US555626A

US555626A - storm

Info

Publication number: US555626A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1913-03-03

Description

(No Model.) v 3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

' A. W. STORM.

FAOSIMILE TELEGRAPHY.

No. 555,626. I Patented Mar. 3, 1896.-

messugawwe- ANDREW B GRANAMPHOTO'UWO WASHINGTOND C,

(No Model.) I 3 SheetsSheet 2. A. W. STORM. FAGSIMILE TELEGRAPHY.

Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

messwis Wm 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. W. STORM. FAGSIMILB TELEGRAPHY.

(No Model.)

Patented M5133, 1896.

Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED IV. STORM, OF RAMSEY, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF,

IVILLIAM D. STRATTON, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

OF MIDDLETOIVN, AND ARTHUR O. BUTTS,

FACSIMILE TELEGRAPHY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,626, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed September 11, 1895. Serial No. 562,124. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED \V. STORM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ramsey, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful System of Telegraphy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the present systems of electrical telegraphy, wherein mechanical devices automatically perform the work of a telegraph operator through the agency of a suitable messagesheet, of paper or other substance, at a far greater speed than the human hand is capable of and the objects of my improvement are, first, to avoid the necessity of making a special copy of the original message for the purpose of operating the transmitting device; second, to effect greater rapidity of transmission; third, to produce in the receiver a facsimile copy of the matter placed in the transmitter, be the same written or pictorial; fourth, to automatically duplicate said copy; fifth, to employ said duplicate in a transmitter for operating a distant receiver; sixth, to combine in one device the transmitting and receiving instruments necessary to each station; seventh, to transmit a plurality of messages from one station to a station in correspondence therewith over one wire at practically the same time; eighth, to transmit a plurality of messages to a number of stations over one wire and at practically the same time; ninth, to transmit messages from a number of stations to one station over one wire at practically the same time; tenth, to preserve in compact form office-copies of messages received. I attain these objects by the methods hereinafter described and by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a plan View of the primary elements of the invention, including the necessary electrical connections. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, where hatched, of the instrument which I employ as a combined transmitter and controller, the parts being arranged to show the circuit-closing device in the act of transmitting. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the circuitclosing device and the outer end of the arm carrying the same. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section of the bed for supporting the message sheet or ribbon. Fig. 5 is a plan of the same, showing one of the guides for the paper. These views represent also the platenbed of the receiver. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, where hatched, of one side of the combined transmitter and receiver, representing the receiving appliances in the act of receiving. Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and partly in section, where hatched, of the arm bearing the contact-points, such as are used for the closing device, but represented in combination with a conducting-platen and shown in the act of receiving. Fig. 8 represents in detail the arm and gearing for feeding the paper uniformly upon the reel from the delivery-spool. Fig. 0 is a diagram showing the relation of the commutators in two instruments when operated, respectively, as a transmitter and receiver, with the electrical connections for the same. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an apparatus for transmitting or receiving simultaneously a plurality of messages. Fig. 11 is a detail in enlarged vertical section of a commutator and related parts seen from a point opposite to that chosen for Fig. 2.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout.

For the sake of conciseness let it be understood that the word message employed herein means an original prepared by writing, marking, or imprinting with a conducting medium upon anon-conducting surface. The non-conducting surface may be any material that will meet all conditions requisite for manipulation. For this purpose I prefer paper. The conducting medium may be any substance that can be efficiently employed, but I prefer graphite, for the reason that it is universally at hand in the convenient form of a lead-pencil. I do not limit myself to a lead-pencil as the means of applying graphite to paper. The graphite or other conducting substance may be compounded with proper materials to form an ink and applied to paper by marking or imprinting it thereon. Each message-sheet therefore is a composite surface of conducting and non-conductin g areas.

The term message sheet is employed herein to designate any non-conducting material, whether a sheet or ribbon or other form, upon which the conducting medium is placed or imprinted to form a given design. The term design as herein used designates any message expressed in words, letters, or synr hols, or any drawing, picture, or outline. \Vhere the facsimile of the message is produced in the receiver by a series of electropcrforations in a sheet of suitable material, such sheet is termed a stencil-sheet, which expression is employed to designate the sheet or ribbon of such material before the perforations are made therein. The term stencil is used herein to designate the same sheet or ribbon after the perforations have been formed therein. The term receiving-sheet is used herein to designate the sheet or ribbon upon which the message is visibly delineated, whether by the application of ink through the holes of the stencil or by chemical action produced by the copying-point. The term copying-point is used herein to designate that element of the receiving device which is moved over the stencil-sheet or receivingsheet to produce the design in facsimile, and such term includes a wheel or roller, if employed, to diminish the friction of the movement.

