US304475A - Bbegh - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

H. VAN HOEVENBERGH.

PRINTING TELEGRA-PH.

No. 304,475.. Patented sept. 2, 1884.

By 7116 Normal/5 N. PETERS. Fhommhugnpher. vlnsrtingmn4 nc, r y.

(No Model.)

H. VAN HOEVENBERGH;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

PRINTING TBLBGRAPH.

Patented-Sept. 2, 1884.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A Berny WWHUez/e/zZe/y/z, By 72113 .Attorneys wmM/w@ v NA PETERS, Pnnmmnngnpher. wmntun. D, c,

UNrrnn HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH, OF ELIZABETH, -NEV JERSEY.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,475, dated September 2, 1884.

Application tiledSepiember 24, 1881i. (No model.)

fication. Y

My invention relates to the class of electro-magnetic printing-telegraphs inwhich the receiving-instrument is provided` with two type-wheels mounted in the same axial line, and producing a record in two parallel lines of characters on a slip of paper. Such instrument-s arc especially adapted for receiving the quotations ofthe sales of stocks, bonds, and other financial and commercial transactions.

The principal object of my invention is to accomplish the double-line printing 'hereinbefore referred to through the medium of a single platen and impression-producing mechanism common to both type-wheels, thereby simplifyingt-he mechanism and reducing the space occupied thereby, which end I accomplish by means of mechanism for transferring a common platen carried upon a printing-lever from the iield of operation of one typewheel to that of the other. This transfer is effected by the operator at the transmitting end of the line through the medium of mechanism,to be hereinafter more particularly described. The several offices of the complete transmitting mechanism are as follows: First, to establish upon the line alternating electric pulsations of a given ystrength for effecting the intermittent forward motion of the type-wheel shaft; second, to cause the arrest of the transmitting mechanism in a position dependent upon, the character desired to be transmitted, and to simultaneously increase the strength of the current last transmitted, thereby causing the impression-producing device to be actuated; and, third, to occasion a prolongation of any one of the alternating pulsations irrespective of its polarity or direction, and Without increasing its strength. The type-wheel shaft of the receiving-instrument is provided with two` type-wheels, one of whichv may conveniently carry the letters and the other the numerals. rlhe tendency of this shaft to rotate in one direction is maintained through the action of motor mechanis1n-as, for instance, a weight or spring controlled through thc agency of a vibrating polarized armature acting upon an anchor-escapement, and moving to and fro under the influence'of electric currents or pulsations of alternating polarity. The characters are imprinted upon the receiving tape or slip by suitable impression mechanism, (preferably actuated by'a temporary increase in the normal strength of current,) a platen being thereby thrust against one or the other of the typewheels, as required. A single platen serves for both type-wheels. It takes but one impression at a time, and that from the wheel it happens to confront when actuated. The

movements of the platen from the field of action of one wheel to that of the other are effected by means of a device hereinafter called a determining device.7 This determining device consists of an electro-magnet, included in the main circuit, an armature responding only to electric currents of considerable duration, as distinguished from the short alternating currents which control the intermittent advance movement of the type-wheels. Such currents may, however, be ofthe same strength as the alternating currents or of the strength employed for printing. A sliding mechanism is controlled by the armature just described, whereby-the printing-platen may be instantly transferred from the iield of one wheel to that of the other. The object of the third class of currents mentioned above is to actuate this determining device at the receiving-station. Thus a prolonged pulsation of normal strength directly succeeding an ordinary short pulsation of normal strength is availed of to cause the transfer of the platen from one type-wheel to the other. Such a prolongation, however, when it succeeds a prolonged current of the strength required forprinting, will place the determining device in position for retransferring the platen to its original position, and the subsequent interruption of the prolonged current of normalstrength transfers the platen to that p0- sition. The device may be actuated in any phase of the transmitter, and accordingly any desired letter or numeral may be impressed upon the receiving-slip. The instrument is also provided with a unison device for arrest- IOO 1o circuits in diagram.

3o a conducting portion of the other ring.

