US559821A - Telegraphic printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model H. O. SPAULDING. TELEGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS."

No. 559,821. Iatented May 12,1896.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Shegt 2.

H. G. SPAULDING. TELEGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

' No. 559,821. Patented May 12, 1896."

WITNESSES {No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. O. SPAULDING. TELEGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS.

No. 559,821. Patented May 12, 1896.

\MI'PIESSES A I Pk/EN ER Add (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4. H. G. SPAULDING. TELEGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS.

No 559,821. Patented May 12, 1896'.

a as 6 sssvxws DREW I GIAHAHJHOTOUTHQWASMNGTDI. RC.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets+-Sheet 5. H. O.- SPAULDING.

TBLEIGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS. No. 559,821. Patented May 12, 189-6.

WWI/111171111111 J I Fig/PIE].

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet s. H. O. SPAULDING.

TELEGRAPHIO PRINTING APPARATUS.

No} 59,821. Patented May 12, 1896.

Q 945 ABcflErG \A/ITNESSES ,iqifM-ea ANDREW EGliAHAM Puuwumu wnsnmsmmo n (No Mpdel.) 8 shets -sheet 7.

- H. O. SPAULDING.

TBLEGRAPHIG PRINTING APPARATUS.

No. 559,821. Patented May 12, 1896.

ANDREW I GRAKAHPHUTOUTNOYWASHINGTOKDC.

(No Model.) I

H. G. SPAULDING. TELEGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

8 SheetsSheet 8 Patented May 12, 1896.

\A/H'HEEEEE fwd.

UNITED STATES ATENT rricn.

HOLLON O. SPAULDING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,821, dated May 12, 1896.

Application filed April 2 3, 18 9 5.

T (LZZ whom it may calmer/1,.-

Be it known that I, HOLLON O. SPAULDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of illassachusetts, have invented a certain' new and useful Improvement in 'lelcgraphic Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a printing apparatus susceptible of being readily operated by electricity without the employment of a skilled telegraph-manipulator, and adapted especially for large-scale printing, such as bulletins. Obviously any contrivance for printing on any scale messages or announcements which may be used by persons accustomed only to the ordinary reading-text must be capable of printing any lettor of the alphabet and any numeral, punctuation-mark, or other common symbol; and it is equally obvious that for printing on a large scale by an apparatus capable of fulfilling this requirement any contrivance which requires a separate type, die, or other impression-maker for each desired character will beundcsirable, bulky, and extremely costly.

For telegraphic bulletin-printing, to which my invention is especially adapted, where the letters, to be legible at a distance, should be from three to five inches high and correspondingly wide, any apparatusmust necessarily be of large size; but an apparatus employing individual type-pieces would be of such size as to make its use in most places impracticable.

The following description, read in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, in which like letters and figures are used always to designate like parts, will enable any one skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to practice it.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a conventional chart showing the principle of operation of the elementary printing contrivance. Fig. 2 shows the same arrangement as Fig. l, with suggestions as to details of arran gem ent. Fig. 3 represents a form of printing element with mechanical connections. Figs. at and 5 show in front and side view, respectively, a form of carriage to contain and convey a printing contrivance constructed according to the plan outlined in Figs. 1 and Figs. (3 and 7 show in plan and partial section a set of contact- Serial No 546,935. (No model.)

strips which connect at the sending-station with appropriate wires of the cable which passes to the printing apparatus. 9 show the under side and a cross-section of a sending-key, while Figs. 10 and 11 show the manner of mounting the sending-keys on the table of contact-strips shown in Figs. (3 and 7. Fig. 12 represents a complete bulletin-printingapparatusin a suitable case with the front removed, and Fig. 13 is a view from the left side of the apparatus of Fig. 12 in section along the broken line Figs. 1a and 15 show details of the linespacing mechanism, and Figs. 1 and 17 details of letter-spacing mechanism.

My printing contrivance consists of an assemblage of printing elements grouped, by preference, in a rectangle and arranged in abscissa and ordinate lines. Each of these printing elements is susceptible of independent movement, and any selected groups of such elements may be moved simultaneously.

The arrangement of impression elements which I find to be the best for all practical purposes is shown in Fig. 1. This figure is for the most part conventional; but the absence therefrom of construction details serves to simplify the description. Details are developed in other figures of the drawings.

