US448404A - Process of and apparatus for electrically reproducing irregular or undulating surfaces - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

N. S. AMSTUTZ. PROCESS 01? AND APPARATUS FOR ELEGTRIGALLY REPRODUGING IRREGULAR 0R UNDULATING SURFACES.

Patented Mar.'17,1891.

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N. S. AMSTUTZ. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELEGTRIGALLY REPRODUGING IRREGULAR 0R UNDULATING SURFACES.

No, 448,404. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1891.

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FEED STATES PATENT Orricn.

NOAH S. AMSTUTZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRlCALLY REPRODUCING lRREGULAR OR UNDULATING SURFACES.

SPECEFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,404, dated March. 17, 1891.

Application filed August 19, 1889. Serial No. 321.254. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

3e it known that I, NOAH S. AMSTUTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Process of and Apparatus to r Electrically Reproducing Uneven, Irregular, or Undnlating Surfaces; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a process of and apparatus for electrically reproducing uneven, irregular, or undulating surfaces; and the object of the invention is to provide a method and means whereby sketches, designs, photographs, autographic and type matter, and the like, when wrought into forms having uneven surfaces-such surfaces, for example, as are representative of light and shade and give distinct outlines of figures in impressions or prints taken therefr0mmay be speedily reproduced at any distance from the sender, thus enabling an artist to visit any place, however remote from publication, and by hastily working into suitable form for transmission any sketch, picture, photograph, or the like, have the same electrically repro duced at the home oifice with substantially as great speed and accuracy as news is now dispatched from point to point, the reproduction, it desired, being in relief lines a complete engraving.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a sending apparatus, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a receiving apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the sending art of the apparatus, showing the mechanism for regulating the back and forth movements of the table carrying the model. Fig. a is a similar viewof the part of the apparatus at the receiving-station and showing the mechanism for controlling the back and forth movements of the reproducingtable. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the armature and its connections for reversing the direction of movements of the drivingpower.

In the apparatus shown, A represents the base or bed plate common to both figures.

This )late )reierabl Y is castina sin le iece, l a a a as appears in each figure, and is cored out on its under side to reduce weight, as well as to afford space forcertain parts of the apparatus, thus leaving the top surface free for other uses. At one end the plate A is provided with guideways a, such as are common to planing-machines and lathes, and in these guideways a carriage B has free longitudinal movement back and forth fora purpose hereinafter explained. This carriage has a rack 19, beneath which a pinion Z) on the driveshat't Z) engages, and by which the carriage is operated. Upon the carriage and working in transverse guides therein is a table or bed plate D, which has a short step-by-step crossfeed at right angles to the travel of the carriage B. This feed transversely is effected by a screw D, having a toothed head or the like, which engages an arbitrarilvplaced stop on the bed plate, and which gives a certain amount of turn to the screw, and hence a certain slight lateral movement to bed D every time the carriage reaches the end of its movement in either direction. The bed D,of course, is carried to and fro by carriage l3, and has its own lateral movement besides. In operation there will be a sufiicient number of longitudinal movements of the carriage B to complete the work laterally as well as longitudinally, and the breadth of the work will determine the number of longitudinal movements. The lateral movement of plate D by its screw, or other artificial means used in lieu thereof, occurs at the end of each longitudinal movement of the carriage B.

The bed-plate or table D forms a support for the work F, which rests within a frame E, surrounding the same, and is held at the corners by angle-clamps (Z. The work in Fig. 2 consists in a plate of plastic material, or a plate coated or covered with such material to a sufficient depth, and in Fig. 1 is shown in has-relief as it appears when ready for transmission or when it is finished. In Fig. 1 are shown transverse beads or ribs 6 near the end of the work. These occur only on the sending-forms and are designed to switch or reverse the power by which frame 13 is carried back and forth. Various forms of mechanism might be suggested to accomplish this result. In the drai ings I show a simple means, consisting of a lever H, pivoted on arched ful crum-rest G, which is longitudinally adj ustable in ways a on the base A.

