongue MI with-a. make contact I 52 and a second tongue I43 with a make contact W3. One side of this relay is connected to the .power line Q by a conductor I05 and the other side is connected to a wire I36. The tongue I M is connected by a wire I4! to switch arm I58 and the contact I l-2 is connected to wire I55. The tongue I43 is connected to a wire I43 which goes to one sideof the ejector magnet 9!. The other side of this magnet is connected to the power line Q by a wire I 39. .The make contact I34 of relay IE is connected to wire I 39 and is therefore in series with the break contact I35 of relay I28. The unblockingmagnet 95 is connected to wires I48 and I49 in shunt to the ejector magnet 9| whereby these two magnets always operate simultaneously.

The tape cutter magnet 32 operates apair of switches represented by-contacts I 50-! and I52I53. The members I50 and .I52 are insulated spring arms connected to operate as 'a unit. The switch I50- -I5I is normally closed and the switch I-52-I53 is normally open. As best shown in Fig. 1, the-switch arm I50 extends into the path of an insulated button I54 on the end of a finger I55 which is mounted onthe bracket 33 of theucutter frame 26. When the cutter magnet 32 is energized, theswitch arm I50 is opened and the other arm I52 is closed. The switch arm I50 is connected to the tongue I3I of relay I28 by wire I35. The contact I5I and tongue I52 are connected to thepower line P by a wire I53. The contact I53 is connected to wire I45 which goes to relay I40.

The various relayswitches in Fig. 12 are shown in their normal position, that is, when the relays are not energized. The switch arms'I-0'I and I08 are shown closed because it is. assumed'that'there is a box in message receiving position in the magazine. It is clear-that'as; long as the relay II'i deenergized, the circuits of all the electrical devices remain .open. -When signal impulses are generated in transmitter H3 and pass through amplifier I I5, the relay II! is energized and closes the switch arm II 8. This energizes the relay I2I and the motor I24 through the following connections: from power line P, wire I20, closed contacts H8 and I0! in series, wire I22, through motor l24-and relay I2I in parallel, and through-wire I23 to line Q. s

The energized-motor I24 drives the recording device I6 and the tape feed rollers I9. The energized relay IZI closesitsmake contact I2I, thereby energizing the magnet III-and the relay I28 through circuitconn-ections which gofrom the power line P, wire [20, relay contact IZ'Lthrough magnet 70. and relay.l28 in parallel, and through; wire 129' to .line The-energized magnet shifts the magazine into message receiving position, as shown inFig. 4, so that the machine is now in operative condition. That is to say, the transmitted message is being recorded and the tape isiautomaticallyied into the delivery box. At this timethe-energizing. or relay I28 performs no other function than to break the contact I and close the two make contacts I32 and I33. This looks the magazine magnet It? and the relay I28 in energized condition. independently of relay I2 I. "This locking circuit goes from the power line P, through wire I55, closed switch I50I5I, wire I35, closed contact I32,-through-magnet I0 and relay I23, andby wire I29to line Q. The magnets -32,.3I and 55 remain in open circuit because the relay I50 is still deenergized.

Whenthe entire message has been recorded, the trailing or final portionof the recorded tape which carries the address is stilloutside the container B, this trailing portion being the length of tape between the :recorder I0 and the .container, as will'beciearfrom Fig. 1. It is, therefore, necessary after cessation of signal impulses from the transmitter to keep the-motor I23 running long enough to feed thefinal length of the recorded tape intothe-container. In the present instance, thisis accomplished by means of the delayed action relay I ll. After completion of the message at thetransmitter II3, when no more signal impulsespass through the amplifier IE3, the-relay I Il remains energized to hold the circuit of motor I24 closed until the final portion of the recorded tape has been fed into the container before the tapeis cut oil. We should ex- I plain here thatthe briefcessation of signal impulses during the scanningof the message in the transmitter is not sufiicient to deenergize the control relay II'I. Itis only the cessation or absence of impulsesafter completion of the message that causes deenergization of the relay. When this happens-the motor I22 stops and the relay I2 I-is deenergized, breaking the contact I2? and closing the other contact I20. The opening of contact I2? has no efiecton the circuits of magnet Idandrelay I 28,1because these remain closedthrough the make contact I32 of the relay.

