US1993704A - Electromagnetic indicator - Google Patents

Description

Marh 5., 1935. F. FAVARGER 1,993,704

v l ELECTROMAGNETIC INDICATOR Filed Deo. 12, 1927 gigi .mi/Mn may@ 'mgm mi@ Mar/al Um" Cm3@ @mi EBEE@ [DEEE www 'um mi@ y @am [um mim -da Nw www um@ 25g- @my Z5 1 l2.2

Z.' #Q31 J5 I INVENTOR' 14 24 @wenn @aiya/gw BY 4dr/Www 4 ATTO RN EYS Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATESA ELECTROMAGNETIC 'INDICATOR Franois Favarger, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Teleregister Corporation, vNew York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 12, 1927, Serial No. 239,349 In Switzerland January 19, 1922 5 Claims.. (Cl. 177-326) This invention relates to electromagnetic indicators, and more particularly to indicator. arrangements for exhibiting information, such as quotations of rates of exchange, stocks, or other items transmitted from a central point to 'a plurality of stations, such as brokers offices and for simultaneously indicating at eachsuch station all of the quotations or as many of the same as may be desired at each station.

This'application comprises a continuation in part oi my copending U. S. application'Ser. No. 613,012, liled January 16, 1923, now Patent Number 1,787,620, granted January 6,1931, and the subject matter hereof corresponds in part to the ldisclosure of Swiss Patent No. 99,630, the application Afor which was led in Switzerland, January 19, 1922.

The invention, according to the embodiment of apparatus herefshown by way of example only, is applied to the quoting of rates of exchange at numerous stations, provision being made as to each item to exhibit a plurality of rate quotations such as the prevailing"bid and offered values, and provision being'further made to independently change each of the several digits of each quotation. However, it will be understood vthat the invention may be readily applied to'other uses such as for giving several price quotations for eachof several stocks or commodities in which event the digit indicators might be arrangedto exhibit the units, tens, hundreds and fraction digits of the open, high, low, and last quotations of each item. If desired, the apparatus here shown may be expanded for use in the quotation of a multitude of stocks, etc., by incorporating therewith various features shown for example in the patents issued on copending applications, as follows:

Robert L. Daine, No. 1,658,516, dated February 7, 1928, entitled Methods and apparatus for indicating quotations' or other items; and

Franois Favarger, #1,685,776, dated October 2, 1928, entitled Electric signaling apparatus.

The objects of this invention include the provision of apparatus and equipment of the-above indicated class which will be adaptable with a wide degree of :flexibility to various operating conditions and which will be dependable, relatively simple and e'cient in operation.

Various further and more specic objects, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken iny connection with the accompanying drawing which forms apart of this specication and illustrates, merely by way of example, one embodiment of the invention.

The invention consists in such novel features, arrangements and combinations oi parts as may be shown and described in connection with the 5 apparatus herein disclosed by way of example only and as illustrative of apreferred arrangement.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front view of lan indicator board for l0 exhibiting the rates of exchange of various moneys;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing somewhat schematicallythe arrangement of the indicator units -on the rear of the board; and

Figs. v3 and Ll-respectively are elevational and bottom views, partly in section showing one form of a typical digit indicatingr drum and electromagnetic actuating device lindividual thereto; and. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of a small portion of .the .20 front of the board. f I

One simple form of transmitting apparatus together with a suitable signalling circuit or system which may be used to operatethe indicating apparatus of this invention, is disclosed in my Pat- 25 ent No. 1,787,620 above `referred to.

If the apparatus is tobe utilized for exhibiting `quotations showing the iiuctuating rates of exchange, an indicating board may be used in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The board there 30 shown mayembody a large number of'digit indicators as at 10 arranged in groups. In the eX- ample there shown, a plurality of such digit indi'- cators are provided in each group, in order to exhibit, forexample, the units, tens, hundreds and .35 thousands numerals, and valso a fraction Value. Furthermore, for each item of exchange provision may be made for concurrently posting a plurality of quotations such as the bid and offered .values in each instance, as shown. It will 40 be apparent that in order to provide such quotation service, a very large plurality of indicating units will be necessary at each station, the number .being in the magnitude of hundreds, and vWhere such service is used for a multitude of vi5 stocks, a number oi digit indicators must be provided in the magnitude ofA thousands.` Yet for commercial feasibility, it is apparent that the en tire apparatus must be controlled from a central point over a relatively small number of line wires 50 systematically utilizedto meet these special conditions and permitting the transmission of quotations as rapidly as sales or contracts are made at the iinancial centers or markets. To this end, as is described in my said Patent 1,787,620, provi- ,55

sion is preferably made for rapidly selecting by semi-automatic means at the central station the group of digit indicators of any particular quotation which is to be altered, and for subsequently actuating such selected indicators as a group and substantially concurrently, if desired, for the saving of time. With such an arrangement the number of operating units from which the operator must make a selection for each quotation change is reduced substantially to a minimum with a corresponding reduction in the possibilities of error, even though the system of the particular example shown is expanded so as to exhibit the quotations of hundreds of different items.