Referring to Fig. l, A represents a suitable train of clock-work adapted to revolve a shaft, a, under the stress of a weight or spring, un Upon the shaft a are carried two insulated rings, b and b2. The peripheries of these rings 2o are divided into alternate conducting and nonconducting segments, so arranged that the conductingsegments upon one ring areaXially opposite the non-conducting segments of the other. rllwo contact brushes or springs, C and 2 5 C2, rest simultaneously against the peripheries of both rings at such points that, whileone brush is in contact with a conducting portion of vone ring the other brush will rest upon a non-conductingportion of the same ring and The brushes G and C2 are respectively connected with the mainline L, and with the earth at G, while the conductingsegments of the ring b are connected with one pole-say the posi.

3 5 tive-of a battery, E, and in like manner the conducting-segments of the ring b2 are connected with the other pole of the same battery. When, therefore, the shaft a, is permitted to revolve, alternate positive and negalo tive impulses will be transmitted from the 'battery E upon the line L, in a manner Well understood. Then the motion of the shaft Ais arrested, the duration of the impulse last transmitted to line will be prolonged. For

the purpose of arresting the shaft in any required angular position an annular key-board, F, is provided, a portion only of which is shown in the figure. required number of vertically-1nov-able keys,

5o f,'designed to be thrust at the will of theoperator into the path of a rotating arm, G, `carried upon the shaft a. These `keys areall in electrical connection through conductors G and 7 and a device, J, hereinafter described,

with one pole of a local battery, e, while the arm G is in like connection through aconductor, S, with the remaining pole of the same battery. Whenever, therefore, any one ofthe keys f is depressed and the rotating arm G 6o comes into contact therewith, the circuit of the battery c will be completed.

An `electro-magnet, H, is included in the circuit Aof the local battery e. This magnet is provided with an armature, h, and levervh,

`carrying at its :remote extremity a contact oint h2. Aeontact-sprinff h3 pro'ects into p 1 a: 7 .l

the path of the armature-lever, but so long as This board carries any the armature is away from the poles of its electro-magnet it rests upon a contact-stop, h, and does not make contact therewith. The conductor 4, leading from the negative pole of the battery E, is connected with the spring h3, while the stop h* is connected with the conductor 5. The armature-lever h is connected, through a conductor, 9, with one pole (in this instance the positive) of an auxiliary battery, E', the negative pole of which is connected, by a conductor, 10, with the conductor 5. When the electro-magnet H is vitalized, the contactpoint h2 will be raised, lifting the spring h from the point h4, the circuit ofthe battery E will then be complete through the conductors 9 and 10 instead of through the conductor 5, thus connecting the two batteries E and E in series. An impulse of increased strength will thus be transmitted to line having a polarity the same as that -last transmitted by the battery E alone, and the duration of the current will be long or short according to the time the key f remains depressed.

For the purpose of at any time obtaining a prolonged current from the battery E alone which shall be of the same polarity as the 'current last transmitted from both batteries coinbined, the device J before referred to is employed. This device consists of a contactpoint, j, with which the conductor 7 is connected, and a contact-spring, j connected with the conductor 6. The spring 7" normally rests against the point j by virtue of its resilience, thereby completing the connections of the conductors 6 and 7. An insulated key, j, is fixed in the board F above the spring j', but normally out of contact therewith. When, however, this key is depressed, it strikes against the spring j and forces the latter out of contact with the point j. It will thus be seenthat when the circuit of the local vbattery chas been completed by the vcontact of the arm G with one lof the keys f, the electro-magnet H vitalized, and a current from the combined batteries E and E transmitted to line, the current from the battery E may be continued independently of the battery E by depressing the key 7"2, `provided the particular key f with which the arm G may be in contact remains depressed. By depressing key j? simultaneously with one of the keys f, the prolonged 'current of normal strength may -be caused to succeed the alternating currents directly. -I'n this manner currents of `the following character may be transmitted: Alternating pulsa' IOL) IlO

double electro-magnet constructed with confronting poles, between which a polarized armature, m, is caused to vibrate under the iniiuence of alternating electrical pulsations traversing the coils of the said magnet.

