US2644034A - Remote control of typewriters - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1953 s. E. STALBECKER ETAL 2,644,034

REMOTE CONTROL OF TYPEWRITERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10 1950 INVENTORS STU/V5 fM/l/VUEL STALBfC/(ffi 3776 BEER/OLD T/BGL/ G ATTORN EY J1me 1953 s. E. STALBECKER ET AL 2,644,034

REMOTE CONTROL OF TYPEWRITERS Filed Oct. 10 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 INVENTORS 50 STU/PE EMA/V051 5774A BEG/r5? 677G EE/PTHOZD 77552 lA/G ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT 2,644,034 OFF ICE corporation of New York Application October 10, 1950, Serial No. 189,374 In Sweden October 19, 1949 16 Claims. (Cl. 17 8-48) The present invention has for its object to simplify remote-controlled typewriters in order thus to render them less expensive.

A feature which considerably differentiates between the arrangement in consideration and previously known arrangements of the same type resides in the possibility of controlling, with the aid of a few fixed audio-frequencies, the machine by means of which transmission is effected, a copy being then obtained of the characters or the writing transmitted, as well as the machine which receives the characters or the writing in consideration. A further novelty is that the keyboard of the machine may be made in exactly the same disposition as that which is a characteristic feature of the existing typewriters commercially available; thus it will be possible, according to the invention, to make use of types comprising all of the symbols or characters occurring in the typewriters hitherto employed.

The remote control also comprises the dls= position of the text matter; thus the feeding of the paper and the lateral adjustment of the car riage may be synchronized. Consequently, letters, invoices and the like may be transmitted and received, the arrangement of the text matter being undertaken entirely as desired. As a receiver, the machine functions entirely without attendance on account of an arrangement, which from the receiver side facilitates feeding of the paper into a predetermined position, the message being then obtained on a sheet of quartosize, for example. In contradistinction to the facilities available in previously known arrangements, messages may thus be obtained on sheets of such sizes and dispositions as will permit them to be incorporated into files to be treated as ordinary correspondence.

Further features of the invention will be obvious from the following description of an arrangement according to the invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram partly in perspective showing how the letters are transmitted electrically from keys on the transmitter side to the type lever actuating devices on the receiver side.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a vibrator, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a side View, partly in section, of the electromagnetically controlled coordinate selector of the movement of the typelevers in which only one type lever is shown for clearness.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the stop members, two stop members being shown in a position permitting one type lever to be actuated.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit of the arrangement according to Fig. 3, only the control member of a stop member being shown for clearness.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the circuit of a number of relays, each of which controls a stop-bar in the arrangement according to Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 shows schematically a device for corn trolling the movements of the paper.

Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of a platen and contact cooperating with the platen.

For the electric typewriter in accordance with the invention, a keyboard is preferably used which consists of 7 rows of keys with 7 keys in every row arranged so that 7 horizontal rows with 7 keys in every row will be obtained. The keys are thus arranged in a system of coordinates.

" Each key is adapted successively to connect two contacts to earth, said contacts being connected to the audio-frequency oscillator 49. The latter preferably comprises an oscillator-connected electronic tube and an amplifier tube connected to said first-mentioned tube, while bein also connected to earth. Various audio-frequencies are preferably generated by means of a number of series-connected reactances in the grid cir cult of the oscillator tube, a row of series-com nected R1-R7 and a further row of series-connected reactances Eta-R14 being shown in Fig. 9 in the present instance. A conductor is extended from every reactance to the keyboard, the conductor from E1 being connected, for instance, to the lower key contact of all keys in the first vertical row of keys on the left, while R2 is connected to the lower key contact in the second vertical row of keys, and so forth. A conductor extending from R2 may be connected to the upper contact of all keys in the first horizontal row of keys, counted from below, while a corn ductor extending from R3 is connected to the upper contact of all keys in the second horizon= tal row of keys, and so forth. Hereby, the corn tacts of all keys will be connected to the reactances having a varying frequency, the same combination of two frequencies not being found for any other key of the keyboard.

The cycle of operations of the novel arrange= ment is as follows:

When the key 2c is depressed, an oscillatory circuit a is first closed in the audimfrequency oscillator it, a low-frequency oscillation of a definite frequency being thus obtained, which upon amplification is applied to the magnet coils 3 (see Fig. 2) arranged in the apparatus lit. The magnetic field thus produced at the coils 3 brings a soft-iron armature into oscillation in agreement with the frequency produced in the apparatus 55. The armature i is rigidly connected with the rod 5, which also has a number of vibrating tongues 5 arranged thereon. The rod 5 is secured to a plate 1, in a manner such as to be permitted to vibrate with the armature l, the tongues 6 being then also caused to vibrate. The tongues 6 are tuned to the various oscillatory circuits of the audio frequency generator 43, and consequently the tongue the tuning of which corresponds to the oscillation created by the magnetic field will. by reason of the resonance be brought into a more powerful oscillation than the others. To each tongue corresponds a contact 8. These contacts are so disposed relatively to the tongues that contact will be obtained with the tongue which has been causedL to vibrate. In the apparatus lit the circuit in Fig. 5 is thus closed and, the core iii of the coil now attracts the contact spring ii. The circuit is thus closed. This circuit creates a more powerful magnetic field about the coil of the core it, so that the armature it will be attracted toward the core of the coil. The armature it is thus caused to actuate the bar ll (II in Fig. 4).