The transmitting-lever I-I is'adj ustably held on rest G by a sleeve h, and the said lever vibrates on this pivot subject to a spring 723, supported at one end by an adjusting-screw on a cross-piece g on rest G, andat the other end on a short standard 71, adjustable'on the transmitting-lever. This spring is of course of very slight tension and is meant to keep the tracing or graving tool or point It normally down on'the work.

At its outer extremity lever H has anelectrical contact-point g, which is forced down when the tracing-point rides up on one of the beads e and closes the circuit on the projection beneath, thus causing the motor-revers' ing current to be switched andthe motor reversed, when the carriage will move'in the in motion the carriage B would be foundto travel back and forth automatically the distance between the respective elevations e,between which the work is located, and ,t he table E, carrying the work, would be gradually fed laterally until the tracing-pointhad'traversed the entire width of the work. Thus the tracing-point would be made to describe or to' travel on parallel lines on such distances apart as the lateral feed-screw would provide. In some instances, as in fine work, these lines would 'have scarcely a perceptible distance between them, and the distance may be made I greater or less, according to the quality of the work to be done.

Now, assuming that the work in Fig. 1 represents a has-relief of a photograph and the" tracing-point is in position at one side-to begin the back-and-forth movement over the surface of the work, as above indicated; and this surface is to be exactly reproduced at a distance from the sending-point, we find in Fig. 2 an apparatus upon which this reproduction occurs. To accomplish this resultelectrical connection between the two apparatus is required, and it is further required" that the movement of tracing-point h shall be reproduced at the receiving-table with suchprecision and nicety that every shadeof variation in its movement will betransmitted'and repeated on the pointer at the receiving-station. The work on the receiving-table, therefore, is'of a plastic or other suitable material,

traversed the work before it 72. has reproduced an exact fac-simile thereof in like relief' and outline, even to the slightest possible elevation or depression, said reproduction being in lateral variation as well as vertical by reason of the V-shaped tool, though the whole is onanotherwise horizontal surface.

Two things are essential in this reproduction: first, that the work in both places shall 'movelongitudinally andtransversely at'precisely the same rates of speed. The lateral movement is equalized by having feed-screws having the respective power-shafts which impel the carriage back and forth driven at the Qs'ame rate of speed; Thus, if electric motors are employed in eachplace, they can be regu- 'lat'edori governed to run at certain predetermine'drevolutions per minute, and, being thus -governe'd by suitable means conn ect'ed with i each mot'or and subject to local control, the reversalof both motors is effected simultaneously by or throughlever Hat the sendingstation. contact g for thelocal motor.

This lever is described as having a p Another con tact 9 is provided for the distant motor,

(and both contacts being madeat the same time the reversing mechanism of both motors will be'operatedat the same time. Then both ;carriages will sta'rt in the opposite direction together, and thus the action will be repeated jlllltlithG work is-done. Now, having the matter or movements for the work perfectly arranged, the next essential is to transmit the up {and down vibrations of the lever H as they are produced from point h and interpret the surface F to the receiving-point h so that the two points will'workin unison and rise andfail'together and to the same elevations and depths. It will be understood" that in this operation the sending-pointh' ridesover the surface'of the work as'it is-found and does not penetrate it, while the point It makes, penetrations in the work of greater or less depth and width,

according to the conditions of the surface reproducedthat is, when the point it sinks low the point h will cut-deep, and when the point h rides-high the point It will cut light,

