US2381566A - Printing telegraph apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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Aug. 7, 1945. H. M. ANDERSON v PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1944 l M L HOWARD M. ANDERSON BY ATLOBNEY fi- 19457 H. M. ANDERSON PRINTING TELEGRAEH APPARATUS Filed May 5; 1944 ,5 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR HOWARD M. ANDERSON I I M Q .ATTORNEY l Aug. 7, 1945.

H. M. ANDERSON 2,381,566

PRINTING TELEGRAPI I APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

INYENTOR HOWARD M'ANDERSON BY hi ATTORNEY Patented Aug.

: Howard WestLalfayetteQlnd assignor. to Teletype Corporatipn, ghic'ago lll a" g corporation of ll elaware :Application Ma'y 5, 1944, Serial bio/534,250 ff {seer-as; (o1. 1 [7 .s .'2'5) The presen t invention pertains to printing telej graph -apparatus 'and more particularly wimprovements in function controlling rnechani'sms therefor.

The present invention'contemplates the effectulever bail assembly comprising a special carriage return function lever "and a universal function lever both pivotally mountedgon a bail portion which in turn is pivotally mounted on the usual function lever pivot rod. The bail'portion is provided with apair of'ears, oneconfronting each universal function lever to effectuate the line feed and carriage return operations simultaneously.

" The primary-object of the present invention is the 'provision of improved means for effecting automatically thesimultaneous operations of the carria'ge'return and line feed mechanisms upon of the function levers carriedthereonin'such'a manner that theselectionof either function lev er will'efieotuate thejr'otatio'n ofthefbail' portion about the function, lever pivot rod independently of the operation of the otherffunction'le'ver. In this manner, thebail portion' can be operated by either the carriage returnfunction lever. or the universal function lever.

The bailportion of the automatic line feed and carriagef return"assembly is also provided with two extensions, one ,for' operating the line feed .push bar and the other for'operating the carriage return latch bar; The universal function lever,

which is not coded, is" normally blocked, and when it is unblocked," as will presently appear, it will cause the" rotation "of the bail portion independently of the operation of the carriage return function lever to" effect through its pair of extensions the operations simultaneously of the 'line'feed and carriage return mechanisms- Thefcarriage. re-- turn function lever iscodedand' is (arranged to the arrival of the printing instrumentalities at a predetermined pointin a line of printing.

I A'more comprehensive understanding'of the objects and 'features of the present invention-may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction wherein; Y

Fig. 11 is a fragmental perspective'rear View oi the printing apparatus disclosed in U. S. Patent No. l,904,164 showing the device according to the present invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 is apartial front-elevation of the printing apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the printing appa- I ratus'illus'tratingthe embodiment of the present invention thereiniand Figsj l, 5;,6, and 7 are views of a modified form of the present invention.

Having reference to the drawings, and Figs. 2 and 3 in particular, the printer structure which has been" chosen to illustrate the present invention, and whichis fully described in the abovementioned patent, comprises a typing unit '(shown generally in'section in'Fig. 3) which includes a primary selecting mechanism indicated generally respond to a predetermined setting of the selector vanes, according to the" above-mentioned U. S, Patent 'No'. 1; 0 ",l64, and when so selected will cause the bail portion to berockedindependently of the operation ofthe universal function lever to efiectthe' simultaneous'performanceof the line I feed and carriage return functions. A blocking lever is mounted on the printer frame in frontof the universal 'function lever and is spring biased into blocking'relation with said function lever. A

the blockingleverwill be actuated equation; t e s;