In Fig. l is indicated the assemblage of printing elements arranged in a rectangle, five-square, with intermediate elements in the second and third horizontal lines. Two

Figs. 8 and detached circles distinguished by a cross mark within their circumferences are auxiliary members of the assemblage, whose functions will be described presently. Assume for the present that each circle of the assemblage represents a printing element capable of making a circular dot upon a receivingsurface and that each element is actuated by an electromagnet. I connect each electromagnet with one of five circuit branches which correspond to the five vertical lines and with one of seven circuit branches which correspond to the horizontal lines, the rows of elements intermediate between the vertical rows being relegated to circuit branches of their own, thus making the circuit branches for the horizontal rows of elements seven in number. The designations applied in Fig. 1 to the impression elements indicate the distribution of circuit connections. Thus there are five circuit branches, which contain the five vertical rows of elements, these branches being numbered 1 2 3 4 5, respectively, and seven circuit branches for the horizontal rows of elements lettered A B C D E F G, respectively. Each impression element is designated by a figure and a letter, according to the position of the element in the circuit branches. All elements marked 1 are in circuit branch 1, and all marked 2 in circuit branch 2, and so on, while all elements marked a are in circuit branch A, all marked 1) in circuit branch 13, and so on. In one set of circuit branches are interposed sources of electrical energy, one for each branch of the set. These are shown in Fig. 1 conventionally as interposed in the numeral-marked branches 1 2 3 4L 5.

In order to actuate the printing elements, or sets of them, I bring the two sets of circuit branches into juxtaposition, but not into closure contact, as shown at Y. The five numeral-marked branches cross the seven letter marked branches, so that contact may be made at any of the thirty-five (5 X 7) intersections of these branches. If where branch 2 crosses over branch D contact is made, a current passes through element 2 in the assemblage X and energizes the electromcchan ical contrivance to print a spot or make a perforation, according to the nature of the device which the impression element is assumed to represent. Likewise, if anynumberof the circnit-intersections at Y be made the loci of contacts, the corresponding impression elements at X will be actuated and the aggregate of all the spots or punctures so made will constitute the outline of a legible character. Th us to make letter M, which is outlined by the cross-hatched impression elements at X in Fig. l, we must actuate 1 and 5, 2 and 5", 1 and 5, 1, 2 ,4, and 5, 1 and 5, 3 and at", 1- 3*,and To accomplish this, make contacts at Y, as indicated by the dotted circles-namely, where branch 1 crosses branch A, where branch 5 crosses branch A, where branch 2 crosses branch 15, where branch 5 crosses branch B, where branch 1 crosses branch 0, where branch 5 crosses branch 0, where branch 1 crosses branch D, Where branch 2 crosses branch D, where branch 4 crosses branch D, where branch 5 crosses branch I), where branch 1 crosses branch E, where branch 5 crosses branch E, where branch 3 crosses branch F, where branch 4 crosses branch F, where branch 1 crosses branch G, where branch 3 crosses branch G, wherebrauch 5 crosses branch G and by the aggregate impression made by the seventeen impression elements at X the letter M will be formed upon whatever suitable surface is presented to the face of the assemblage X. By this means I can use a set of wires equal to the sum of the vertical and horizontal lines of my assemblage, and at the same time select any number of elements up to that equaled by the product of the vertr cal and horizontal lines. Thus with five vertical-row circuit branches and seven horizontal-row branches, requiring twelve wires, I can control five times seven elements at the printin g-station.

I have shown elements 1 and 1 at one side of the printing assemblage. These elements may represent electromechanical contrivances for feeding the surface to be printed on by the printing assemblage or for moving a carriage which contains the printing mechanism. 1 and 1 are available for any purpose auxiliary to the printing. By using this contrivance in the manner specified it is true that a great number of shunted currents spread through the conductors of the assemblage X; but the line of least resistance is always taken through the element whose connections are common to the contact made at Y, and that element is thus the one actively energized. By the artifice described any letter of the alphabet or any numeral and all necessary symbols and punctuation -marks may be made by selecting from the assemblage X an appropriate group of elements through the contact area Y and energizing them simultaneously. Automatic closure selectors may be employed, so that any one capablc of operating a type-writer may operate this printing contrivance. If the circuit branches are subdivided so as to form as many contact areas as there are desired characters, an automatic circuit selecting key may be provided for each contact area and the successive characters printed without requiring more than the selection of an appropriatelymarked key. By securing relative movement between the printing assemblage X and the surface on which the group-impressions are made, as by the operation of a feed by means of element 1, the successive impressions may be made to form connected words and sentences. The automatic closure keys or selectors and the manner of applying the contrivance described to a detailed mechanism will presently be described.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a method of applying electromechanical devices to the elements of the printing assemblage X shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 again I show the assemblage X, but this time with each of its elements connected (conventionally) to an electromagnet. Each electromagnet is marked as was the printing element to which it is connected where the printing elements were shown conventionally in Fig. 1. Thus magnet 1 is mechanically connected with the printing element marked 1 in Fig. 1, the marks in Fig. 1 designating, as was explained, the printing element and all the energizing apparatus connected with it.

