US623293A - Electrically-connected printing-machine - Google Patents

Description

No. 623,293. Patented Apr. Is, |999.

c. A. suma J. .1. oLALon. ELEGTBICALLY GUNNECTED PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application ined Apr. 20, 1896.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheetl.

No. 623,293. Patented Apr. la, |899. c. A. SHEA & .1. .1. uLALoR. ELECTRIGALLY CONNECTED PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application med Apr. 20, 1896,) (N o M ode! a sham-sneu 2.

No. 623,293.- Patented Apr. I8, |899.

y C. A. SHEA &. J. ,.I. OLALUR. ELECTHICALLY CDNNECT`ED PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application led Apr. 20, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ET w @Hirten STATES Pa'rnivr Ormea.

CHRISTOPHER A. SHEA, OF MILTON, AND JOHN OLALOR, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICALLY-CONNECTED PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,293, dated April 18, 1899.

Application filed April 20,1896.

To all 'wh/)772, t nifty concern,.-

Be it known that we, CHRISTOPHER A. SHEA, of Milton, in the county of Norfolk, and JOHN J. OLALOR, of Medford, in the county of.Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and Improved Electrically-Oonnected Printing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being'had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

Our invention relates to improved apparatus for use with electrically-connected printing-machines whereby the depression of a key by the operator of the transmitting-machine will cause the corresponding key of the receiving-machine to be operated. The devices which have been in use heretofore for accomplishing this purpose have been objectionable for several reasons. Some of the systems require several line-wires and the initial expense is so great as to preclude their use. Others use only one wire; but these systems depend on the action of synchronous motors at each end of the line. When these motors get out of step, a misprint results and every letter subsequently struck is misprinted. ln order to correct this, the machines have to be broughtto unison and the inotorsthus brought back to synchronism. This is often a matter requiring some time, and nntil it is accomplished the machines are useless. By our invention we are enabled to do without the synchronous motors, and thus obviate the likelihood of misprinting.

An important feature of our invention is that all the machines in the line are antomatically brought to unison after the printing of cach letter. The operating paris of the machine start from the same position of rest or unison-point as each key is depressed, and after the key is released the arms are brought to that point again.

\Ve have shown our invention as applied to the Hammond type-writer; but it may be used with any printing-machine which' operates on a similar principle.

ln the drawings, Figure lis a diagrammatic representation of our invention, showing a transmitting and a receiving type-writer connected by a line-wire. Only so much of the stanno. 588.2783. (Nomoaeti type-Writers is shown as is necessary to explain the operation of our invention. Fig. 2 is a view in section representing the carriage feed and return. Fig. 3 is a detail View to which reference will he hereinafter made. Fig, a shows the manner in which the capital or figure key -of the receiving-machine is operated.

Fig. l represents two Hammond type-writers connected by a single line-wire. 'The machines with our invention added are alike, so that either one may be used as a transmitter or receiver; but for convenience in description we have represented X as the transmitting-station and Y as the receiving-station.

P is a key fulcrumed at F, which when struck with the finger by the operator at station X raises a rod R, which protrnd es through the hole h. At the same time the key raises an arm A, which is fastened to the shaft. S, to the other end of which is secured a drivingarm D, carrying at its end a fork E. Vh'en the driving-arm is moved forward by the raising of arm A, the fork engages with a pin p, which is attached to the type-shuttleT, having on its periphery the type. This movement advances the type-shuttle until it strikes the shuttle-arm M, which, being movable, is carried along with it, the front end moving to the right until it strikes the rod R. which has Y been raised by the back end ot' the key P. This stops the shuttle-arm and with it the type-shuttle and presents to the hammer H the letter P. By this time the' key P has raised another arm N, which at its' back carries a projectionn. This projection moves downward when the arm N is raised and in doing so strikes the back end of the pawl n', forcing it down. The front end of the pawl n rises, engages, and moves the ratchet O', which rotates one step, being stopped after that by the front end ot' thepawl a', which engages with it on rising. The ratchet-wheel moves on the pawl n4, the purpose of which is to prevent by its engagement with the teeth of the ratchet the backward movement therespring which drives the hammer forward, printing the letter P on the paper. The key P is then released by the operator and falls back to its normal position. The ham- The rotation ofthe ratchet O releases a IOL) ` mer ies back, the spring s restores the arm A to its normal position, and the driving-arm D, the type-shuttle T, the shuttle-arm M, and the rod R are restored to their normal positions and all parts of the machine resume the positions shown in Fig. l. When the next key is depressed, the same movements occur, and the letter corresponding to that key is printed on the paper. These movements belong to the Hammond type-writer and are only described in order to show how the electrical apparatus is adaptedto them.