by theselectormagnet l I.(Fig. 2) which is of the swordiand-T type disclosed in U .S. Patent No. 13145533 to S, Morton et a1. (fully disclosed in the first mentioned patent), and a secondary selector or selector'vane assembly indicated generally as I2. The" selector vane assembly l2 controls through a series of hell cranks [3 (Fig. 2) a corresponding seriesof curved code bars l4 carried in am'ovable type carriage. As set forth in the first mentioned patent, this type carriage, indicated generally as 15, is movable longitudinally with respect .to a stationary platen I6 (Fig. 3)'by me'an's'of rollers l1 and 18 operating on rails'or tracks l9 and 2|, respectively, The type carriage I5 also carries'a ribbon feed mechanism indicated generally as 22. a Referring particularly to Fig. 3, a motor (not shown) supplies power to a main operating shaft 23 which carries a spacing mechanism, exemplified' herein by the spacing escapement worm gear 24 and a selector cam assembly (not shown) adapted to cooperate with the selector magnet I l, as described in the first mentioned patent. The spacing mechanism exemplified by gear 24 conwith the accompanying drawings,

operatively (not shown) 28 (Fig. 3) the movement of type carriage |5 to form character spaces, tending in this movement to wind up the carriage return spring mechanism indicated generally as 29. Upon receipt of the carriage l5 to its normal or beginnin of line position by declutching the grab clutch 3|, as-

will presently appear. present invention, however, the return of the In accordance with the carriage l5 to its beginning of line position is accomplished independently of the reception of a" carriage return code signal.

Mounted'on the main operating shaft .23 and connected thereto through the, mediumof a suitable clutch mechanism is an op-' cratingcam sleeve which carries aprinting bail cam 32 and a function bail cam33. Positioned parallel to the main operating shaft 23 is a shaft 34 on which are carried various mechanisms; for example, printing ball 35, function ,bail 36, and the escapement mechanism (not shown). which functions to control the step-by-step rotation of spacin worm gear 24. The printing bail cam 32 operates through follower roller 31 to rock a printing bail operating arm 38 (pivotally mounted on shaft 34) which actuates print bail 35 clockwise against the pull of a printing spring In proper timed relation in the operative cycle, the energy stored up in the printing spring is released to actuate the printing bail 35 counterclockwise. This oscillatory movement imparted to the printing bail 35 functions toreciprocate a pull bar operating member 39 to cause the operation of a type bar4 I ,as clearly set forth in the first mentioned patent.

The function bail cam 33 operates through a hereinafter appear. The function bail 36 is provided with an extension comprising a function carriage return function lever 52 and. a universal function lever 53 (Figs. 1 and 3) The line feed function lever 5|, like the function levers ofthe first mentioned patent, is pivoted on a common pivot rod 54 and is aligned in a slot in a function lever comb 55. However, according to the present invention, the function levers for controlling the carriage return and automatic carriage return and line feed functions are mounted on a function lever bail assembly indicated generally as 56 comprising a special carriage return function lever 52 and a universal function lever 53 pivotally mounted on the bail, which in turn is pivotally mounted on the j. usual function lever pivot rod 54. Bail comprises'a web portion 56 and two-side portions, 51 and 58, which are each provided with an open ended slot for receiving trols through gear 25, shaft 26, gear 21, and rack the pivot rod 54 (Fig. 3). The carriage return function lever 52 is pivotally mounted at 59 to side portion 51, and, universal function lever 53 is pivotally mounted at 6| to side portion 58. Confronting each of the levers 52 and 53 are ears 62 and. 63 integral with side portions 51 and 58, respectively, of bail member 50. Each function lever has an individual spring 64, tending to rotate it counterclockwise about its respective pivot, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, but is restrained by the function lever bail 36 acting, through rod 41,

and arms 65 of the respective function levers (Fig. 3). Function levers 5| and 52 are provided on their arms 66 with code notches and projections, characteristically arranged according to a code pattern, which cooperate with the vanes of the selector vane assembly l2. Function lever 5| is coded in accordance with the line feed code signal, and function lever 52 is coded according to the carriage return code signal. Function lever 53 isnot coded and is called the universal function lever, since it is selected uponevery operation of the function bail, except when it is blocked as will be hereinafter described.