In Fig. 3 is shown a form of printing element and a manner of connecting it with an electromagnet. Magnets M M, which may represent any of the magnets of Fig. 2, have armatures N N, to which are attached links ITO L L, in turn attached to bell-crank levers H H, which, through suitable connectingrods, are articulated to the printing-plungers I P. A surface 29 (shown in Fig. 3 in cross-section) stands in such relation to P and P that when magnets M M, or either of them, are energized the pad ends of P or P are pressed against the surface 29. The pads may be spongy lumps kept wet with ink or may operate on an inking-ribbon placed between them and surface 29.

Returning to Fig. 2, assume that each of the conventional. connections between the magnets at 1 2, an, represents such a contrivance as that shown in Fig. 3 and that each of the elements of X represents a printing or inking plunger. If then the circuit branches be conventionally represented in Fig. 2 by the line groups 1 2 8 a 5 and A B C D E F G, respectively, the connections with these circuit branches are made as indicated. Magnet 1 is connected at one end of its coil with branch 1, and at the other end of the coil with branch A, magnet 2 with branches 2 and A, and so on. Magnets 1, 2, 3, a, 5, 2", 3, 4, 5, 1 2 3", at, and 5 are shown connected with circuit branches A B O and 1 2 3 4c 5. The same principle of arrangement for the remaining magnets is contemplated, but is not shown. To energize a selected group of printing-element magnets, selective contacts are made at the contact area Y, as shown in Fig. 53, in the manner described in connection with Fig. 1.

By Figs. a and 5 I show means of applying my printing device to a movable carriage. A box K is hung on two rails by wheels to to, so that it may be drawn across the face of the sheet or roll on which the printing is to be made. In these two figures the sheet and the feed mechanism are not shown, description of those details being reserved for further figures. In the box K are mounted the printin gmembersP P, and an assemblage of printing-magnets, such as shown in Fig. 2, is mounted within the box. Behind the box K, and running parallel with the traverse of the box upon its wheels, are two groups of metallie strips. These strips constitute the circuit branches which were shown conventionally in Figs. 1 and 2, and are designated in correspondence with the symbols already adopted, the upper set of strips being marked 1 2 1 5, the lower set A B G D E F G. In the back of the box are fastened a number of springtrailers s, which bear on the circuit-strips. These trailers are electrical conductors insulatcd from each other in their attachment to the box K; Adopting the arrangement in dicatcd in Fi 1 and 2, there are five springtrailers in contact with strip 1-namely, trailers corresponding to contacts with circuit branches A, C, D, E, and G. Upon each of the strips 2 3 i 5 rest seven trailers, corresponding with contacts with circuit branches A B CD E F G. Upon each ofstrips A, C, D, E, and G five trailers make contact corresponding to circuit branches 1 2 8 a 5. 0n strips B and F only four trailers make contactnamely, those correspondingto circuit branches 3, +1, and 5. The coils of magnets 1, 1, 1, 1 and 1 are connected each with one of the trailers on strip 1. The coils of magnets 2, 2 2, 2, 2, 2, and 23 are connected each with one of the trailers on strip 2. The coils of magnets 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, and 3 are connected each with one of the trailers on strip 3. The connections of the remaining magnet-coils with the strips 4 and 5 are made in the same way. Then the coils of magnets 1, 2, 3, i and 5 are connected each with one of the trailers on strip A. The coils of magnets 2, 8", at, and 5 are connected each with one of the trailers on strip B, and so on. Thus through the trailers each impressionelement actuator is connected with one of the strips of the numeral group 1 2 4: 5 and with one of the strips of the letter group A B O D E F G. If to each numeral-strip and Ietter'strip is connected a line-wire and these wires are grouped as in group Y of Fig. 1, selection of contacts at the intersection of these line-wires will determine the printing-magnets to be energized at the box K, and with the arrangement of printing elements X, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, contacts made simultaneously at a selected group of intersections at Y will result in the printing of a legible character in dotted lines upon whatever surface is presented to the printing contrivance carried by the box K of Figs. 4 and 5.