Furthermore, it will be observed that in order to provide indicating boards which are inexpensive and yet applicable with a high degree of flexibility to various operating conditions, actuating means individual to each indicator unit or drum is preferably provided, thus facilitating the adding-to or reducing-of the necessary number Vof digits of each quotation, and also facilitating changes in the number of items quoted on the board, whenever changes occur at the markets, either in the number, or magnitude and character of the values to be indicated.

Such individual actuation of the digit indicators, notwithstanding the use of a multitude of such indicators, facilitates rapid operation particularly when Wide changes in prices occur vsince all of the group of digits representing one quotation of one item may if desired be operated concurrently by a single set of operating devices vcommon to whichever group is chosen by the selecting device, and each indicator need never be revolved through more than 360 regardless of the quotation change.

The digit indicators 10 may be constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4 or in other forms, such for example as disclosed or suggested in the above mentioned copending applications.

The construction of Figs. 3 and 4 may comprise frame members as at 11 within which rotatable indicator drums 12 may be mounted. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, such digit indicators may be mounted in side-by-side arrangement with their axes in alignment. In such position, a plurality of groups may be arranged in closely spaced relationship and yet permitting each drum to exhibit the desired numeral at the plane of the face of the quotation board through an aperture at 13 formed at the front of the frame member 11. Characters 14 such as figures and fractions may be formed upon the peripheries of the drums 12. For example, for the units, tens, hundreds or thousands digits, drums may be provided With characters from 0-9 and if desired an additional blank space to be exhibited when the indicator is inactive or is restored to a normal position of rest. The fractions may be indicated on the drums either as decimal digits or by the characters 1/8, 1A, A3, etc. As shown each indicator drum may be accompanied by its individual actuating electromagnets as at 15 which are preferably positioned directly to the rear of the indicator drum, thus facilitating close spacing of the drums as to both dimensions on the indicator board and Without the possibility of interference of one actuating means or connections thereto with the actuating means of adjacent drums. To this end, the actuating device is preferably located substantially within the outline of the indicator drum as rearwardly projected. According to the construction shown, the actuating means may include an armature 16 cooperating with the magnets 15 and held in retracted position as by a spring 17, the normal retracted position being adjustable by a screw 18, and the armature having pivotally attached thereto an operating pawl 19 for engaging a ratchet wheel 20 fixed to revolve with the drum 12. A holding pawl is indicated at 21.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the front face of each indicator unit may be provided with an individual mask as at 22, supported on corneimembers as at 23, formed on the side walls of the indicator frame. The corner members in the position shown serve to offer a rigid support for the individual mask on each unit, so that the mask is retained with its aperture 13 accurately positioned in respect to the indicator drum. This permits the portions of the indicator drum which are notv to be exhibited to be accurately masked from view, even though the characters displayed on the drum are made very closely adjacent for the saving of space. Such individual masks may thus also be accurately fitted, applied and retained on each indicator unit Without danger of jamming of the mask against the revolving drum, despite the closely fitted side Walls of the aperture. The members 23, located at the corners of the frame as shown, provide ample space between the corners to permit the indicator drum circumference to extend fully to the face ofthe board where the characters displayed will be clearly visible. As appears from Fig. 1, the spaces between indicators and the individual masks thereof may be covered by the larger mask comprising the face of the board, the face of the board as shown being provided with elongated apertures through each of which the apertures of the individual masks for one group of indicators is visible. This larger mask comprising the face of the board and having such elongated apertures, serves to demark the separate quotation groups and if desired, the mask may support the indicator units by means of screws as indicated in Fig. 3. With this construction, the individual indicator units need not be accurately fitted in respect to the outer` mask, comprising the face of the board. The use of the individual unit masks therefore provides an inexpensive, convenient and rugged arrangement for accurately masking the drums of the individual units while the larger mask comprising the face of the board may be conveniently used to cover the spaces between units, thereby giving the device a finished exterior appearance.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the side walls of the indicator frame may be further strengthened and braced in respect to each other by struts or posts as at 24 and 25, the post 24 also serving as an abutment for the adjusting screw 18 above referred to. The retaining pawl 21 in the form shown may be kept in engagement with the ratchet wheel by gravity if desired, While the actuating pawl 19 may be retained in proper engagement with the ratchet Wheel as by the spring 19.