In my invention the original message is used as a circuitclosin g device by employing the conducting medium of the design to close an electric circuit; and the first object of my invention is therefore attained by employing the original message, unaltered physically or chen'iically, as the direct agent of its own transmission. For the sake of greater rapidity of transmission I avoid the separate manipulation of each of a number of messages by attaching the end of one to that of another, so forming a continuous band. The said band is compactly wound upon a spool, placed in the transmitter, and reeled therefrom in the process of transmission.

As the devices depicted and described are combined transmitters and receivers, it is understood that the word transmitter refers to that half of either device under consideration that effects transmission, and that the \VOI'C receiver refers to that half of either device under consideration that receives and reproduces the message.

In the transmitting portion of my combined transmitter and receiver the u'lessage-sheet is held on one side of a revolving shaft, and two contact-points are carried by an arm upon the revolving shaft and arraliigcd to move over the message-sheet in contact therewith, being properly insulated upon the arm and connected with positive and negative conductors.

A conducting-platen to support the receiving or stencil sheet is arranged on the opposite side of the shaft from the message sheet or sheets, and as the circuit-closer is formed with two contact-points one or both of such points may be used to form the facsimile upon the receiving-sheet. lVhen such combined instruments are located in different stations and connected by a suitable circuit, the transmitting portion of one instrument is operated in connection with the receiving portion of the other, the circuit being closed. in the transmitting portion by the contact of the circuit-closer with the condnoting-surface of the message-sheet; but the same instrument may without any change be operated in the reverse manner by applying the messagesheet and receiving-sheet to the opposite parts of the respective machines.

lVhere only one of the contact-points operates upon the reeeiving-sheet, the latter is formed of non-conducting material, and a current of sufficient intensity is used to project a spark through said sheet to the platen, thus forming a series of eleet-roperforations through the sheet in facsimile of the original design, and the sheet is then called a stencil. The facsimile message may also be received from such a trai'islnitter by using a chemically-prepared paper (like that employed .in Bains telegraph) and connecting the cop yin gpoints in the receiver with the circuit-closing points of the transmitter, and thus directing the electrical impulses (during the operation of the transmitter) across the surface of the chemieally-prepared paper between the. copying-points. The movement of such points and the feeding movement of the paper then produces a discoloration of the paper in facsimile of the original design.

The drawings show an apparatus suitable to illustrate my improvements; but the mechanical construction of such apparatus may be greatly modified without departing from. the invention.

Referring to Figs. 2 and (.3, the upper and lower parts of the frame 2 are connected by post. 2, between which a vertical shaft 1 is mounted to turn upon socket-screws 1. An electric motor is provided to rotate the shaft, comprising an armature fixed upon the shaft 1, and a field-magnet having three

poles

3 and 3 the.

In practice the meters of the instruments in two stations in correspondence with each other are synchronized by any suitable or wellknown means; but the mechanical construction of the motor and the synchronizing devices are not material to the present invention. An arm 4 is projected radially from the shaft 1 and provided at the end with a circuit-closin g device; and abed X and platen X, curved concentric with the orbit of such device, are fixed respectively at opposite sides of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, where such beds are shown connected with the posts 2 by bracket-arms "J". The support for the message sheet or ribbon. will be termed a bed or curved bed herein, and the support for the receiving-sheet stencil or ribbon will be termed a platen or curved platen.

The circuit-closing device, Fig. 3, consists of two

metallic brushes

15 and 15, insulated by a non-conductor 16 and provided with a suitable pivot turning in socket-plates 17 and 17 which are insulated from one another by blocks 18, fitted movably upon the arm 4, which is made square to prevent such blocks from turning. The circuit-closer is thus movable longitudinally upon the arm and is pressed elastically outward by a spring 20, inserted between one of the blocks 18 and jam-nuts 19 applied to the arm behind the spring to regulate its outward pressure. The metallic brushes are separated from one another a suitable distance, as one-fiftieth of an inch, by the non-conducting hub 16, and owing to their small diameter the peripheries of each touch the paper at practically a single ported upon the bed X, while the receiving or stencil ribbon 7 is supported upon the platen X. The arm iis provided at the end with a collar 4:" to limit the outward movement of the contact-points.

