GB1015223A - Electrostatic data recorder and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

1,015,223. Electrostatic recording. OMNITRONICS Inc. Nov. 20, 1963 [Dec. 3, 1962] No. 45892/63. Heading G5R. An electrostatic printer includes a printing head 33, Fig. 1, which is an improvement of the head described in Specification 981,760, comprising a number of groups of electrodes 212, 213, Fig. 8, extending across the width of a record tape 20, each group having two pairs of electrodes, to produce a single charged area. The charged areas form a latent image representing a code, are inked at 23, Fig. 1, and fixed at a pressure station 24 before being wound on to a take-up reel 25. Head construction.-The electrodes 212, 213 are supported in blocks of insulating material 203, 204, Fig. 6, separated by a quartz insulator 205 and extend to the bottom of the printing head 23 where a mask 209 with apertures 207 may be secured by clips 188. Inside the head 23 the electrodes are connected to resistors which may be changed to give differing electostatic images. The other side of the resistors terminate in plugs 200, Fig. 10, connected to an incoming data source or pulse control 35. If the mask 209 is fitted it may be electrically unconnected or connected to a D.C. bias. The tape is held against the head by a displaceable pressure finger 195, Fig. 7. Tape feed, Fig. 1. The tape 20 is continuously or incrementally fed from the printing station 22 by a drive capstan 32 when a pinch-roller 31 is electromagnetically pivoted towards or away from it (circuit, Fig. 2, not shown). At this stage a further pair of drive rollers 52, 53 in the pressure fixing station 24 are not operating, so that a loop of the tape which is guided round a roller 36 on a compliance arm 37 grows in length. After the loop has grown a predetermined amount, electrical contacts associated with the position of the compliance arm 37 close to operate pinch-roller 52, and release a brake 59 associated with capstan 53. The speed of feed by rollers 52, 53 is 10% higher than that of rollers 31, 32 so that the length of the loop diminishes and the compliance arm 37 swings to the right. The contacts associated with the drive to rollers 52, 53 and the brake 59 are changed back to their original positions to stop the feed. To halt movement of the tap through the system a stop switch is operated and a brake unit 27 is electrically operated and drive roller 31 is displaced away from the tape. The compliance arm 37, due to movement of the tape, moves to the right and the contacts operating rollers 52, 53 and associated brake 59 also stop. If the drive rollers 31, 32 are operating and drive rollers 52, 53 are quiescent a beater 45 in the inking station 23 is moved out of range of the tape.