and so on, the rise and fall of both-being simultaneous. This reproduction of movesuitable generatorK through lever H to'contact-screws 7c, spring-pressed pins 10', and re- 'sistance-coils k whence the wire leads to the mainline and the receiving-station. As here shown, I employ five resistancecoils of gradually-decreasing size and resistance, and the contact-screws are so set that the coil of f any of'the coils k, exert an attractive and repellentforce'upon saidlever in proportion to' the volume of the current. Thus, if the current has to pass through coil 1 of the series, where the resistance is greatest, the flow will be less than through any of the others, and hence the attraction orpull on lever H would be at the minimum. On the other hand, it the current were through coil 5 it would have its least resistance and greatest strength, and the pull on lever ll would be at its maximum. This would correspond to the highest elevation in the playof point h and the greatest resistance to the lowest depression or fall thereof. It will fellow, of course, if contact is made at No. 5 that the other coils preceding will all be in circuit, but the current will naturally choose the path of least resistance, and hence will pass through No. 5 exclusively, in preference to any of the others. In this way, also, I am enabled to get the graduation of movement which is dependent on the graduation of current, the resistance-coils serving to break the strength of the current just sufliciently to answer my purpose. Of course any desired number of coils can be used and arrangement thereof made that is convenient. As here shown, they are beneath the base A; but they might be on top or elsewhere about the apparatus. The spring-coils beneath pins 7t make connection with the wires beneath. The telescopic bar M, carrying the points it, is pivotally secured at its inner end and vertically adjustable at its outer end, so as to adjust the pins 71' simultaneous with respect to screws 7r, instead of setting each screw separately when more or less range of vibration of lever H is wanted.

As before described, the frame E, having the raised portions at each end 6, is placed upon the table,which reciprocates underneath the tracing-point and feeds crosswise of such reciprocation at regular intervals. The said frame incloscs or holds the model or the representation of the picture or sketch with its variable undulation. Now it will be observed that the greatest height of these elevations does not reach to the same height as the thickened portions 6 of the frame E, so that when the tracing-point is moved to the highest position of the cast the last of the contact-points 7. is in circuit. There still remain the two outer contact-points which are not yet in circuit, but which are thrown into circuit the moment the tracing-point 7t rides upon the elevation c, thus elifecting the reversing and stopping of both the local and distant tableactuat lug mechanism. This is accomplished as follows: The contact-point g is insulated from the main line circuit, which passes through lever ll, its attached contact-points 7t, and the respective resistances upon the line-wire to the receiving-instrument. This contact-point when thrown in circuit by elevation c and tracing-point It with a local battery and electro-magnets, is designed for stopping and reversing the local conveying mechanism. The contact-point next inside of the one is in circuit at the same time,

but the current passing over it passes over the line-wire to the solenoids the same as the current which passed through the several contacts 7t as they successively were in circuit. This last contact-point allows the full strength of current to pass over the line and energizes the solenoids far beyond what the current was able to do in coming through the resistancecoils 71 Hence the armature-lever ll moves to a greater degree even than is ever required of it in the transmission of the picture alone, thereby closing a local circuit for the receiving-station which is identical with the one for the sending-station. Suitable clock mechanism, or its equivalent, is used as the motive power in either case. A pinion M is mounted outside of the bed-plate A upon the shaft b This pinion has meshing into it an intermediate gear, and this in turn receives motion from a pivoted train of gears 1 and 12, mounted upon a yoke, which has a depending lever which terminates in an armature. This lever has movement between the cores of two separate sets of magnets, and is normally held as against either the one or the other of the sets by a spring The gear 1, meshing with the intermediate gear, is in train with gear 2 of the same size, meshing with it, which gear upon its hub on the opposite side of its support has a small pinion, which in turn meshes with a larger gear mounted upon the driving-shaft of the motor mechanism. The axial line of this motor-shaft is coincident with a line drawn from center to center of the two gears mounted upon the outside face of the yoke, and the intersection of this line with their meeting pitch diameters, thus allowing small pinion at to remain in mesh with the motor-gear 5 in whatever position the armaturelever is placed with respect to the electro-magnets. it will be observed that contact-point g when in circuitas directed by elevations c at either end of the stroke of the feed-table will actuate the armature and attract it against the clectro-magnets. The gear 1, as now shown in mesh with intermediate gear, will when the armature is drawn to the opposite side of the magnets be out of mesh with intermediate gear; but its companion mounted upon the yoke and being in mesh with itself will at this time engage the intermediate gear, and thus reverse the movement of the feed-table. \i'e will suppose the tracing-point to be upon the elevation c farthermost to the right of Fig. 1, ready for the feed mechanism to begin its movement toward the left. At this point the electrical circuit will be closed through pointy, as described, leaving the gear 1 in mesh with the intermediate gear, thus having stopped the feed-machine and instantly reversing it so as to movein the opposite direction. \Y hen this occurs, the feed-table, of course, starts in the opposite direction, as described, and when reaching the opposite end of its stroke thetracing-point 7: is likewise raised or lifted upon the elevation 6, thus again closing the circuit through coir tween the two sets of magnets, and to the one side of the central position, sprin g3 cuts itself out of circuit and switches into circuit the opposite set of magnets, thus placing them in a position to be operated when the tracing-.