Figs. 9 and 10 show instruments designed for sending and receiving a plurality of ines- -sages, there being five beds X arranged in a semicircle at one side of the shaft 1 and five platens X arranged in a semicircle in the receivers.

The shaft is provided with a commutator (shown enlarged in Fig. having five sections 1) w my .2 upon one half of its periphery and a single section 23 upon the opposite half, with

brushes

22 and 22 pressed against the opposite sides of the commutator. One of the contact-points, 15, is connected with the commutator-sections v to a, inclusive, through separate switches 'v to a, inclusive, which are supported by and carried with the shaft 1, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, and the other contact-point, 15, is connected with the larger commutator-section 23, which is equal in its peripheral length to all the opposite sections.

The brushes are shown connected in the secondary circuit of an induction-coil 1, (represented in Figs. 1 and 10,) the primary circuit being that which electrically connects the motors of the several instruments and marked in Figs. 1 and 10 as motor-wire, connected with brushes on applied to the motor-commutators n and extended to the earth through the primary generator J An induction-coil is employed for the double reason that it supplies the pressure requisite to force a current across a conductingsurfaee of high resistance, such as a leadpencil mark, and to afterward perforate the paper in a receiver to produce a facsimile of the message in stencil.

In Figs. 1 and 9 the connections are shown suitably arranged for transmitting from a station G and receiving in a station 11, the instrument in station G, Fig. 1, being represented, like that in Fig. 2, in the act of transmitting, with the bed X for the message-ribbon at the left side of the machine, and the platen X (which is not in use) at the right-hand side of the machine. In the other station, H, Fig. 1, the combined instrument is turned around, with the platen X to support the receiving or stencil ribbon at the left side and the bed X (which is not in use) at the righthand side. Fig. 9 shows a portion of the arm 4 in each machine extended to the left, and therefore in contact respectively with the message ribbon or sheet and the receiving or stencil sheet at the two stations. When the contact-

points

15 and 15 are carried across the message sheet or ribbon 7 by the revolution of the shaft 1 about its axis, said contact points or flanges are caused to touch successively conducting and non-conducting parts of the surface of the message-sheet. At such times as they are in contact with the design upon the sheet the current passes over the conducting-surface of such design from one contact-point to the other and thence into the line through the various conductors mentioned. The succeeding non-conducting surface of the message-sheet interrupts said current, and thus the passage of the c0ntactpoints across the sheet produces a series of electrical impulses in the line, which in turn effect the duplication of the original message in the receiver.

The switch 00 is shown in Fig. 9 as closed in each station, and with contact-arms in the described position the section a: of the commutator in each station is in contact with the brush 22, and such brushes are connected with the message-wire. When the conduct ing substance or design upon the message sheet or ribbon at the transmitting-station G closes the circuit between the contact-

points

15 and 15 the induced current from the coil I moves through brush 22, commutator-sec tion 23, wire 24, the contact-points of the circuit-closer, the wire 26, switch 00 in the transmitter, commutator-section 0:, brush 22, and the message-wire to the brush 22 in the re ceiving-instrument, (at station H,) whence it passes through commutator-section w, the

sity be employed a spark will pass from the point 15 to the platen, thus perforating the paper in correspondence with the design upon the message-sheet.

The identity of the designs upon the message-sheet and the receiving or stencil sheet is secured in part by the synchronous rotation of the arms 4 and in part by the corresponding movement of the ribbons or sheets transversely to the path of the circuit-closer. As the arms 4 revolve at the same speed in the transmitter and the receiver, it follows that each perforation will be made in the stencilsheet at the instant that a small conducting area of the design 011 the message-sheet (or, in other words,a fraction of a graphite-line thereon) is between the two circuit-closing points, thus causing each perforation or discoloration to be located upon the stencil-sheet in a position exactly corresponding to the position of that small conducting area or fraction of a graphite-line which through the circuit-closer caused such perforation or discoloration. The message is thus automatically reproduced in lines of perforation or discoloration in facsimile of the lines forming the original design. A spool 5 to carry the message-ribbon is so placed in the transmitter as to be firmly held, but free to revolve upon its axis.