. The bail member 59 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 61 which cooperates with a latch bar '68 pivoted at 69 to the depending arm 10 of a bell crank lever II which is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 12 appropriately located in the printer structure. Latch bar 68 is provided with a shoulder 13 which cooperates with a retainer bar 14 fastened to the under side of the comb 55. Also pivoted at 69 to the bell crank 1| is the carriage return push bar 15 which is provided near its forward end on its upper surface with a notch or shoulder adapted to operatively engage the function bail blade 44. A spring 16, having oneend attaohed to the latch bar 68 and the other end attached to the push bar 15, normally tends to bias the bars in opposite directions about the pivot 69, such that latch bar 68 is normally biased to bring its shoulder 13 into operativerelation with retainer 1.4, and push bar 15 is normally biased to bring its notch or shoulder into operative relation with the function bail blade 44.

The bell crank lever 1| is provided with an arm to the end of which is connected one end of a spring 11, the other end ,of the spring being attached to the base of the printer frame. Bell crank lever H is also provided with a laterally extending portion which cooperates with a stop 18 to limit the clockwise rotation of the bell crank lever 1|, as will hereinafter appear. Also mounted on the pivot shaft 12 and cooperatively related to the bellcrank lever'll is a carriage return clutch-fork'19, the depending arm of which coacts with a lateral projection on the depending arm 10 of bell crank l ver 1|, such that when lever 1| rotates clockwise, similar movement will be imparted to the fork-19 to effect the disengagement of clutch 3| to effectuate the carriage return movement. The fork 19 is pivotally conneoted to ,a link 8| whereby said fork is retained during the carriage return interval in its clutch disengaging position until the, type carriage l5 has been allowed to fully return to its beginning of line position, as more fully described in U. S. Patent No. 1,904,164." I

Upon receipt of a carriage return code signal the selector mechanism will be responsive thereto and will set the vanes |2 correspondingly to effect the selection of the carriage return function lever 52 when the'function hall 36 is operated. Spring 64wil1"tend'to rotate function lever 52 aboiit its -jpivot- 59 to drawf-the arm Stop 18 and toeffect, through fork engagement of clutch 3 I I into latching printer "frame.

I universal function. lever 53,

turn function lever 52, isgpivotally mounted on the bail member EU.

, blocked. tends under j he intofengagement with the vanes I2, and in so doing the f-unction'lever 52' will, through the confronting ear 62, rotate the bail'member'till about pivot rod 54 to raise the rearwardly extending arm 61; sufficiently to disengage shoulder I3 'ofI the latch harm; from the retainer member I I4. 'Due to this unlatching operation, spring 1'! becomes effective to rotate bell crank "II against 19, the *disto permit the carriage return s'pring 29 toreturnthe type carriage I I to its beginning of'line position. At the "same time. push bar will be actuated leftwardly to bring the' notch thereof into operative relation with bail blade 44 so that when the function bail 38 is-rotated counterclockwise the push bar will anism.

be urged rightward-ly, whereupon bell crank lever I I -is'rotated in a counterclockwise direction against the pull of spring I7, and latch bar 68 is carried rightwardly to bring shoulder 13 again described, in the above-mentioned Patent- No. 1,904,164; the type carriage 15 upon returning to its beginningof line position willstrike against a lever 82 associated with a dash not 83 to absorb the blow, the lever 82 also acting to unlatch'the link- 8| to permit the fork 19 to cause the reengagementofclutch 3|;

The line feed function lever 5| is cooperates with the arm' of a line feed bell crank lever 85 pivotally mounted on a shaft '86 suitably journaled in the I I To the horizontal arm of hell crank lever 85 is pivotally connected one end of the line feed link 81, the other end of'which is pivotally articulated to one arm of a line feed lever 88. "To the other arm of lever 88-is pivoted a line f'e'ed pawl 89 which cooperates with a line I feed ratchet 9| fixedly related'to platen I6. Line [feed pushflbar is provided 'witha notch or its upper forward surface be engaged by the function shoulder portion on which is adapted to bail blade 44' when the line feed function is to be performed. I I I Upon receipt of a line feed code signal; the selector mechanism will respond thereto and will set the vanes I2 correspondingly to effect the selection of the line feed function lever 5| when the function bail 3B isioperated. .Function lever 5| will be actuated aboutits pivot 54 to raise the rearwardly extending arm 84 soas to lift the push bar 45 to bring the shoulder ornotch thereon into the path of the function bail blade 44. When the function bail 36 is rotated counterclockwise, thepush bar 45 will be urged rightwardly against the .pull of itsspring 90, to impart counterclockwise rotation to bell crank 85, whereupon link 8'! will'ibe' actuated downwardly'to impart clockwise rotation to lever '88 with the result that, the line feed pawl 89 will rotate the ratchet 9| one an-, gular step commensurate with a single line space of platen I6.