the influence of a weight attached to the cord, 1u', and train of wheels 102. The shaft 11iL of the scape-wheel carries two parallel type- Wheels, N and N2, the peripheries of which.;

may, for convenience, be considered as bearing figures and letters, respectively. Aprintf ing-magnet, P, is provided for effecting impressions from one or the other of thesetypewheels under the iniiuence of a current of. greater strength than those employed for vij brating the escapement 1112-thatis to say, a`

manner that, when the bar is moved from one` limit of its excursion to the other, the platen will be carried from the position required to4 print from one type-wheel to a corresponding position relative to the other type-wheel. An

arm orstop,1"-, projects from the rod 1" into: the path of theextremity of the armature-y lever s of an electro-magnet S. rIhe electromagnet S is constructed to respond only to prolonged currents, and its armature is so arranged that its movement is at right angles to the plane of the type-wheels. A latch, 1', is pivoted at the extremity of the arm sin such a manner as to normally engage the arm 1'2. rIhis latch, together with the armature-lever, serves to move the platen from one type-wheel to the other. It is apparent, however, that each time the platen is lifted for the purpose of printing, the arm 12 will be raised from its position between the latch 1"5 and the lever s', and when it descends it is liable to fall outside Athe space between the lever and latch. Thus, if the platen is employed for printf ing from the type-wheel N, it is evident that the armature-lever s will be attracted into its forward position each time the lplaten is raised, and at the interruption of the current the arm 1-2 might return to its downward position before the lever s had fallen away froml its electro-magnet. For this reason I construct the latch 115 with a beveled face, 1', which causes the latch to be pressed downward in opposition to a counterpoise, 1, when caused to impinge.

against the arm 112 through the influence of the retractile spring 1 of the lever s. The latch The l lever 1n of the armature 111. carries an ordi` 3 nary anchor-escapement, m2, acting to permit astep-bystep advancement of the wheel under i will thereupon engage the arm 1-2. If, when the platen has been placed in the position required for printing from the type-wheel N i, a current ofthe character required for printing should be directly succeeded by alternating impulses of normal strength, or by an interruption of the current, the armature-lever s' would be allowed to fall away from its electro-magnet before the platen R had descended far enough to place the arm 1'z upon the lefthand side of the lever s, and the arm 1"2 would therefore fall upon the right-hand side'of the lever. In practice, such a succession of currents is transmitted when it is desired to print, successively, from the type-wheel N2, and the arm 1l2 therefore descends each time upon the right-hand side of the armature-lever, and the platen will not be moved from beneath the type-wheel N2. Vhen it is-desired to again print from the wheel N a prolonged current of normal strength is caused to directly sueceed a current of sufficient strength to actuatc the platen R. The lever s will thus be held in its forward position while the platen R descends, and the arm 1" will thus fall upon the left-hand side of the lever s. It is necessary, then, only to interrupt the prolonged current of normal strength or to resume the alternating impulses. Such action will cause the lever s to fall away from its electro-magnet and the platen It to be pushed back to its original position beneath the type-wheel N.

For the purpose of preventing the platen R from being thrown away from its proper position beneath one type-wheel or they other when several characters are being printed therefrom, I provide a beveled extension, 1', at the end of the rod 1", adjacent to the frame ofthe instrument, and a like projection, 1", is secured to the frameitself. y Vhen the platen R is raised, the projection 113 must pass either upon the right hand or upon the left of the arm 1', and ifby chance the platen should be thrown slightly to one side when it descends after printing, the contact of the inclined surfaces will cause it to be replaced at the next upward movement ofthe platen.

The device whereby the position of the typewheels may be at any time corrected for any error consists of an arm, s2, carried upon an extension, s3, of one ofthe arbors ofthe train mechanism. The direction of motion of this arboris that indicated by the arrow, and its tendency is therefore to move the arm s2 toward the shaft 1n* of the type-wheels. Upon this shaftis carried IIO a stop,'11i5, into the path of which a detent, s4,

isthrust when the arm s2 is in its forward position. The function of the stop and detent is thus to arrest the type-wheels at a predetermined unison-point when the arm sAZ is in its forward position. For the purpose of preventing the detent from bei ng thus at all times in the path of the stop, the arm s2 is attached to the extension s3, by means of a spring or frictional connection, which serves to normally advance the arm, but at the same time permits it to be thrust backward at any time by means of an external force. plied to the arm s2 by means of an arm, s, eX- tending from the armature-lever s', and an extension, S5, of the arm s2. When the lever s is in its backward position, the arm s is held out of the path of the extension .95; but when attracted into its forward position it will engage the extension and force the same downward, thus turning the arm s2 backward upon its axis. Each time the lever s is actuated the arm s2 will be moved backward, and if the movements` of the lever s be frequent enough the detent will be kept out of the path of the stop. When, however, a suflieient number ofalternating impulses are -transmitted successively, the arm will be carried by the continued movement of the arbor into its extreme forward position, and the type-wheel shaft will be arrested when t-he stop m5 strikes the detent s. After the wheels have thus been arrested at their unison-point, it will be necessary to throw the arm sil-back before they can be again actuated. This is accomplished by transmitting a current which may be either ot' the strength required for printing or a current of normal strength, accordingly as it is desired to print from one type-wheel or theA other.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with means for producing alternating electric impulses of a given strength, and for prolonging or increasing the strength of any one of said impulses, of two type-wheels,