The messages preferably are secured together in a continuous band and wound upon the spool. From the spool 5 the ribbon 7 passes over a guide-roller 5 and across the bed X, which is provided at its opposite ends with curved slotted guides to to bend the ribbon into the orbit of the contact-points. The ribbon is then extended between feed-rolls 10 and 11 to a reel 6, which is connected by a shaft 42, Fig. 8, with a friction-roll to to rotate the reel is correspondence with the varying diameter of the ribbon upon the spool 5. The roller 46 is mounted at one end of an arm 45, which is pivoted upon the shaft of the reel, and is pressed upon the periphery of the ribbon upon the spool 5 by a spring 415. The feed-rolls 10 and 11 are the primary agent for feeding the ribbon and thus rotating the spool 5, and for this purpose they are connected with the motorshaft 1 by shaft'13 and gears 12. In Figs. 2 and 6 these gears are shown applied to the shaft 1, but their connection with the feed-roll 10 is obscured'by other parts. The spool 5 is decreased in diameter by the withdrawal from it of the ribbon bearing the messages, and as its motion is imparted to the roller l6 it is evident that the speed of the roller will decrease as the diameter of the ribbon upon the spool decreases, and the speed of the reel will be correspondingly decreased, thus compensating for the increasing diameter of the reel as the ribbon is wound upon the same.

The gears connecting the shaft 1 with the roll 10 are so proportioned that one complete revolution of the circuit-closer about the shaft will cause the message-ribbon 7 to move a slight distancesay, one-fiftieth of an inch. The contact-points of the circuit-closer will therefore traverse a fresh portion of the surface of the message sheet or ribbon, and a new electrical impulse will at each revolution of the circuit-closer be sent to the receiver through the circuit-wires.

The parts so far described are duplicated upon both sides of the shaft 1 in a combined transmitter and receiver, but a prime-mark is added to the reference-marks upon the devices used for receiving. \Vhere the message is reproduced upon a stencil sheet or ribbon by electroperforations a printed copy may be secured therefrom by moving a blank ribbon of paper in contact with the back of the stencil-ribbon and rolling an inked roller over the latter. The receiving side of the apparatus is therefore provided with an additional spool, 31, Figs. 2 and G, from which a ribbon is extended through the feed-rolls 10 and 11 to a reel 28, the motion of which is secured in a manner similar to that of the reel 6 byafriction-roll 4:6 pressed upon the coil of ribbon on'the spool 31.

The roll 10 is inked by an endless inking- .band 33, which is suspended in the ink contained in a reservoir 3t below the roll 10' and is passed through pressure-rolls 35 to remove the surplus ink from the band. The ink-band travels over a roll a, which presses it upon the under side of the roll 10, and is thus moved by the latter while it coats it with ink in the desired manner. The reservoir is furnished with a hood a to protect the roll 10 from dust, and the top of the reservoir is closed and provided with a flap-lid 36, which may be raised to introduce the ink. As the roll 10 revolves in contact with the stencil-ribbon 7, it forces ink through the perforations in such ribbon upon the blank band of paper 32 which forms the receiving -ribbon, with which it is at the time in contact, thus duplicating the message in dotted lines.

Any number of duplications may be automatically produced at the same speed by carrying the perforated ribbon in contact with an additional blank ribbon or ribbons of paper through additional rollers performing the offices of the rollers 10 and 11".

Any ink that will fulfill the requirements may be used; but I prefer an ink compounded of graphite or some conducting substance, so that a message duplicated in one station may be placed in said stations transmitter and forwarded to a second stat-ion having no connection with the original transmitter.

The stencil-ribbon may be rolled up compactly and preserved foroffice-reference after performing the services described.

Figs. 1 and 2 show theinstruments provided each with one bed for supporting a messagesheet and one platen for supporting a receiving or stencil sheet; but Fig. 10 shows a series of instruments provided each with five beds and five platens arranged, respectively, upon ICC opposite sides of a diametrical line through the shaft 1. Fig. 9 shows the comm utators required in such construction.

