Page:United States patent 1108529.pdf/23

 this chart I have shown the relative positions of the various character-selecting components or pins about the periphery of the drum 143 and also the relative positions of the different series or rows of such pins in the direction of the axis of the drum, which corresponds to the direction of feed of the main selector 118. The first pin representing a dot is that for the letter “E” and is in the fifth column of the chart. The first pin representing an ordinary dash of the Morse code is in the fourth column of said chart. The columns numbered at the tops thereof 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 represent the normal positions of the pins corresponding to the dots, that is, the positions thereof when they are in position to coact properly with the main selector 118. In the Morse code there are no dashes in the sixth position of a code character, and hence the dashes shown on the chart are contained in only five columns, but the first column containing a dash is that which is lettered B. The dot and dash pins are therefore arranged in two overlapping groups, and the dash pins are normally out of action and are not in position to coöperate properly with the selector 118 until the drum 143 is advanced one feed step by the action of the magnet 162 and its lever. When so shifted, the dashes occupy the same positions that are normally occupied by the first five rows of pins controlled by dots. The two longer dashes controlling the “L” and “O” respectively are represented by pins in the same column with the first dash pin, the shiftable pins 141 and 142 being represented by the first and second of the three dashes in column B. My present mode of arranging the character-selecting components or pins, differs greatly from that employed in the construction shown in my prior patent aforesaid. Here the letters are so arranged about the periphery of the type wheel that each letter, figure or other language character is chosen by simply moving the main selector 118 to the next pin in the next column. For example, the letter “E” is represented by a single dot signal. It therefore is controlled by a pin in column L. The letter “I” has two dots. In this case the main selector simply drops from the first pin in the first column to the first pin in the second column. In a similar manner the letters “S”, “H”, and “P” and are chosen by the selector moving to the next succeeding pin in the next column, it being shifted to a new column, of course, after each signal. If, however, a character is to be selected which contains an extra space, the drum 143 is shifted back one step, and the main selector 118 instead of being stopped by the first pin in column 2 is stopped by the first pin in column 3, which will then be in the position normally occupied by column 2. When the drum is restored to its normal position, said pin in column 3 returns to its normal position, but this does not take place until the whole code character is completed. The other characters having spaces therein or containing additional dots, such as “R” and “&”, are made by simply permitting the selector to turn an additional distance representing each additional dot. The letters containing dashes may be begun either with a dot or with a dash. If they begin with a dash the selector 118 turns immediately to the twenty-eighth position on the periphery of the drum when the drum is shifted ahead one step. If, however, they begin with a dot, and the second or any succeeding element of the code-character is a dash, the pin representing the dash may occupy a position following such first dot or dash. In every case each series of elements in a code character, beginning with the first, will always represent the same letter, figure or other language. character, and each language character will be selected by simply permitting the selector 118 to turn a distance corresponding to its last signal element. It will be noticed that this chart contains an extra column lettered “A” and containing one extra pin or stop different from all the others. This represents a stop 270 carried by the drum 143. When a series of code characters has been received and the main selector 118 is returned, it is drawn back clear of all the character-selecting pins and into the plane of said stop 270, which locates the selector at its starting point. In order to permit adjustment of the drum with respect to the finger 118 constituting the main selector, I prefer to mount the guide-pin 165 in an adjustable slide in the post 166, this slide being designated 271 and having a spring 272 for holding the slide firmly against its stop and maintaining the drum 143 in such adjusted position.

Referring now to, the sequence of operations of the various parts of the system will now be described. Interrupted electrical impulses or vibrations are produced at the transmitting station in the well known manner as hereinbefore described and transmitted through a natural medium to the coherer 9 or other responsive device. The current of low voltage and amperage in the circuit of the coherer operates in the usual manner the high-resistance relay 11, which in turn controls a local circuit. This local circuit contains, however, only the circuit-closing switch 12, a source of energy 13, and a relay magnet 14, and hence said relay is adapted to close another local circuit or circuits having low-resistance contacts at the points 15, 16 and 17, and low resistance translating devices, such as the decohering device 18 and the relay 19. By means of the worm-gearing and other parts