Referring to Fig. 1, it is to be observed that the Also, lever 53, when una result of this rotation,arm 51 will be raised to effect the releaseof the carriage return latch bar 88to initiate the operation of the carriage reengagement" with retainer 14. As

, provided with I a' rear'wardly extending arm 84 (Fig. 1) which line feed push bar 45, which i like the carriage re- I the influence of its indi-. vidual spring 64 and through ear 53 to rotate the bail counterclockwise about pivot rod 54. As

3 turn mechanism. Secured to the web '55 of bail 50 is a specially shaped arm 92 which terminates in areverted portion 93 adapted "to underliethe line feed push bar 45, so that when bail 5B is rotated counterclockwise as described above, the portionq93 will lift the push bar 45 :to bring-the notch 94 into thepath of the function bail blade 44 to initiate the operation ofthe line feed mech- The blocking and unblocking of the universal function lever 53 is controlled by a slidemember 95 which isfslidably mounted upon a plate 95 positioned at the frontof the typing unit and whichis provided with an integral blocking arm 91. A spring 98 connected at one end to slide 95 and at'the other end to the bracket .orplate 96 tends to urge .the member 95 rightwardly (as viewed in Fig. 1, and leftwardly as viewed in Fig. 2) against a pin or stop screw 99 cooperating with slot IUl-in the slide 95. Slide 95terminates in a vertically directed portion IIR'Zwhich carries adjustably therein a screw- ,element I63 which is adapted tocooperate with a striker member I54 (Fig. 2) pivotally carried on a member We mounted onthe movable type carriage I5. Mem- I I to bar 53 shown in .Fig. 1 of 'Patent No.4 1,904,164, employed for the purpose of.

her is comparable retaining the bell-crank selectors I3 in operable I relation with'the vanes of the vane frame I2.

- to the present invention, If it is desired to re Thus, member I 04, like member I05 and bell cranks I3, is movable with the type carriage I5 foncharacter spacing. Member I04 is pivotally carried on pivot stud I06 on'the member I05 and isinormally biased in a con terclockwise direction (as viewed inFigLfZ) by a spring Illlagainst the stop' 108.] Member ilm is pivotally mounted to facilitateremoval of the type carriage I5 from the typing unit. The spring I5! is stronger than the spring 98 so that as thecarriage is moved in a step by-step manner from the. left (as viewed in Fig. '2) in response to the spacing operations the member I84 will strike the element Hi3 to move the slide .95 rightwardly to unblock the universal function le'ver 5?, .i Thus, the spring IO'I exercises dominionover spring 98toeffect automatic car-.

riagejreturn; and line feed operations according move the type carriage I5 from the typing unit, the element I04 ismanually swung clockwise sufficiently to clear the element I 03 and support I02.

' General operation In the operationof the device according to the present invention, themovable type carriage I5 is operated in a step-by-step manner, as is well knownin the art. In prior devices, the movable carriage I5 was advanced to. the end of the line, I a

and inresponse to aselective codesignal it was returned to its initial'position at the beginning ofthe line. Under certain conditions of operation it. was desiredQsimultaneously with the return of the carriage to itsinitial position, to rotate the platen I6 one step to effect line feed or linespace. However,. it,sometimes occurred that the selective I code signal was lost due to bad signaling condition's, in which case the carriage would not be returnedto its initial position and the type characterswould' pileupat the end of the line. To preclude this occurrence, the automatic means according to, the present invention is provided which does not depend upon selective code signals for its operation.