An inspection of Fig. 1 shows that by using only one message-sheet and one stencil-sheet the transmitter of one instrument may be working while that of the connected instrument is at rest and the receiver of the same is workinginstead. It willbe understood, however, that if a message-sheet and stencil-sheet be placed in each of the connected instruments, as at stations G and H, the transmit.- ter and receiver in each station will be alternately active as the shafts 1 revolve on their axes. This alternate action of the transmitters and receivers, occurring at rapidly-recurring intervals due to the swift rotation of the arms 4 in the manner described, permits of what is practically simultaneous transmission and receipt of a plurality of messages over a single wire between the instruments in connection or correspondence.

By duplicating the beds and platens in each instrument, as in Fig. 10, (where the beds are lettered V \V X Y Z and the platens V, WV, X, Y and Z,) the instruments are adapted to receive five message sheets or ribbons, as well as five stencil sheets or ribbons, and each instrument may thus be operating upon ten ribbons at practically the same time, transmitting from five and receiving with five. The number of beds and platens employed in such an apparatus may obviously be increased to make an instrument of greater capacity, if desired.

lVith commutators and switches such as are shown in Fig. 9 the transmitter marked station U in Fig. 10 may be placed in connection with the receiving-instruments in the five other stations marked V, W, X, Y and Z. In such case the switches of the transmittinginstrument would all be closed, thus connecting the commutator-sections o to z, inclusive, with one of the contact-points, and one of the corresponding switches in each of the other stations would be closed, so as to complete the circuit in that station when the copyingpoint was opposite the corresponding platen.

In Fig. 10 the switch 2' in station V would be closed to complete the circuit through the copying-point when the same was opposite the platen v, as indicated by the dotted position of the arm 4:. In station IV the switch 4 would be closed to complete the circuit when the copying point was opposite the platen IV, opposite which the dotted arm is also shown. In the stations X, Y and Z the switches 00, w and 4), respectively, are shown closed. By this arrangement five messages supported upon the beds V to Z, inclusive, may be transmitted respectively to the stations V, WV, X, Y and Z. The practically simultaneous transmission of all these messages is accomplished by so arranging the commutators in a number of receivers in correspondence with one transmitter that the stencil-ribbon in each of said receivers is perforated while the copying-point is passing through a fraction of its orbit in such receiver, the commutators in all the other receivers in correspondence with the same transmitter operating to insulate the other receivers from electrical connection with the message-Wire during the time that the copying-point is doing its work in the one receiver. So, instead of closing all the switches in the transmitting-station, it is obvious that any number less than all may be closed, with the result that the number of messages sent may be regulated at will.

It is also obvious that the foregoing arrangements may be reversed and the commutators in a number of transmitters be so connected by their switches with one receiver as to forward to such receiver as many messages as there are transmitters. In such case each transmitter forwards a message to the single receiver during the fraction of the revolution of the contact-points, while the particular transmitter is the sole one of the several tran smitters (in correspondence with the said receiver) that is in electrical connection with the message-wire. For example, station V will transmit to station U while the circuitcloser is crossing bed V in station V, station IV will transmit to station U while its circuitcloser is crossing bed W, and in like manner stations X Y Z will transmit to station U as their respective circuit-closers cross beds X Y Z in the stations marked with those letters.

By closing all the switches in one transmit ter and all the switches in one receiver connected therewith said transmitter will cause the receiver to reproduce as many copies of the message as there are platens in the receiverin the present example five.

Having thus set forththe nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is- 1. A message-sheet of suitable fabric having a design partly of non-conducting and partly of conducting substance thereon, in combination with a telegraphic transmitter having a circuit-closer with adjacent contact-points and means for moving said contact-points across the message-sheet, and electrical connections to such points, adapted to close a circuit through said points and through the conducting substance of the design.

2. A message-sheet of suitable fabric having a design partly of non-conducting and partly of conducting substance formed thereon, in combination with a telegraphic transmitter having a circuit-closer with two adjacent contact-points moved across the message-sheet, and electrical connections to such points, adapted to close a circuit through said points and through the conducting substance of the design, and means for feeding the messagesheet transversely to the path of said points, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A messagesheet of suitable non-conducting fabric having a design of cond uctingsubstance formed thereon, in combination with a telegraphic transmitter having a concave bed to support the message-sheet, a circuitcloser supported by a revolving shaft and carrying two adjacent contact-points which move in a path concentric with the curved bed and in contact with the sheet, and electrical connections to such points, adapted to close a circuit through said points and through the conducting substance of the design, and means for feeding the paper transversely to the path of the said points, as and for the purpose set forth.