Immediately after the above-related cycle, an other oscillatory circuit b is closed. This circuit, which has a frequency of a value cliff rig from that of the circuit causes one of the rcmaining tongues to oscillate, another circuit 5B bein thus closed with a displacement of the bar or in consequence thereto.

The arrangement according to Fig. 3 comprises an antimagnetic mounting device it for a number of rods It displaceable in their longitudinal direction. The bars ll, which are provided with apertures corresponding to the diameter of the rods l6, are disposed in two layers crossing each other one above the other, as shown in Fig. 4. In the position of rest, the apertures or the bars I"! are located relatively to the rods it in such manner that the latter cannot pass through the bars.

Located underneath the two layers of crossed bars ll is an iron plate lilo which is connected to an armature is adapted to be displaced in the solenoids l8 and 2!! against the action or" a spring 26. In the position of rest, the lower portion. of the armature i9 is only located within the solenoid it and, when this solenoid is energized, the armature and the plate connected thereto underneath the bars ['5 become magnetic so as to be capable of attracting the rods it. No movement of the armature 19 will take place until one of the rods It has been attracted.

During the cycle of events above described the bars II and on. (Fig. 4) are actuated. The armature It will then have closed the circuit iii in Fig. 5, the armature It being thus caused to attract the rod It. The armature Iii is insulated and functions as a contact in the circuit armature IS, the latter being thus pulled into the magnetic field formed by the circuits i8 and 20. The rod it is connected to a wire 2| (Fig. 3), which is enclosed by a flexible metal casin The wire 2| is connected to the type lever 23. When the armature i9 is drawn into the field created by the circuits I8 and 2B, the rod 513 is entrained in the movement so as to pull the wire 2 I, in a manner such that the type lever 23 strikes against the platen 24. When the type lever 23- is stopped against the platen the armature l9 continues its movement, so that the contact with the rod IE is interrupted. The circuit 28 is thus opened. The type lever is returned by means of the helical spring the rod it being thus also returned into its initial position. On account of its larger mass relatively to that of the rod 16 the armature I9 will alter its direction of movement immediately behind the rod 16, and will be returned by the spring 25. The arrangement 2? will thus be actuated, so that the circuit 12 is opened for a moment. The bars II and or are returned.

The other means, for instance for the feeding a contact is also established when the rod it hits A type carriage, for the turning of the platr the shifting between small and capital characters, and so forth, are actuated in the manner above described, excepting that the combinations of the oscillatory circuits are then arranged in such manner that only relays which each actuate their individual parallel bars in the arrangement IE will be energized. Thus the relays will only function as connectors for the circuits to be used. Fig. 6 illustrates the connection for a number of relays. In shifting, for example, the relays iii and 61 will be actuated, the circuit being thus closed in the magnet coil 28 of a device for the raising of the carriage. The magnet coil 28 is energized by means of current from the positive terminal by the closure of a contact of the relay El, whereupon the cir cult is completed by the closure of a pair of contacts of the relay 6| to the coil 23, the other end of which is grounded. An armature attracted by the coil 28 is arranged in a conventional mechanism to raise the carriage. When the carriage is raised, the relay current is consequently interrupted. At the same time the carriage will be locked. in this position by means of a pawl connected to a wire similar to those employed for the type levers. This wire is actuated by the device 55, as previously described, when shifting to the lower position is to take place. The arrangements for the turning of the platen and for the feeding and the returning of the carriage in a lateral direction may be devised so as to operate stepwise for each depression of a corresponding key while also repeating their movements, until any suitable contrivance is automatically actuated so as to interrupt the relay current for a moment. Such a contrivance is shown. in Fig. 7. The circuit of the coil 29 may be closed by so-called tabulators, which in this case causes the advancement or the returning of the carriage to cease, and may also be closed by a device such as disclosed in Fig. 8. This device consists of a contact spring 30, which is applied to the paper with a slight pressure, said paper being taken to consist of a long web of the width of a letter paper. One edge of the paper has apertures punched therein at certain intervals. To permit synchronisation with respect to the adjustment of the paper, the means for the turning of the platen are started. The turning movement continues, unti the paper has been advanced so far that one of said. apertures reaches the contact spring 30, the circuit of the coil 29 being thus closed with an interruption of the relay current and the ceasing of the move ment in consequence thereto.