Figs. 6, '7, S, 9, 10, and 11 illustrateaform of transmitting-key board to be used at the end of the cable remote from the printingframe of Figs. 4 and 5.

The wires A l3 C D E F G leading from contact-strips A B C D E F G, Figs. 1 and 5, branch from the cable and connect with strips A B C D E F G, respectively, these last-named conducting-strips being secured to a table y, but insulated therefrom, Figs. 6 and 11. Upon the strips of table 1 are secured spring-pairs 8, Fig. 7. From the cable on the wires which connect with contact-strips 1 2 3 4L 5, Figs. 4; and 5, pass to keys 0, Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11. In keys 0 are conductingstrips 1 2 3 4 5, to which wires 1 2 3 el- 5 are connected, respectively. From key to key the circuit branches are continuous. To strips 1, &c., are attached springs, as '7, Figs. 8, 9, and 11, and at the corners of the keys 0 posts 1) are secured, which pass through holes h in table 'y. Springs Z on posts 1) keep keys 0 normally elevated, and stops in on the ends of posts 1) prevent the springs Z from throwing key 0 out of its seat.

In Fig. 10 is shown the arrangement of two keys 0 O with relation to the circuit branches.

From the cable-wires branches are led to sets of table-strips A B C D E F G" and A B C D E F G the wires to A and A being branches of the same line-wire, and so on. From the cable the wires leading from the contactstrips 1 2 3 4 5 are also branched to feed as many wires of keys as are desired.

Between one key 0 and the next flexible connections are made by having coils of slack wire, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. By means of springs such as 7 and 8, Figs. 9 and '7, placed over each other-springs 7 in the key 0 and springs S on strips in table y-contact may be made and circuits closed by selecting intersections of circuit branches after the manner of Y in Fig. 1. Each key 0 carries a determined number of springs 7, attached to the metallic strips on the underside of the key, and a corresponding number of springs 8 project up from the table-strips. The converging pairs of springs 7 enter the forking pens of springs S and make sure contact. The A B O D F. F G circuit branches are thus connected with the- 1. 2 3 4: circuit branches and the printing-element controllers at the receiving end of the cable are energized according to the selection of circuit-branch intersections.

Figs. 12 and 13 exhibit an assembled apparatus for printing by means of the invention described above. A case 21 is provided with a glass front 22 and contains rollers 23, 24, and 25. On the roll 23 is wound a band of paper which travels back of the glass front of case 21. The feed-rolls 2t and 25 operate to move the paper sheet a uniform distance for li n e-spacin g. Behind the paper and traveling on rails 26 and 27 on the back of the case 21 is the printing-box K, arranged as shown in- Figs. 4 and 5. The contact-strips 1 2 3 4 5 and A B O D E F G are secured to but insulated from the back of the ease, and from the pinching-screws 28 at the ends of the said contact-strips run the wires which pass to the cable (not shown) which communicates with the keyboard in the sending-station,described in connection with Figs. 6 to 11.. The printing-plungers 1, arranged as in Figs. 3 and 4, present their acting ends to the paper strip 29 just below the lower edge of the glass casefront. An inking-pad 30 on the other side of the paper extends along the front of the case, so that the pressure of plungers P on the back of the paper produces corresponding spots on the front. The box K has a traverse entirely across the box, and this traverse-feed for letter-spacing I accomplish as follows: Reverting to Fig. 1, I provide two extra elements, which are there marked 1 and 1. Contacts for energizing these elements are made exactly as for those within the printing-square; but instead of using these two 1 and 1 for printing I avail myself of them to secure the feed movements necessary to bulletin-printingin successive lines. Thus in Figs. 12 and 13 I show the carriage K as moved by cords 31 and 32, one of which, 31, passes to a pawl moved drum 33 and the other to a weight 34. The winding-up drum is operated by a magnet 35 and its armature 36, in connection with a spring 14:. This magnet is thrown into circuit by the contact which energizes the element 1", and is, in short, the electromechanism represented conventionally by 1 inFig. 1. I prefer to have the magnet 35 in a local circuit which will be closed by the action of the line-magnet energized by contact for 1*.