l. In a system for telegraphing facsimiles, a non-conducting message-sheet having a design of conducting substance thereon and circuit closing or transmitting points arranged to be moved across said message-sheet, in combination with a stencil-sheet of nonconductingmaterial, a coi'lducting-platen for supporting the sam e,a copyingpoint revolved in contact with said sheet synchronously with the movement of the said circuit closing points of the transmitter over the face of the message sheet, suitable electrical connections between the transmitting and copying points, and a generator capable of supplying a cv zrent sufficiently strong to force its way thro. he receiving-sheet to the platen supporting the same, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a system for telegraphing facsimiles, a continuous non-conducting ribbon having a series of designs formed of conducting substance thereon, and a transmitter having a supporting-bed for such ribbon and circuitelosing contact-points arranged to be moved across said ribbon, in combination with a receiver having a receiving-ribbon of non-conducting material, a conducting-platen to support the same, a point revolved in contact with the said ribbon synchronously with the movement of the circuit-closing points of the transmitter, means for feeding the two ribbons correspondingly, electrical connections between the transmitting and receiving points, and a generator supplying a current sufficiently intense to connect the circuitclosing points through the conducting portions of the said designs and to then project sparks from the receiving-point through the receiving-ribbon to its supporting-platen, the whole arranged and operated substantially as herein set forth.

6. A message-sheet of suitable non-conducting material having a design formed of some non-conducting substance, in combination with a telegraphic transmitter having a curved bed to support the said sheet, a circuit-closer comprising an arm revolved about an axis and carrying two contact-points insulated from one another, with means for pressing them elastically toward the bed, means for feeding the paper transversely to the path of the points, and electrical connections to such points adapted to close a circuit through the said points and through the conducting substance of the design, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination with a central rotating shaft], of a series of concentrically-placcd curved beds, as V, \V, X, Y, Z, an arm 4: attached to the shaft with two insulated contact-points and means to press them toward said beds, a co'u'u'uu'tator upon the shaft having a semicylindrical section 23 upon one side of the commutator connected with one of said contact-points, a series of segmental sections upon the oppo site side of the commutator, and switches and conductors carried by the shaft to connect said sections at will with the other contactpoint, and opposite brushes with connections to positive and negative conductors, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a system for telegraphing facsimiles, a transmitter comprising a central rotating shaft, an arm attached to the shaft with insulated contact-points, a series of curved beds concentric with the orbitof the contact-points and supporting a series of non-conducting message-sheets each carrying a design formed of some conducting substance, a commutator upon the shaft having one section connected. with one of the contact-points and other sec tions connected respectively with the several curved beds, and a series of receivers comprising each a shaft revolving synchronously with that in the transmitter, and a curved platen supporting a non-comlucting stencilsheet concentric with the shaft, and an arm attached to the shaft and carrying a copying-point to bear upon the stencil sheet, with brushes and electrical connections for conducting a current of suitable intensity through the eontact-points in the transmitter and the several copying-points of the receivers, to perforate the stencil-sheets in .faesimile of the designs upon the several message-sheets, substantially as herein set forth.

9. In a system for telegraphing facsimiles, a transmitter comprising a central rotating shaft, an arm attached to the shaft with insulated contact -points, a series of curved beds concentric with the orbit of the contactpoints and supporting a series of .nomeonducting message sheets carrying designs formed of some conducting substance, a commutator upon the shaft having one section connected with one of the contact-points and other sections connected respectively with the several curved beds, and a receiver of similar construction having a series of stencil-sheets of non-conducting material supported upon a series of curved platens, and brushes and electrical connections for conducting a current of suitable intensity through the contact-points and the copying-point, and to mrforate the series of stencilsheets in facsimile of the series of designs upon the messagc-slnmis, substantially as herein set forth.

10. In a telegraphic transmitter provided with a message-sheet of non-conducting material having a design formed thereon of some conducting substance, a circuit-closing device composed of two contact-points insulated from one another, with means for moving them over the surface of the message-sheet, and electrical connections to said contactpoints for transmitting a succession of impulses to a suitable receiver as the circuit is closed between the contact-points by contact with the conducting substance upon said sheet, the whole arranged and operated substantially as herein set forth.