point has reached the opposite end of the feed mechanism. This movement is continued until the whole surface of the model has been gone over, when, of course, the machine is I stopped.

It will be readily understood from theforegoing description that an apparatus thus condistance between the sending and receiving stations for reproducing has-relief surfaces in the manner described, and that theapparatus can as well be operated. at greater distances as at less ones by simply supplying the necessary current for the purpose. The current is made variable or intermittent by the resistance-coilsand the contact-points k 70, or, in other words,

undulating with variations in volume and in-' tensity according to the size of coil in circuit, as determined by the tracing-point h yet'unbroken in its flow.

The apparatus being started, it will run it-.

any other that now suggests itself. The function of these coils may of course be otherwise obtained, and the invention is designed to include any and all electrical agencies by which a current can be varied according to the un-' dulations of the surface interpreted, and thus cause said surface to be reproduced at a distant point, as hereinbefore described. In the present construction the current is steady and constant, and is varied in'degree or intensity as it goes out upon the line-wire by the resistance-coils.

The reproducing or interpreting arm H,

operated by solenoids L L, may make its rec- 0rd through the medium of a ruling-pen say of the usual style of a graving or tracingpoint or tool. In that case the pen would be held stationary on the paper or surface to be worked, and the lever or arm H would have a vertical play between the blades of the pen, on the stems of which are vertical inclines. The arm, playing up and down upon the inclines,would separate the blades or move them toward one another, according to the breadth of line wanted and the position of the armon the inclines. Thus a line of any breadth desired can be obtained. The pen, of course, is

provided with a constant supply of ink and with a suitable spring or other means to restore the blades to their normal relation as against the action of the inclines. A bifurcated lever working on the outside of the penblades would in efiect amount to a like operation. I

The term plastic material as used in this specification should be interpreted as meaning such material as parafflne-wax, beeswax, the material employed forgraphophone orphonograph tablets, and all like substances in which a graving-tool-or sharp tracing-point will cuta clean score, trace, line, orgroove into the material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is structed can be successfully employed at any i l. The method of reproducing has-relief, intaglios, and the like surfaces, consisting in running a tracing-point in contact with the surface to be reproduced and communicating the variable vibrations of said point to a reproducing point or device by means ofan electric current, substantially as setforth.

2. The method of transmitting the configuration of a given surface from one point to another, which consists in causing a tracingand communicating the said undulationsby means of an electric current to another tracing point or device working upon another surface, substantially as set forth.

3. The method of reproducing surfaces having variable elevations, the same consisting in moving the subject to be reproduced back and forth beneath a tracing-point and com municating the up-and-down'movennents of said point by an electric current to a reproducing point or device arranged over a surface in which the undulations of the original are faithfully reproduced by moving said material or work backand forth beneath the reproducing point or device by an electric current in unison with the original work, substantially as set forth.