With the present invention, the element 134, 'duringthe character spacing movement of the type carriage I5, gradually approaches the element I03. When a predetermined number of characters have been printed, 01' a predetermined number of spacing operations were effected, the element I04 strikes against the element I03, and through member 95, blocking element 91 is moved out of the path of the universal function lever 53, permitting the lever 53, which is not coded and hence does not require any particular setting of the vanes I2, to respond to the pull of its individual spring 64 and to rotate aboutits pivot H on bail 50. This rotation of lever 53 causes bail 50 to be rotated, lifting arm 92 andthus imparting or causing the end 93 thereof to lift the line feed push bar 45. Likewise, the rearwardly extending arm 61 of bail 50 will be raised. Thus, through the ends 01 and 93, the carriage return latch bar 68 and the line feed push bar 45, respectively, are operated simultaneously, thus initiating the car riage return and line feed operations automatically, as previously described.

M odificati'on In Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, is illustrated a modification of the present invention which contemplates the disablement of the line feed operating portion of the bail I50, since it may sometimes be desirable to return the carriage to the initial position without affecting the operation of the line feed mechanism. Bail I50, like bail 50 of the principal embodiment, is provided with side members I51 and I58. Carriage return function lever I52 is pivotally mounted at I59 on side member I51 and universal function lever I53 is pivotally mounted at I6I on side member I58. Confronting each of the function levers I52 and I53 are ears I62 and I63, respectively, integral to the side members of the bail I50, and which serve the same purpose as ears 62 and 63 of the prin-- cipal embodiment. The bail I50 is also provided with a rearwardly extending arm I61 comparable in purpose to arm 61 of the bail 50 of the main embodiment.

Instead of providing an arm, like arm 92 of the principal embodiment, affixed to the bail member 50, it is contemplated in the modification now being described to substitute for this arm an arm I92 which is pivotally connected to the bail I50 at pivot I6I, which is also the pivot of the universal function lever. Arm I92 is also provided with a reverted portion I93 which cooperates with the line feed push bar (not shown). As clearly shown in Fig. 7, the universal function lever I53 is provided with a laterally directed portion 20I which is adapted to underlie the arm I92 so that whenever the universal bar I53 is allowed to opcrate the arm I92 will be invariably operated.

Having reference to Fig. 6, a bell crank lever 202 is shown pivoted at 203 to the side member I58. The depending arm of the bell crank lever 202 is provided with a laterally disposed extremity- 204 adapted to underlie the arm I92. The horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 202 terminates in a finger piece 205 to render the bell crank lever 202 readily manipulable. The lever 202 is connected at pivot 203 to the member I58 through a friction washer so that the lever 202 will readily remain in any one of its actuated positions, for example, the position indicated in dotted lines as 206. With the bell crank 202 in its solid line position with the projection-204 underneath the arm I92, the bail assembly I50 operates in a manner similar to the bail 50 shown in Fig. 1 of the principal embodiment. However, if the arm 202 is swung to its dotted line position 206, then upon operation or selection of the carriage return funcconnection with a specific tion lever I52, the bail portion I50 will be rotated about notch I54 which engages a'pivot rod similar to rod 54 of the principal embodiment, but in so doing the universal function lever I53 will not be actuated. Then neither the projection 20I nor the extremity 204 will have any effect upon the arm I92, which willnot therefore be raised. However, still assuming that the bell crank 202 is being, held in its dotted line position 206, and the universal function lever is unblocked so as to permit it to respond to the pull of its spring I62 to rotate, through ear I63, the bail member I50, the projection 20I will act to raise the arm I92 so that togetherwith the operation of the arm I61 a simultaneous carriage return and line feed operation will be effected.

Although the invention has been described in form thereof it will be understood that it has further applications, and it is not intended to be limited in scope by the embodiment shown herein for illustration, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recorder, a stationary framework, a type carriage movable to form character spaces, a permutation device supported by said stationary framework comprising a plurality of selector vanes, means to perform functions other than recording including a plurality of function code bars adapted to be controlled directly by said vanes, a carriage return means controlled by one of said code bars, a line feed mechanism controlled by another of said code bars, a universal code bar, means for initiating the operations of said carriage return means and said line feed mechanism simultaneously, said means carrying pivotally thereon the carriage return code bar and the universal code bar, and instrumentalities integral with said last recited means and confronting said carriage return code bar and said universal bar whereby the selection of either of said last mentioned code bars will effectuate the operation of said last recited means independently of the other.