lVhen the shuttle-arm M is moved by the 'driving-arm D over toward the rod that has been raised by the depression of the key, it moves over and makes contact with a commutator C', which is divided into segments, each successive segment being connected to an opposite polarity of current.

G G' are positive and negative dynamos furnishing the current. Vhen the key P has been depressed by the operator, the shuttlearm is moved over to the rod of that key and comes to a stop when it strikes it. If the key were the fifteen th key, the shuttle-arm would move over fourteen segments of the commutator and come to rest on the fifteenth, sending to the line and the station Y fifteen alternations of current. The line is connected from the shuttle-arm to the post CL and thence to the two-point switch a', which is turned to the left-hand con tact at the transmitting-station X when it is desired to print to station Y, as shown in Fig. l.

It will be noticed from the foregoing description that the shuttle-arm M returns to its original position or unison-point on the segment m of the commutator C after each key is released and starts from that point when the next key is depressed.

The current passes tothe station Y by way ol' relays R R2,and at station Y it flows around the armature A of relay R3 and then to earth. Relay R3 is polarized, N S beinga permanent magnet. The armature A will therefore move up and down on its center b, the polarity of the first current governing the 'direction of the first movement. Attached to the armature A are two arms fr Qc'. Their normal position is between the teeth of the escapement-wheels E E'. These wheels are constructed in a peculiar way, as is better shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the arms xx rest between the two wheels E E'. The rst downward movement of either arm engages with a tooth of wheel E'. If the polarity of the rst impulse from station X is a positive one, the

sh uttle-arm M moves to the right and the arm moves downward. In doing so it strikes the tooth of wheel E and turns the wheels and the shaft S, which is fastened thereto, the distance-of one tooth to the left. The next impulse, which will be a negative one, will move the' arm x upward, which will strike the tooth above it and move the shaft the distance of one more tooth to the left, and so on. In the meantime the arm has been moving in the opposite direct-ion to the arm and has en countered no teeth. Its rst movement was upward and the next downward, and so on; but the wheels are so formed that the arm moves in open spaces during the succeeding alternations of current.

If the first current from station X be negative, there will be a reverse effect. The end of the armature A to which the arm is fastened will be moved first. This will move the arm Q0' downward rst, and it will engage with the tooth below and drive the wheels and the shaft S the distance of one tooth to the right. The next impulse will send the arm upward, and it will strike another tooth and drive the shaft the distance of one more tooth to the right, and so on. In the meantime the arm has been playing between blank spaces. By this arrangement of the teeth on the wheels the shaft will be driven in opposite directions by the two arms of the rela-y R3. The wheels E E can be reversed in position,if desired, and the first upward movement of either arm may then be made to govern the direction of the shafts mot-ion. The first impulse from the commutator O at station X maybe negative instead of positive by connecting the negative dyn amo to the first segment instead of the positive one.

Attached to the shaft S is the contact-arm M'. This moves with the shaft and moves over the segments of the cominutator C, to each segment of which is connected a solenoid O, having a movable core o and a fixed core 0'. When the solenoid is energized by the local battery L, it pulls the movable core 0 down, and with it the keyP, to which the movable core is attached. This of course has the same effect as striking the key with the finger, and it prints the letter on the paper of the machine in the same way. In order to release the key aft-er the letter has been printed on the receiving-machine at station Y, the electromagnet M2 is brought into action. When the keyP has been pulled down by the solenoid O, the hammer is driven for- IOO IIO

ward in order to print the letter on the paper.

As it moves forward it closes the circuit of the electromagnet M2 at contacts c c', the former being fixed and the latter attached to the hammer.