The operation of the letter-space feed is shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

A compound pulley 39 is constructed with an outer wheel or drum 33 and inner wheel 41. On the projecting flange of the inner wheel 38 is a groove 42, in which the cord 37 is wound and fastened. The inner wheel 41 is provided with a friction-clutch 43, which binds it to the outer wheel 33 when cord 37 is pulled. The other end of cord 37 is fast to the end of a lever 36, which is normally held back by a spring 44;, Fig. 12. \Vhen magnet 35 is energized, its pull on the armature 45, fastened to lever 36, overcomes spring 5%, and the cord 37 is slaekened. A light torsionspring 46, which always tends to turn the inner wheel 41 011 the stationary shaft 47, winds the cord 37 in the groove 42. Then when the magnet 35 is demagnctized spring eti reasserts itself and brings lever 36 back against the stop 9, the inner wheel is turned by the pull of the cord 37, the inner wheel grips the outer wheel by means of the clutch =13, and the cord 31, which goes to the carriage K, Fig. 12, is wound on the outer wheel or drum 33, drawing the carriage K ahead one letter-space. A pawl 18 and ratchet 49 on the flange of drum 33 detain the drum 33, normally permitting only the winding-up motion.

By having the circuit which controls magnet 35namely, 1" and its corresponding circuit branchesclosed by the action of every letter-key of the keyboard shown in Figs. (3 to 11 while each letter-impression is being made at P on carriage K the letter-space-feed mechanism gets into position to feed the carriage K along its traverse-rails 2G and 27. \Vhen the letter-key is released, the contact 1 is broken, magnet 35 is demagnetized, and the spring 44: pulls the carriage along one lettor-space. For spacing alone one keyhavin g only contact 1 is easily provided. The return traverse of carriage K is accomplished by releasing the pawl 48 from the ratchet 44) of wheel The weight 34: then pulls the carriage K back to the beginning of a line. The magnet 50, which lifts pawl 43, is in the same circuit with the line-space electromechanism, so that when the roll of paper is moved up one line-space the printing-carriage is antomatically returned to the beginning of a line. The line spacing is accomplished through the selected contact of 1 of Fig. 1.

An electromagnet 51, Figs. 12, 14, and 15, is in the circuit selected by contact 1 and operates on an armature-lever 52, which, rising, lifts the catch 53 by the trigger 54:. The

catch 53 holds a drum 55 from rotating under the pull of weight 56 on the cord 57, wound on the drum, by means of the two-tooth ratchet-wheel 58, which is fast to the drum 55. A ratchet-collar 59 holds the drum in engagement with rolls 24: and 25, which grip the paper sheet by means of spikes 60 on roll 25, which mesh with corresponding holes in roll 24:. The ratchet-collar 59 permits the cord 57 to be wound on the drum 55. When contact 1 is selected, the magnet 51 picks up armature-lever 52 and catch 53; but the trigger 54: on catch 53 is tripped by engagement with a stop (31, and the catch falls immediately after being lifted and cannot be lifted again until armatn re has been released and drops below the trigger 5i. Thus the drum can revolve only until the neXt tooth of the ratchetwheel 58 engages the catch 53. The distance which the drum can revolve determines the space through which, the paper sheet is fed upward.

Magnet 50 of Figs. 12, 10, and 17, which controls the releasing-pawl for the back traverse of carriage K, is, as has been said, in circuitwith magnet 51, so that when the paper is moved up a line-space the printing-can riage m oves back by the pull of weight St on cord 32 to begin another line. The paper after itpasses to the top of casell can be led out at the back and disposed of as desired. it is shown in Figs. 3, 12, and 13 as wound on a lower roll 62 in the case 21.

The mode of operation of my invention is obvious from the description of details already entered into. Having a multiple keyboard arranged according to the plan indicated in Figs. 6, '7, 8, f), 10, and 11, all that devolves on the operator at the sending-station is to depress the keys in succession with deliberation measured by the size of the printing apparatus and the inertia of its moving parts. The printing assemblage on the carriage K will thus operate to print desired characters by selected groups of plungers, and the trav erse lettenfecd will go on automatically. The line-feed and return traverse-feed complete the movements necessary to continuous printing on the bulletin-roll.

I claim as my invention 1. An assemblage of impression making elements distributed in two dimensions, each element having its proper actuator, the assemblage containing such a number of impression elem cuts and in such disposition that by the operation of selected groups of impression elements there may be formed, within the bounds of the assemblage the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, in combination with means whereby any desired character group of elements may be selected and simultaneously actuated to form a character, and a surface in juxtaposition to the said assemblage of impression elements susceptible of receiving the impression from an actuated group of impression elements.