' escapement mechanism common to both typewheels, controlled by said alternating currents, a printing-platen, an armature responding only to said currents of increased strength, for actuating said printing-platen, and an armature acting totransfer said platen from the field of one of said type-wheels to the cld of the other only when said platen is remote from said type-wheels, which armature responds to prolonged currents, whether of normal or increased strength. l

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a main line, a battery, a pole-changing devicefor transmitting electric pulsations from said battery upon said main line, a series of keys for arresting the opera-` tion of said pole-changing device at the will of the operator, a second battery which is automatically added to the first-named battery when said pole-changing device is arrested, and means, substantially such as described, whereby the automatic addition of said second battery may be prevented.

3. Thecombination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two type-wheels, a printing-platen, an electro-magnet acting, when vitalized, to impel said platen in the direction of said type-wheels, a movable rod upon which said platen is carried, a second electro magnet operated in conjunction with the first-named electro-magnet to transfer said platen from t-he field of one of said type-wheels to that of the other, and an automatically-detachable con Such force is ap! nection between the armature of said second electro-magnet and said movable rod.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two type wheels advancing simultaneously in response to alternating electric impulses of a given strength, a movable printing-platen for taking impressions from either of said type-wheels, an armature responding to electric currents of increased strength to impel said platen toward said type-wheels, and a second varmature responding only toa prolonged current of either normal or increased strength, whereby said platen is transferred from the field of one of said type-wheels to that of the other, and acts to restore said platen to its original position only when an interruption of a prolonged impulse or current, of normal strength succeeds a current of the strength employed for impelling said platen toward said type-wheels.

5. In a printing-telegraph receiving-instrument, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a movable printing-platen, an armature and its lever adapted to engage with the support of said platen, and to normally move it in a given direction, and a latch pivoted upon said lever and acting, in the manner described, to impel said rod in the opposite direction.

6. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of two type-wheels, a printing-platen, an electro-magnet for causing said platen to effect impressions from said typewheels, a movable support for said platen, adapted to transfer the same from the field of one of said type-wheels tol that of the other, and a second electro-magnet, its armature and armature-lever, the path of which lever is intercepted by said support only when said platen is remote from said type-wheels.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two type-wheels, a platen, an electro-magnet, its armature and armature-lever, a latch pivoted upon said lever, a movable rod constituting a support for said platen, and adapted to be engaged by said armature lever and latch, and impelled thereby from one limit-to the other of its excursion, and means, substantially such as described, whereby said rod or support may be withdrawn from engagement with said armature lever and latch.

8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with two type-wheels and movable platen adapted to be placed in the field of either of said type-wheels, of an electro-magnet adapted to impel said platen toward said type-wheels, and two beveled-faced contact-edges, r and r, the former of which moves with said platen and is adapt-ed to pass beneath the contact-edge r, which is carried upon a stationaryarm secured to the frame of the mechanism.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two type-wheels, means for advancing said type-wheels, a printingplaten for effecting impressions from said type- IOO IIO

Wheels, an eleotro-Inagnet and its armaturefor preventing'said detent from intercepting lever for transferring said platen from the said stop when said armature-lever is aoteld of one of said type-wheels to that of the uated. other, a stop moving with said type-Wheels, a In testimony whereof I have hereunto Sub- 5 detent mounted upon and having a friotional scribed my naine this 21st day of September, 15

connection with one of the arbors of the train A. D. 1883.

mechanism of said type-Wheels, and having` a HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH. constant tendency to move into the path of Vitnesses: said stop when said type-Wheels are advanced, DANIEL WV. EDGECOMB,

1o and means, substantially such as described, CHARLES A. TERRY.

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