The armature A2 of the electromagnet M2 is fastened to the shaft S and turns with it, and when it turns it moves out of its normal position between the poles of the magnet M2. X'Vhen the circuit of this magnet is closed, the magnetism generated at i ts poles will act upon the arma-ture A2 with such a force that it will pull it around, so that it will come back to its normal position between the poles of the magnet and be held there. The shaft S will be turned at the same time, and its contact-arm M will be brought to the segment m. This contact c2 is attached to the hammer.

mutator C,to which the solenoid is connected, and in moving o the circuit of the solenoid is broken. The movable core 0 is no longer attractedinto the solenoid and it flies up, allowing the key P to take its normal position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that at the same time that the shuttle or contact arm M of the transmitting-machine at station X is returned to the unisonpoint m by the mechanical devices of the Hammond machine the contact-arm M of the receiving-machine at station Y is brought to its corresponding unison-point on by the armature A2 of the magnet M2, as j ust described.

.Vhen the hammer H of the transmittingmachine at station X flies forward, it opens the line at contacts c2 c3. This is done for the purpose of breaking the circuit, so that the armature A of the relay Rgof the receiving-machine at station Y will come to rest between the two wheels E E and allow them to be turned by the arma-ture A2 of the magnet M2. lf the line were not opened in that way, the arms of the armature A would be held up or down into a tooth of the wheels E or E', and the shaft S would be prevented from turning freely. The contact cs is fixed and After the letter has been struck ou the transmitw ting-machine at station X the key is released by the finger and the shuttle-arm M falls back to its original position. In doing so it makes contact with the commutator C, and were the line closed it would send currents to station Y, thereby driving the escapementwheels of the receivinginstru ment farther on but as the line is open at the hammer these currents are not sent to station Y. The hammer H closes the circuit when it flies back. It returns to its normal position as soon as the sluittle-arm M does, and therefore the line is closed in time for the next letter to b'e printed.

Either machine can be used for ofce-work' by simply turning the two-point switch .S to the right. This leaves it in a position for receiv ing, as is shown at station Y in Fig. l.

Fig. 2 illustrates the paper-carriage feed, release, and return.

S2 is a shaft,on the back end of which is a collar, with a slot turned in it all the way around in order to allow the two prongs of a fork to clutch it, so that it can slide the shaft S2 back and forth and yet allow it to be turned by the spring s. The fork is securely attached to the rod R4, which extends under the machine and is connected to the crank R, attached to the key K. Then the key is depressed at the transmitti11g-machine at station X or pulled down by the electrical devices of the receiving-machinev at station Y, the fork moves the shaft S2. Upon this shaft is securely fastened the ratchet O2, in the teeth of which the pawl n2 engages to keep the spring s' from unwinding. A drum D2 is loose upon the shaft S2, and the ratchet Ois secured to this drum. The pawl n3 only engages with the teeth of the ratchet when the shaft and drum are pushed o ut. The drum D2 is free to turn on the shaft S2, but moves with it when it is pushed out. Firmly secured to ,the other end of the drum D2 is the gear-wheel G2, upon which the teeth of the carriage-rack K ride. They also ride upon the gear-wheel G3,which is sleeved on the shaft S2, so as not to move with it.

The spring s is fastened on its end to the shaft S2 and at the other end to the drum D2. It has been wound up to the necessary tension, and in the tendency to unwind gives the drum D2 a direction of rotation. This forces the carriage-rack and carriage in the same direction, and upon a stroke of the type-writer key it moves one definite distance. The carriage does not move until a key is struck, being held by a pawl against a tooth of the ratchet-wheel O', and as soon as akey is struck the pawl is moved away one tooth and then restored, moving` one tooth ahead upon the pressure of the succeeding key. This is a feature of the mechanical type-writer and is not claimed as a part of our invention.