4. The method of duplicating uneven suring-point to travel back and forth in approximate paths over an undulating surface and causing a delineation of said surface to be made on another surface by a reproducingpoint actuated by a current of electricity varying in strength with the varying elevations and depressions of the original surface, subducing-point, arranged to penetratesaid plastic surface to greater or less depth and width governed by the varying strength of the electric current, substantially as set forth.

O. The method herein described of working electrically from one surface to another, which consists in employing a suitable point for each surface and controllin g one of said points electricallythrough a series of graduated resistances, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electrical transmitting system, a subject having variable elevations on its surface and a tracing-point actuated by said elevations, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electrical transmitting system, a subject with an irregular surface and a tracing-point actuated by said subject, in combination with a plate having a reproducingpoint actuated electrically through the movements of the tracing-point, substantially as set forth. I

9. In an electrical transmitting system, two plates and a movable point for each plate, with electrical connections, whereby one point is actuated by the variable movements of the other, substantially as set forth.

10. In an electrical transmitting system, a subject having an irregular or uneven surface and a tracing point to work in contact therewith, in combination with a reproducing-point and electrical connections providing an undulating current for actuating the reproducing-point, substantially as set forth.

11. In an electrical transmitting system, a subject having a support provided with mechanism for moving it in different directions, a tracing-point pivoted to work up and down over said plate, and electrical connections whereby said mechanism is reversed, substantially as set forth.

12. In an electrical transmitting system, a carrier for a subject provided with longitudinal and transverse ways, mechanism to move the carrier in said ways, a tracing-point supported on an arm and havingaspring to keep the point in working position, and electrical connections controlling the movements of said mechanism, substantially as set forth.

13. In an electrical transmitting system, a suitable support for a subject having an irregular surface, and an arm provided with a tracing-point adapted to work up and down over the subject, substantially as set forth.

1%. In an electrical transmitting system, separate stations connected electrically, one of said stations having a subject or pattern with an irregular surface and a tracing-point actuated by said surface, and another station having a reproducingpoint actuated electrically, substantially as set forth.

15. In an electrical transmitting system, a sending-station having a tracing-point operated by an uneven surface over which said point is adapted to travel, in combination with a receiving-station having a reproducing-point to interpret said irregular surface, and electrical connections between said stations, provided with means to make the strength of the current correspond to the irregularities of the surface to be reproduced, substantially as set forth.

16. In an electrical transmitting system, sending and receiving stations electrically connected and a series of graduated resist ances in said connections, substantially as set forth.

17. In an electrical transmitting system, a tracingpoint adapted to vibrate and a point to reproduce said vibrations on a suitable surface, in combination with electrical connections provided with varying resistances and distinct contact-points, substantially as set forth.

18. In an electrical transmitting system, a tracing-point actuated by an irregular or undulating surface and an arm supporting sa d point, with an electrical contact-point on said arm to close a circuit and electrically control the propelling power of the local apparatus, substantially as set forth.

19. In an electrical transmitting system, a frame holding a subject to be reproduced having ribs or beads on which the tracingpoint is adapted to ride, with said tracing point, whereby the frame is reversed through electrical connections, substantially as set forth.

20. In an electrical transmitting system, a sending-station and a receiving-station, each provided with suitable mechanism, and electrical connections between said stations whereby the said mechanism at. both stations is simultaneously reversed, substantially as set forth.

21. In an electrical transmitting system, a receiving-station provided with a plate of plastic or like soft material having an even surface and a tool to work from said surface downward in lines varying in depthand width, whereby a figure, picture, or the like is produced in relief on the said surface, and electrical connections with a sending-station for actuating said tool, substantially as set forth.

22. In an electrical transmitting system, a sending-station having a subject with arbitrary elevations on its surface and a tracingpoint actuated by said elevations, in combination with a receiving-station having mechanism to interpret and reproduce the movements of the actuating tracing-point, substantially as set forth.

NOAH AMS'IUYZ. Witnesses:

R. B. IlIOSER, J. L. COREY.

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