2. In a. recorder, a stationary framework, a type carriage movable to form character spaces, a permutation device supported by said stationary framework comprising a plurality of selector vanes, means to perform functions other than recording including a plurality of function code bars adapted to be controlled directly by said vanes, a carriage return means controlled by one of said code bars, a line feed mechanism controlled by another of said code bars, a universal code bar, single means for initiating the operations of said carriage return means and said line feed means simultaneously, said single means carrying pivotally thereon the carriage return code bar and said universal code bar, spring-biased blocking means normally restraining said .universal code bar against selection, instrumentalities integral with said single means and confronting said pivotally carried code bars whereby the selection of either of said pivotally carried code bars will effectuate the rotation of said single means independently of the other, and means associated with said carriage and effective automatically when said carriage has reached a predetermined position to cause said blocking means to free said universal code bar for operation to initiate through said single means the simultaneous op eration of said'carriage return means and said line feed mechanism.

3. In a. page printer including a movable type carriage and a platen, a permutation device comprising a plurality'of selector vanes, a first element selectively controlled by said vanes, a second element controlled independently of said vanes, carriage return, .means, line feed means, and means forsupporting saidelements, said means beingdually controlled'by said first and second elements to initiate the operation ofsaid carriage return means and said lin feed means simultaneously,

' 4. In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen, one movable with respect to the other, a permutation device comprising a plurality of selector vanes, a first element selectively controlled. by said vanes, a second element controlled independently of said vanes, carriage return means, line feed means, means dually co'ntrolled by said first and second elements to initiate the operation of said carriage return means and said line feed means simultaneously, and means to limit the control of said dually controlled means to said carriage return means.

I 5. In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage, me ans for moving one car riage with respect to the other, a permutation device comprising a plurality of selector vanes, a firstelement selectively controlled by said, vanes,

, a second element controlled independently of said vanes, carriage return means, line feed means, means dually controlled by said first and second elements to initiatethe Operation of said carriage,

' first element selectively controlled by said vanes,

riage with respect to the other, a permutation device comprising a plurality of selector vanes, a first element selectively controlled by said vanes, a second element controlled independently of said vanes, carriage return means, line feed means, single means for initiating theoperations of said carriage return means and said line feed means simultaneously, said single means carrying ivotally thereon said first and second elements, a restraining member normally confronting said second element to bar its actuation, instrumentalities integral with said single means and confronting said pivotally carried first and second elements, whereby the actuation of either said first or said secondelement will effectuate the operation of said single means independently of the other, and means associated with the movable carriage and effective automatically when said carriage has reached a predetermined position to cause said restraining member to free said second element for operation to initiate through said Single means the simultaneous operation of said carriage return means. and said line feed means.-

8. In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage, means for moving one carriage with respect to theother, carriage return means, line feed means, rockable means havin arms for initiating the operations of said carriagereturn means and said line feed means simultaneously, and means to disable one. of said arms to limit the control. of said rockable means to said carriage return means.

9 In a page printer including a type carriage and a platen carriage, means for moving one carriage with respect to theother, a permutation device comprising a plurality of selector vanes, a first element selectively controlled by said vanes, a second element controlled independently of said vanes, carriage return means, line feed means,

a second element controlled independently'of said 'line feed means simultaneously, said rockable vanes, carriage, return means, line feed means,

means for initiating the operations of said carriage return means and said line feed means simultaneously, said means carrying pivotally thereon said first and second elements, and instrumen talities integralwith said last recited means and confronting said first and second elements, whereby the actuation-of either of said elements will efiectuate the operation of said last recited means independently of the other, v I 7. In a page printer including a type carriage 1 and a platen carriage, means for moving one carrockable means having arms'for initiating the operations of said carriage return means and said means carrying pivotally thereon said first and other, and means to disable one of said arms to limit the'control of said rockable means to said carriage return means.

HOWARD M. ANDERSON.

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