The closing of contact I 25 upon deen'ergization of relay I2I closes the circuit-of the cutter magnet 2 as follows: from power lineP, conductor I253, closed relay switch I25-I-26, wire I3'I, closed relay switch I133-- Wi -wire I33,-throu'gh magnet 32, and wire I5'I to-line- Q. .Theienergized magnet 32 operates the blade 30to cut the tape inside the box, as already explained, while the magazine is stillheldin=forwardpositionby the energized magnet 10. The downward movement of the core. ohmagnet 32 causes the finger I55 to open the switch contact I5I and-close the contact I53. The'openingof contact I-5Ibreaksi the circuit of relay I28 andmagnet "I0, whereupon the magazine -is moved back to withdraw the message holding box fromthen-chute and cutter. The dc energizationeof .relay I'28'opens the make con tact I34 and thusbreaks the circuit of cutter magnet 32. This occurs after the energized magnet has operated the associated switches I5Il--I-5I and I 52I.-53.

The closingyof contact -I53-by.the cutter mag net 32 energizes the; relay ltthrough a circuit from; power. linez-P, wire I56; closed switch I 5"- I 53, wire'I i5,-.. rel-ayI- Zii-aand wire I35 to lineQ. The: energized rela I745 vvcloses; its: make contacts Hi2 and I i5,v\vhereby-the relay is locked independentlynofthee-switch I-52-' I5-3 byway of contact I42, wire I-tl, closedswitcli llit 'l'tii and wire I58 to line P. The closing of make contact L44 closes the circuit of ejectormagnet 9i and unblocking magnet 95 from the power line 'P, wire I20, closed relay switch l25-'l26, wire I31, closed relay switch l33,-I35, wire I39, closed make contact I44, wire I48, through magnets Q! and 95 in parallel, and wire I49 to power line Q. The energized magnet 95 removes the stop Si l from the box containing the message and the energized magnet 9| operates the finger M to eject the box from the magazine. During the brief interval between the ejection of the message holding box and the movement of the next box into message receiving position, the switch arm I08 automatically opens the contact 588' and thereby breaks the circuit of relay M to deenergize the magnets 9| and 95. All the circuits are now open, the various movable parts have returned to normal position, and the machine is again in condition to receive the next telegraph message from the transmitter.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that we have provided a telegraph receiving machine which is wholly automatic in recording messages and sealing them inside a container for delivery to the addressee. The only personal attention that the machine requires is the removal of the message holding container and the refilling of the magazine when empty.

Although we have described an embodiment of our invention utilizing a tape for recording the messages, it is clear that any other practical form of recording medium can be employed. For example, if the messages are recorded on sheets, the container may be of tubular or cylindrical shape, wide enough to receive the message bearing sheet and allow it to coil up like the tape in box B. Or, the container may be in the form of an envelope arranged to receive the recorded sheet and having a transparent portion for the address of the message. and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope and nature of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In telegraph tape recording apparatus, a sealed shallow box for receiving a tape coiled up in spiral form and bearing an addressed telegraph message, said box having a pair of opaque sides and a central circular wall comprising a transparent strip, and a resilient flap inside the box adapted to close a slot through which the tape is inserted into the box, said flap being movable inward for insertion of the tape and automatically closing itself to seal the message inside the box, said transparent strip exposing the address portion of the message on the outer coil of the spiral tape while said opaque sides conceal the text of the message on the inner coils.

2. A telegraph machine provided with mechanism for recording an addressed message on a blank, a message delivery box supported in operative relation to said mechanism, said box being closed and having a slot, a device for automatically feeding a recorded blank through said slot into the box as the blank leaves said mechanism, a curved surface in said box having an end portion so arranged with respect to said slot that the message blank enters the box in a direction substantially tangential to said curved surface which automatically coils up the message blank as it enters the box, and a transparent section on said box arranged to expose only the address of the message for reading, the message itself remaining concealed within the box which is removable for delivery to the addressee.

Various other changes 3. A telegraph receiverhaving mechanism for recording an addressedmessage on a blank, a message delivery box arranged to receive a recorded blank, a device for automatically feeding a recorded blank from said mechanism into said box which is constructed to conceal the message and expose only the.address,.said box having an element automatically operated after insertion of the message for sealing the box in which the message is delivered in secret condition to the addressee. r

4. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism for recording messages on an endless tape, a box for receiving the recorded tape through a slot, a device for feeding the recorded tape through said slot into the box, a shear member extending through said slot into the box for cutting off the recorded tape, connections for automatically withdrawing said shear member from the box after a cutting operation, and closure means inside the box for automatically sealing the slot upon withdrawal of said shear member.