lVhen the carriage is to be returned, the key K is depressed by the operator at station X and pulled down bythe electrical devices at station Y. This pushes the rod R4 back and with it the shaft S2. The drum D2 and gear-wheel G2 are thereby pulled completely out from under the rack K. The rack then rests upon the gear-wheel G3 alone, the spring s2 of which has been wound up by the forward movement of the carriage-rack and has acquired sufficient tension to turn the gearwheel G3 in the opposite direction to that in which the spring s' turned the gear-wheel G2. As the rack K now rests upon the gear-wheel G3 only and as this gear is given a tendency to rotate by its spring s2, the rack is forced along with it until it is returned to the starting-poiht. lVhen this point is reached, the key is released, the shaft S2 is restored, and the gear-wheel S2 slips under the rack and is ready to move it forward again. The spring s' is very much more powerful than the spring S2, which is just strong enough to return the carriage, the latter being very light and riding over rollers. Vhen the drum is pulled out from under the rack K, the pawl n3 engages with a tooth of the ratchet O3, preventing the spring s from unwinding. The pawl n2 is always engaged in a tooth of the ratchet O2.

The springs' is wound to the requisite tension to force the carriage-rack. K along one.

step upon the pressure of each type-writer key. As the spring unwinds at that rate, it would very soon become run down. Thisis overcome by means of the electromagnet M4. After each key is struck the circuit of the electromagnet is closed at Z or any other suitable place and its armature A4 pulled upward. The 'end a4 of the armature fits into a tooth of the ratchet O2, forcing it around and winding the spring s one step. This happens with every letter, and-the spring s is thus kept at its initial tension.

IOO

IIO

Instead of the armature of the electromagnet winding up the spring s/ it can be replaced by a lever attached to any of the movable arms, suflicient pressure being given the keys to move the lever with force enough to drive the ratchet O2 one tooth for every tooth itV loosens. The lever in that case would take the position now occupied by the armature of the magnet M4.

In Fig. 4 we have shown one method of holding down and locking the capital or iigure key of the receiving-machine and also the method of releasing it. W'hen the capitalkey of the transmitting-machine at station X is depressed, it sends to the line a definite number of pulsations, according to its position. In this case it is the first key. Therefore it sends 'one impulse to the line. This moves this contact-arm M of the receivingmachine at station Y onto the rst contact o' of the comm utator C'. The solenoid O2 is thereby energized, and it pulls down its movable core o2 and with it the capital or figure key K2. At the same time the stationary core O3 of the solenoid becomes a magnet and attracts the armature A5 to it. As the armature moves toward the-magnet it strikes the rod R6 and forces its upper end against the notch l in the latch L2,which is pivoted at Z2, and drives it forward, when it engages with the collar C2 on the movable core 02 and holds it down. Just at this time the armature A5 has closed the circuit of the electromagnet M2 at y. The magnet attracts its armature A2 and restores the contact-arm M to the position of rest on the segment m'. The circuit of the solenoid O2is thereby broken and the armature A5 falls back to its original position. The movable core 02 will tend to rise, but will be prevented from doing so by the latch L2, which holds down its collar C2.

Vhen the gure or capital key is released by the operator at station X, one impulse will be sent to the line, the contact-arm M of the receiving-machine at station Y will be moved to the segment c', and the circuit of the solenoid O2 will again be closed. The solenoid will be energized and will attract the armature A5, as before described. This motion of the armature will operate the rod R6 and the upper end of the rod will engage with the notch l2 of Athe latch L2, which was driven forward, as

above described. The shape of the latch is such that the engagement of the rod R6 with the latch Z2 will drive it back to the position shown in Fig. 4. The collar 2 will then be free from the latch and the movable core o2 will rise when the armature A2 of the segment M2 has broken the circuit of the solenoid O2, as before described.