As to any further minor details of construction of the digit indicators, which may not here be specically referred to in full, the usual practice may be followed as common in the design and construction of such parts in electrical apparatus.

Although the digit indicator as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is designed to rotate step-by-step always in one direction, other forms of indicators,

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polarized so as to operate in either direction, might under some circumstances be utilized as referred to in my Patent No. 1,787,620 above referred to, or otherwise.`

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to particular preferred examples thereof which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A quotation indicating board or the like comprising a plurality of electromagnetically operated indicator units arranged in groups, each indicator unit comprising a frame and a rotatable character display drum, apertured masks individual to said indicators and mounted thereon whereby the characters being exhibited are eX- posed at the apertures while other characters on the drums are concealed from view by the masks, and additional masking means common to a plurality of groups of indicators and located-in front of said individual masks for covering spaces at the face of the boardl between said groups and demarking the characters of one group from those of the adjacent groups, said additional masking means having apertures exhibiting the apertured areas of said individual masks, said individual masks, indicator drum and operating means therefor being mounted in horizontal alignment on said frame.

2. An automatic indicating board for exhibiting and posting changing items of information such as exchange and stock quotations, comprising numerous character indicating drums, one for each character of each item to be posted, mounting means for each drum whereby the same are independently rotatable to exhibit at the face of the board numerous characters such as figures 0 9, a plurality of drums being mounted in alignment in closely spaced relation constituting a group to exhibit a single legible item such as a price quotation, a plurality of such groups also being provided in closely spaced arrangement, impulse operated electromagnetic actuating means individual to each of said drums, said actuating means being respectively mounted in the space at the rear of each drum and substantially within the confines of the rearwardly projected outline thereof and acting to control each drum independently of the operation and control of the other drums, and a frame individual to each drum and its actuating means.

3. An indicator unit for close assemblage in groups for displaying items of information by changeable indicia, said indicator unit comprising an elongated frame individual to the unit and including longitudinal walls extending rearwardly from the front of the unit, a rotatable indicator drum supported on a shaft extending transversely of said walls with an indicia bearing periphery to which the plane of the front of the unit extends tangentially, an apertured mask at the front surface of the unit for permitting exhibition of the indicia, an indicator operating magnet supported on said frame to the rear of said drum and confined substantially within the connes of the rearwardly projected outline of the drum, and mechanism between the drum and vsaid magnet for rotating the drum with a stepby-step movement responsive to impulsive energization of said magnet.

4. An assembly of indicator units disposed side byvside to indicate an item involving a plurality of digits, each unit comprising a rectangular frame including oppositely disposed walls, a stepby-step rotatable indicator, a ratchet wheel associated with said indicator, a driving pawl associated with said ratchet wheel and supported on said walls, electromagnetic means located to the rear of said pawl and indicator for operating said pawl in one direction, a spring for operating said pawl in the opposite direction, means located at the rear of said magnetic means for supporting one end of said actuating spring, a retaining pawl for said ratchet wheel, said retaining pawl and actuating pawl being located between one side of the indicator and corresponding wall of the frame, and bracing posts mounted in said walls for bracing said walls and for supporting said retaining and actuating pawls.

5. An automatic indicating board for exhibiting and posting changing items of information such as exchange and stock quotations, comprising numerous character indicating drums, one for each character of each item to be posted, mounting means for each drum whereby the same are independently rotatable to exhibit at the face of the board numerous characters such as figures 0-9, a plurality of drums being mounted in alignment in closely spaced relation constituting a group to exhibit a single legible item such as a price quotation, a plurality of such groups also being provided and arranged in vertical and horizontal rows in closely spaced relationship, impulse operated electromagnetic actuating means individual to each of said drums, said actuating means being respectively mounted in the space directly to the rear of each drum and confined within close proximity to the rearwardly projected outline of the drum and acting to control each drum independently of the operation and control of the other drums, and a frame individual to each drum and its actuating means.

FRANoIs FAVARGER.

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