11. In a telegraphic system, a transmitter provided with a message-sheet of non-conducting material carrying a design formed of some conducting substance, a circuit-closing device composed of two contactpoints insulated from one another, with means for moving them over the surface of the messagesheet, a receiver comprising a supportingplaten with a stencil-sheet of n'on-conductin g material, a copying-point with means for moving it over said stencil-sheet synchronously with the movement of said transmitting contact-points and an induction-coil with suitable electrical connections for including the said contact-points and copying-point in the secondary circuit of said coil, the whole arranged and operated substantially as herein set forth.

12. In a system of telegraph apparatus, the combination with a transmitter having a message-ribbon of non-conducting material bearing upon its surface a series of messages formed of some conducting substance, with means for feeding such ribbon at a uniform rate of speed through the transmitter, of a receiver having a conducting-platen, means for moving a stencil-ribbon over the platen at the same speed as that of the message-ribbon, devices substantially as described for transmitting the electrical impulses from the conducting-surface of the message-ribbon to corresponding points upon the surface of the stencil-ribbon, with electrical connections and a current adapted to form a series of perforations in the receiving-ribbon in facsimile of the message upon the message-ribbon, the whole arranged and operated substantially as herein set forth.

13. In a system for telegraphin g facsimiles, a combined transmitter and receiver provided with a central rotating shaft having an arm carrying at its end insulated contact-points, two series of curved beds and corresponding platens at opposite sides of the said shaft, with electrical connections from the series of platens to a common circuit, a commutator upon the shaft with sections upon one side corresponding to the other series of platens, switches and conductors for connecting the said sections with one of the contact-points, a section upon the opposite side of the commutator having an are equal to the combined arcs of the other sections and connected electrically with the other contact point, and brushes adapted to connect the commutatorsections with the common circuit, and with a suitable transmitter or receiver, as and for the purposes set forth.

able across the same, a stencil sheet or ribbon with means to move it upon the platen, a receiving-ribbon with means for feeding the same and pressing the stencil-ribbon upon it, an electrical circuit connecting the transmitter, the platen and the copying-point, a generator capable of supplying a current adapted to force sparks through the stencil-sheet to the platen, and devices for printing through the stencil sheet or ribbon, when perforated, upon the receiving-ribbon.

16. In a telegraph system, a receiver comprising a shaft having a radial arm with a copying-point thereon, a series of conducting-platens concentric with the orbit of said point with stencil-ribbons movable across the same transversely to the path of the point, with guides to curve the paper as required, spools to store and supply the said stencilribbons, feed-rolls to actuate the same, receiving-ribbons extended between the said rolls, means for supplying ink to one of each pair of such feed-rolls, and an electrical circuit connecting the copying-point and the series of platens, with a generator capable of supplying a current adapted to force sparks through each sten oil-ribbon to its supportingplaten, and a commutator upon the shaft for directing the current from the point to the several platens in the desired order, the whole arranged and operated to form a series of stencils and to print copies therefrom upon the series of receiving-ribbons, substantially as herein set forth.

17. In a telegraphic receiver adapted to use a stencil-ribbon, the combination, with means for making electroperforations through the ribbon, of spools for supplying a stencil-ribbon and a receiving-ribbon, a pair of feedrolls arranged to press the perforated stencilribbonupon the receiving-ribbon, an ink-well below the said rolls, a pressure-cylinder below one of the feed-rolls, with an endless inking-band pressed thereby against said feedroll, squeeze-rolls to remove surplus ink from the band, and a cover to protect the well and inked roll from dust, substantially as herein set forth.

18. In a telegraphic receiver having a copying-point rotated about an axis in contact with a ribbon which moves transversely to the line of motion of such point, the combination with the ribbon-spool and feed-rolls for drawing the ribbon uniformly therefrom, of a platen to support the ribbon in contact with the point, a reel to wind the ribbon when used, and means for varying the speed of the reel to compensate for the gradual accumulation of the ribbon on the reel, consisting of a frictional roll pressed continuously upon the periphery of the ribbon Wound on the spool, and gearing connectingthe frictionroll with the reel, substantially as herein set forth.

19. In a telegraphic receiver having a copying-point which rotates about an axis in contact with a transversely-moving stencil-ribbon, the combination with the ribbon-spool and feed-rolls for drawing the said ribbon uniformly therefrom, of a platen to support the stencil-ribbon in contact with the point,

areel to wind said ribbon when used, a spool my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED \V. STORM.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS S. CRANE, EDWARD Fv KINSEY.