The operation of our invention is as follows: The operator at station X depresses the key P. This may be the fifteenth or any other key, and assuming that it is the fteenth key the shuttie-arm M will be moved around to the fifteenth rod R, which has been raised, and will stop there, as before described. In moving over to the fifteenth rodfthe arm M passes over fourteen contacts of the commutator C, one for each key, and comes to rest on the fifteenth. This sends fifteen current-s to the line and moves the armature A' of relayR3 of the receivinginstrumentatstationYfifteen times. The armature A by means of its arms moves the shaft S' and the contact-arm h in the manner already described to the fifteenth segment of the commutator O', where the contact-arm comes to rest. The solenoid O is thereby energized and pulls down the key P, which corresponds to the one depressed by the operator at station X. Then the hammer H of the receiving-machine at station Y iies forward, it closes the circuit of the magnet M2, which restores the contact-arm M to the unison-point on the segment m by means ot' its armature A2, as has been also described. At the same time the shuttle-arm M of the transmitting mechanism at station X is returned to the unison-point on the Segment m mechanically on the release of the key P. The two arms M M' move in step with each other and each is restored to its original position or unisonpoint after the printing of every letter, and should one letter for any reason be misprinted at station Y the next one will be correctly printed, as the con tact-arm M will have been restored to the unison-point after the misprinting of the letter and will therefore be in a position to be correctly operated by the depression of the next key. The contactarm M' of the receiving-machine at station Y moves so quickly over the contacts of the commutator C that the solenoids are not energized until it comes to rest.

If the line-wire should open or ground or get crossed with another, so that station Y will not get the currents from station X, the transmitting-machine at station X is locked automatically, so that it cannot be operated. This is accomplished by means of the relays R R2. The currents from the transmittingmachine at station X in passing to the receiving-machine at station Y ow through these relays. The spring r' of relay R' is sufticiently strong to overcome the magnetism of its core, and it therefore keeps the armature up at the top stop. The spring of relay R2, however, is weaker, and the currents iowing thro ugh that relay pull the armature down and keep it on the lower stop. The electromagnet M2 is therefore kept on open circuit. If the line-circuit should open, the current will not circulate around the relay R2, and the spring,having no magnetism to overcome,will then pull the armature to the upper. contact. In doing this it will close the circuit of the electromagnet M3, which pulls its armature A3 forward and directly under the pawl or', holding it firmly, and thereby preventing the ratchet O from moving and locking the machine. Should the line become grounded or crossed with another wire, the excess of current flowing around the cores of the relay R will create a greater amount of magnetism crease currents.

in its cores, and this increase will overcome the force of the spring fr' and pull the armature down to the lower contact, closing the circuit of the magnet M3 and locking the typewriter. The armature A3 of the magnet M3, which is upon open circuit, is 'free from the paWl n When the line-Wire is in Working condition, and it does not interfere with the operation of vthe machine. This magnet, with its armature, can be placed at any other part of the machine Where it Will prevent its operation by holding the moving parts of the machine iirmly. 1

W'hen the shuttle-arm M of the transmitting-machine at station X is resting in its normal position on the segment m, there is no current iiowing to the line. This would cause the relay R2 to open and lock the machine but for the local circuit which is kept closed through its coils. This circuit can be traced from the shuttle-arm, Wire lV, local battery L', around relay R2, to the shuttle-arm by Wire l l. W'hen the shuttle-arm moves off this contact, it throws the relay R2 into the line-circuit.

Any type-Writer operated upon a. mechanical principle similar to that of the Hammond machine can be equipped with similar eleotrical apparatus, and any printing-machine that has a type shuttle,77 type wheel, type-cylinder, or which has all its letters on one ortwo pieces of mechanism which turn or move one definite distance farther with the depression of each succeeding key, can be operated upon the electrical principle herein described. This can be done by alternating make and break or increaseand de- Upon the printing of each letter the type Wheels or cylinders are mechanically brought to their original position. This principle can be adapted to any of the type-bar machines should any piece of their mechanism move one definite distance farther with the depression of each succeeding key, or such a piece of mechanism could be attached to them.

Having thus fully described ourinvention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. The combination in asystem of electrically-connected printing-machines of a mechanical type-Writer containing a mechanism which is moved from a determinate posi-tion one definite distance farther by the depression of each succeeding k'ey of the machine, and which is restored to a determinate position upon the release of the key, of a series of contacts over and upon Which the mechanism passes, a source of electricity and a line-Wire, substantially as described.

The combination in a system of electrically-connected printing-machines of a mechanical type-Writer containing a mechanism which is moved from a determinate position one deiinite distance farther by the depression of each succeeding key of the machine, and which is restored to a determinate position upon the release of the key, acommutator over and in contact with which the movable mechanism passes, a source of electricity and a line-Wire, substantially as described.