What we claim is:

1. In a remote control electr c typewriter, a :eyboard comprising a plurality of keys and corn tacts associated with each key and adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of the respective key, electrical impulse-generating and -transmitting means controlled by said contacts to transmit a characteristic pair of signal impulses when each key is depressed, a series of mechanical selecting members, a second series of mechanical selecting members crossing the selooting members of the first series in a system of coordinates, movable type-operating members disposed at the crossings of said selecting members, a power-generating member tending to move said type-operating members, the movement of all of said type-operating members being normally blocked by said selecting members, and electromagnetic adjusting members for moving of the en, f0

each of said selecting members, means for connecting the adjusting members with said impulse means, each pair of impulses actuating an adjusting member of one series and an adjusting member of the other series to free the type operating member that is disposed at the crossing of the pair of selecting members moved by said actuated adjusting members, the freed typeoperating member being moved by said powergenerating member.

2. An electric typewriter according to claim 1, in which said power-generating member comprises an electromagnet energized by a local source of voltage and a displaceable magnetic armature and in which the type-operating members comprise elongated pieces of magnetic material arranged with one end thereof in the proximity of said armature so that they may be attracted by the armature, the selecting members being arranged between said ends of the operating members and the armature in such manner that the movement of each operating member by said armature isblocked by a crossing pair of operating members except when a selected pair of these selecting members have been adjusted by their associated adjusting member.

3. An electric typewriter according to claim 2, in which the selecting members comprise two groups of bars and which are mutually parallel within each group while the bars of difierent groups are arranged at right angles and adjacent to each other, each individual bar in each group being provided with a number of apertures corresponding to the number of bars in the opposed group, said apertures being formed and arranged in a manner such as to permit a predetermined operating member to be attracted against the armature only after the adjustment of a corresponding bar in each group of bars.

4. An electrical typewriter according to claim 3, in which the bars are displaceable in their longitudinal direction.

5. An electric typewriter according to claim a, in which contacts associated with and operable by said operating members are connected in circuit with and control said electrcmagnet of the power-generating member in the manner that movement of an operating member closes said contacts to energize said electromagnet to impart to the armature a movement together with the attracted operating member.

6. In a remote control electric typewriter, a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys and contacts associated with each key and adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of the respective key, electrical impulse-generating and -transmitting means controlled by said contacts to transmit a characteristic pair of signal impulses when each key is depressed, a series of mechanical selecting members, a second series of mechanical selecting members crossing the selecting members of the first series in a system of coordinates, movable type-operating members disposed at the crossings of said selecting members, a power-generating member tending to move said type-operating members, the movement or" all of said type-operating members being normally blocked by said selecting members, electromagnetic adjusting members for moving each of said selecting members, means for connecting the adjusting members with said impulse means, each pair of impulses actuating an adjusting member of one series and an adjusting member of the other series, a typewriter having type levers, and means connecting the operating members with the type levers of the typewriter.

'7. An electrical typewriter according to claim 0, in which the connection between the operating members and the type levers consists of a wire enclosed in a flexible casing.

8. An electrical typewriter according to claim 6, in which the power-generating means comprises an electromagnet and an armature and in which the operating members are magnetic members attracted by said armature.

9. An electrical typewriter according to claim 8, in which means is provided for energizing said electromagnet to cause said armature to move with the operating member.

10. An electrical typewriter according to claim 9, in which the inertia of said armature is sufiicient to cause movement of the armature to continue after the operating member has been stopped by the type lever, the operating member being thereby released from the armature and being biased to return to its original position.

11. An electrical typewriter according to claim 10, in which the means for energizing said electromagnet is controlled by said operating members to deenergize said electromagnet when said operating members are released and in which the armature is biased to return to its original position. i

12. An electrical typewriter according to claim 11, in which a holding circuit is provided for holding the adjusting members in actuated position.

13. An electrical typewriter according to claim 12, in which said holding circuit comprises contacts operable by the said armature to open said contacts and deenergize said holding circuit upon return of the armature to its original position.

14. An electrical typewriter according to claim 6, in which the typewriter has a plurality of electromagnetic devices for operating a carriage and platen and in which means actuated by selected pairs of adjusting members in one and the same series control the energizing of said devices.

15. An electrical typewriter according to claim 6, in which the typewriter has a plurality of electromagnetic devices for operating the carriage and platen, at least certain of said devices operating in a. series of steps means for starting said devices whereupon they continue to operate and means for stopping said devices.

16. An electrical typewriter according to claim 15, in which the device for controlling turning of the platen comprises a conducting portion on the platen, a contact adapted to engage said portion but being normally held away by the paper on the platen adapted to receive the type- Written. characters, said paper being provided with spaced apertures permitting said contact to engage the conducting portion of the platen and in which a circuit including said contact and conducting portion controls the stopping of said device to stop the turning of the platen when an aperture in the paper reaches said contact.

s'roan EMANUEL sTALBEoKER. srro BERTI-IOLD TIBBLING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,332 Baxter July 26, 1886 1,114,578 Bomstead Oct. 20, 1914 1,938,899 Gilman Dec. 12, 1933

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