5. Telegraph apparatus provided with mechanism for recording addressed messages on an endless tape, a box positioned to receive the recorded tape through a slot, a device for automatically feeding the recorded tape from the recording mechanism through said slot into the box, means inside the box for automatically coiling up the tape as it is fed into the box by said device, a shear member arranged between said feeding device and the box for cutting off the recorded tape fed into the box, a magnet for operating said shear member, and timed connections for automatically energizing said cutting magnet only after the entire message has been fed into the box, which is removable for delivery to the addressee.

6. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism for recording messages on an endless tape, a box removably mounted on a support for receiving a recorded message as it leaves said mechanism, a shear member for cutting oiT the tape when the complete message is enclosed in the box, an ejector for removing the message containing box from said support, a'magnet for operating said shear member, a second magnet for operating said ejector, and circuit connections for automatically energizing said magnets at predetermined intervals after insertion of a completed message in said box.

7. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism 7 for recording a message on a blank in accordance with received signals, a box removably mounted on a support, a device for feeding a recorded blank into said box as the blank leaves said mechanism, an ejector for removing the message holding box from its support, a magnet for actuating said ejector, and means including an electric circuit controlled by the absence of signal impulses for a predetermined time after a recording operation for energizing said magnet, whereby said box is automatically ejected after a recorded message has been enclosed therein by said feeding device.

8. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism for recordinga message on a blank, a motor for operating said mechanism, a box mounted on a support for receiving a recorded blank from said mechanism, said box beingprovided with means for automatically coiling up the message blank as it comes from the recording mechanism, and 1 a switch controlled by the presence of said box on its support to prevent operation of said motor unless the box is in message receiving position.

9. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism for recording messages on a blank, a magazine for holding a plurality of flat rectangular boxes side by side, each box being adapted to receive a recorded message and only the end box being in message receiving position, a device for feeding a recorded message from said magazine into said end box, and cooperating surfaces on said magazine and boxes for compelling correct insertion of the boxes into the magazine so that they will be in message receiving position.

10. A telegraph recording machine having mechanism for recording messages on a tape, a magazine for holding a plurality of boxes adapted each to receive a recorded message, only one of said boxes being in receiving position at a time, means for feeding a recorded length of tape from said mechanism into the receiving box, a shear member automatically operated at a predetermined moment after the recording of a message to cut off the tape fed into said box, a device automatically actuated after said cutting operation to eject the message containing box from said magazine, and automatic means for moving another box into message receiving position upon ejection of the previous box.

11. Telegraph recording apparatus having mechanism controlled by incoming signals for recording messages on a strip, a box arranged at a distance from said mechanism for receiving the recorded strip, a device for feeding the recorded strip into said box, a motor for operating said device, a relay operated by incoming signals for energizing the motor, means for supporting the end portion of the message recorded on the length of strip that still remains outside the box upon completion of a recording operation, and an electrically controlled timing device for keeping said motor energized after the cessation of incoming signals to feed said end portion of the recorded message into the box in which the message is delivered to the addressee.

12. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism for recording addressed messages on a continuous strip in accordance with incoming signals, a box for receiving a recorded strip, a guide through which the recorded strip passes from said mechanism into said box for delivery to the addressee, a device for feeding the recorded strip through said guide in a continuous movement, a shear member arranged at the outlet end of said guide to cut off the recorded strip, a motor for operating said device, a relay energized by incoming signals to close the circuit of said motor, said relay being constructed to remain energized after the cessation of incoming signals for a definite interval whereby the motor operates the feeding device until the complete recorded message has passed into the delivery box, and connections automatically operated in response to the deenergizing of said relay to actuate said shear member which cuts off the tape only after the complete recorded message has been fed through said guide into the box.

13. Telegraph apparatus comprising mechanism for recording messages on an endless tape, a box positioned to receive the recorded tape through a slot, means for feeding the recorded tape into the box, a shear member, connections for producing relative movement of said box and shear member to insert the latter through said slot into the box after the complete message has been fed into the box, automatic means for operating said shear member to cut the tape at a point inside the box, and automatic means for operating said connections after a cutting operation to withdraw the shear member from the box.

RALEIGH J. WISE. GARVICE H. RIDINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,549,423 Schaefer Aug. 11, 1925 1,834,278 Hitt Dec. 1, 1931 1,918,109 Joyce July 11, 1933 2,176,680 Nichols Oct. 17, 1939 2,182,115 Carlson Dec. 5, 1939 2,255,868 Wise Sept. 16, 1941 2,255,869 Ridings Sept. 16, 1941 2,331,947 Wack 1. Oct. 19, 1943 2,353,608 Zenner July 11, 1944 2,353,982 Young July 18, 1944 2,393,329 Mample Jan. 22, 1946

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