3. The combination'in a system of electrically-connected printing-machines of a mechanical type-Writer containing a mechanism which is moved from a determinate position one definite distance farther by the depression of each succeeding key of the machine, and which is restored to a determinate position upon the release of the key, a series of contacts by means of which pulsations of electricity are sent to the line and receiving instrument by the movement of the movable mechanism, and means for preventing further operation of the receiving instrument when the movable mechanism is being restored to its determinate position, as and for the purposes described.

Il. The combination in a system of electrically-connected printing-machines of a source of electricity, a transmitting mechanism having a commutator and a contact-arm adapted to be moved one definite distance farther by the depression of each succeeding key of the machine and brought to its initial position on the release of the key, a receiving mechanism having a commutator and a contact-arm adapted to be moved by one or more electromagnets in unison with the arm of the transmitting-machine and mechanism to automatically bring the contact-arm to its initial -position in4 unison with the transmitting contact-arm after the printing of each letter, as and for the purposes described.

5. In a system of communication by means of printing-machines connected by a single line-Wire, a receiving printing-machine, a contact-arm, one or more toothed Wheels to move the contact-arm, one or more electromagnets to operate the wheels and mechanism to automatically restore the contact-arm to its initial position instantly upon the printing of each letter'and before the nextis struck, in combination with a transmitting-machine, a commutator and a source of electricity, a contact-arm adapted to be moved one definite distance farther bythe depression of each succeeding keyof the machine and restored to its initial position upon the release of the key, both contact-arms movin gin unison, substantially as described.

In a system of communication by means of printing-machines connected by a single line-Wire, a receiving printing-machine, a contact-arm, one or more toothed wheels to move the contact-arm, one or more electromagnets to operate the Wheels and mechan- IOO IIO

ism to automatically restore the contact-arm to its initial position instantly upon the printing of each letter and before the next letter is struck, as and for the purposes described.

7. In a system of communication by means of printing-machines connected by a single line-Wire, a receiving printing-machine having a commutator, a contact-arm adapted to be moved a step farther by each succeeding impulse from the transmit-ter and to be automatically brought to its initial position by means independent of the transmitter instantly after the printing of each character and before the next letter is struck, as and for the purposes described.

S. In a system of communication by printing-machines connected by one or more wires, a receiving-machine, a contact mechanism adapted to be moved by one or more toothed Wheels, one or more electromagnets to operate the Wheels and means for automatically bringing the contact mechanism to a determinate position by the action of the printing of each character, as and for the purposes described.

S). The combination in a system of electrically-connected printing-machines of a papercarriage having a rack, a spring for moving` the -carriage one step with the depression of each key, a drum, a gear, means for Winding the spring with each step it loses, mechanism for moving the drum from under the rack, a ratchet-Wheel and pawl to prevent unwinding of the spring and a spring for returning the carriage Wound by the forward movement thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

1'0. The combination in a system of electrically-connected printing-machines of the paper-carriage, the shaft S2, the rod R4, the drum D2, the spring s', the ratchet O2, the

spring s2, the gear G3, the electromagnet M4 with its armature A4 and the pawls n2, n3, substantially as described.

ll. In a system of communication by means of printing-machines connected by a single line-Wire, a receiving printing-machine, two wheels each with oppositelyinclined teeth tator C', the contact-arm M', solenoids electrically connected to the segments of the conimutator, the electromagnet M2 With its armature A2, as and for the purposes described.

13. In a system of communication by means of printing-machines connected by a single line-Wire, a transmitting-machine, a contactarm connected to the line-wire and adapted to be moved in opposite directions from a given position one definite distance farther by the depression of each succeeding key of the machine, a commutator over which the contactarm moves, opposite electrical polarities connected to the first and to the succeeding segments of the commutator on each side of a given position and mechanism to automatically restore the contact-arm tothe given position upon the release of the key, as and for the purposes described.

14. The combination in a system of electrically-connected printing-machines of the capital-key K2, the solenoid O2 having the movable core o2, the armature A?, the rod R6, the latch L2 and the collar C2, as and for the purposes described.

' CHRISTOPHER A. SHEA.

JOHN J. OLALOR. In presence of J. M. DoLAN, JAMES A. LOWELL.

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