2. An assemblage of impression -making elements distributed in two dimensions arranged in ordinate lines and abscissa lines, each element having its proper actuator, the assemblage containing such a number of impression elements, so disposed in the said ordinatc and abscissa lines that by the operation of selected groups of impression elements there may be formed the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, in combination with means whereby any desired character group of elements may be selected and actuated to form a character, and a surface in juxtaposition to the said assemblage of impression elemen ts susceptible of receiving the impression from any selected group of impression elements.

An assemblage of impressioir making elements distributed in two dimensions, each element having an electrical actuator, the assemblage containing such a number of impression elements and in such disposition that by the operation of selected groups of impression elements there may be formed within the bounds of the assemblage the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, in combination with selective contact-makers, whereby any desired character group of elements may be simultaneously operated, each by its electrical actuator, to form a character, and a surface, in juxtaposition to the said assemblage of impression elements susceptible of receiving the impression from an actuated group of impression elements.

-1. An assemblage of impression-makin g elements arranged in ordinate lines and abscissa lines, each elem ent having an electrical actuator, the assemblage containing such a number of impression elements, so disposed in the said ordinate and abscissa lines that by the act-nation of selected groups of im' pression elements there may be formed within the bounds of the assemblage the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, in combination with selective circuit contact-makers, whereby the circuits of any desired group of electrical actuators for a group of impression elements may be closed, and the impression elements thus selected may be actuated to form collectively a character, and a surface, in juxtaposition to the said assemblage of impression elements susceptible of receiving the impression from any selected group of actuated impression elements.

5. An assemblage of similarly-shaped impression-makin g elements, each element hav- 'ing its proper actuator, the assemblage containingsuch a number of similarly-shaped impression elements and in such disposition that by the operation of selected groups of such impression elements there may be form ed within the bounds of the assemblage the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, in combination with means whereby any desired character group of elements may be selected and simultaneously actuated to form a character, and a surface in juxtaposition to the said assemblage of impression elements susceptible of receiving the impression from an actuated group of impression elements.

6. An assemblage of similarly-shaped impression-making elements distributed in two dimensions, each element having an electrical actuator, the assemblage containing such a number of impression elements and in such disposition that by the operation of selected groups of such impression elements there may be formed Within the bounds of the assemblage the outline of any one of a plurality of charactors, in combination with selective contactmakers whereby any desired character group of similar elements may be simultaneously operated, each by its electrical actuator, to form a character, and a surface, in juxtaposition to the said assemblage of impression elements susceptible of reccivin g the im pression from an actuated group of elements.

7. The combination with an assemblage of impression-makin g elements, containing such a number of impression elements and in such disposition that by the simultaneous opera tion of groups of impression elements selected out of the assemblage there may be found the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, of a carriage for said assemblage of impression elements, and a surface in juXtaposition to said assemblage susceptible of receiving the impression from any selected group of impression elements, said carriage and surface being movable relatively to one another.

8. The combination with an assemblage of impression-making elements, each element having its proper electrical actuator, the assemblage containing such a number of impression elements and in such disposition that by simultaneous operation of selected groups of impression elements there may be formed the outline of any one of a plurality of characters, of a carriage for the said assemblage and its actuators, and a surface in j u\'taposition with the said assemblage susceptible of receiving the impression made by a group of impression elements; said carriage and said surface being movable relatively to each other.

9. A circuit-selecting device consisting of sets of circuit branches, one set superposed upon the other so as to bring the branches of one set across the branches of the other, in combination with a key having a plurality of contact-controllers corresponding in location with determined intersections of the circuit branches, so arranged that by the operation of the key electrical connection between the branches'of the sets may be controlled and determined at any group of intersections of circuit branches.

10. A circuit-selecting device consisting of sets of circuit branches normally open, one set superposed upon the other so as to bring the branches of one set across the branches of the other, in combination with a key having a plurality of contactclosers corresponding in location with determined intersections of the circuit branches, so arranged that by the operation of the key electrical connection between the branches of the sets may be established at any group of intersections of ci rcuit branches.

11. A circuit-selecting device consisting of sets of circuit branches normally open, one set terminating in contact-strips in a keyboard, the other set terminating in contactstrips in a key, the key presented to the keyboard in such manner that the branches of the two sets lie in intersecting lines, the said key and board being normally apart, in comhination with eontactpoints between key and board in connection with the terminal strips of one or the other branches and means for bringing the said contact-points into touch with the strips of the opposite set whereby circuit-closures at a group of intersections of tliecircuit branches are effected,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HOLLON O. SPAULDING. lVitncsses:

ELEANOR F. GRoLL, GRACE M. SHAY.

Images