GB2171082A

GB2171082A - Improvements in or relating to facsimile recorders

Info

Publication number: GB2171082A
Application number: GB08602387A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George C Williams
Original assignee: Alden Research Foundation
Current assignee: Alden Research Foundation
Priority date: 1985-02-04
Filing date: 1986-01-31
Publication date: 1986-08-20
Also published as: GB2171082B; GB8602387D0

Abstract

A facsimile recorder uses a roll (9) of dry, thermally sensitive recording paper on an unusually small core about one half inch or less in diameter, the ratio of core length to diameter being substantially twenty or greater to one. The sensitive surface of the paper faces inward so the paper can be fed on a path past a plate (17) pivotable about a joint (18). The plate (17) has a straight edge (22) which is swung progressively into the paper path as the roll diameter decreases by means of a spring (21) or weight (w) to remove the curl from the paper. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to facsimile recorders The present invention relates to facsimile recorders and to recording paper supplies therein.

In facsimile recorders of electrically transmitted signals a graphic recording is made typically by feeding recording paper from a paper supply roll past a recording head where the signals are applied across the paper line by line, and thence to an exit from the recorder. Feeding limp, moist recording paper raises no feed problem, however other, dry recording papers such as coated thermal facsimile recording paper are so stiff that they retain the curl imparted to them by being wound on a cylindrical core. The outer paper turns of large diameter, for example, three or four inches, do not have a serious curl. But as the roll is depleted by unwinding off the core the curl diameter decreases toward that of the core.And even if the problem of feeding the lighter curls is temporarily controlled by closely spaced feed and idler rolls, the paper exists the recorder with a residual tight curl interfering with reading, handling and storing the record. Previously it has been attempted to minimize the dry paper curling problem by winding the paper around large cores of about two or more inches diameter. With an inch and a half or more of paper turns added to the core diameter the paper supply roll becomes the most bulky component of the recorder and prevents miniaturation of the recorder as a whole.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved paper supply which will allow reduction in the size of facsimile recorders by reducing the diameter of the paper supply roll and overcome the problem of residual curl.

In one aspect the invention provides a recording paper supply for a facsimile recorder; said supply comprising a cylindrical core and a length of thermally sensitive recording paper wound tightly on the core; wherein the core diameter is approximately one half inch or less in diameter, and the ratio of core length to the core diameter is substantially twenty to one or greater, and the recording paper has a thermally sensitive surface facing inwardly toward the core so that the paper can be fed in a folded path leading from the core to remove the curl from the paper.

Further according to the invention a facsimile recorder comprises a housing; recording means in the housing; a recording paper supply in the housing including a cylindrical core and a length of thermally sensitive recording paper wound tightly on the core; wherein the core diameter is approximately one half inch or less in diameter, and the ratio of core length to the core diameter is substantially twenty to one or greater; and uncurling means to bend the path between the roll and the recording means to remove the residual curl from the paper.

The uncurling or bending means take the form of the metal plate bent around the roll and biased thereagainst with a spring or weight.

The invention also provides a facsimile recorder comprising a housing around a space receiving a roll of recording paper; a recorder head in the housing for applying recording signals to the paper; means to feed paper from the roll on a path to the recorder head; and straight edge means at least the width of the paper roll supported on a pivot in the housing in a position to bear on the paper between the roll and the feed means, the pivot being located relative to the paper feed path to swing the straight edge progressively into the paper path as the paper roll diameter diminishes thereby to apply an increasing uncurling bend to the paper.

The invention may be understood more readily and various other features of the invention may become apparent from consideration of the following description.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a facsimile recorder constructed in accordance with the invention, with parts being broken away; Figure 2 is an end view of the paper core for the recorder; and Figure 3 is a side view of the core.

The facsimile recorder shown in Fig. 1 comprises a housing 1 formed by side walls 2, top and bottom walls 3 and 4, a back wall 6 and a front wall 7 which with the sidewalls 2 forms a paper exit 8. The housing walls form a cover 5 hinged to a base 10 at a pivot 15.

Within the housing is a space for a recording paper supply roll 9 wound on a core 11. Paper is drawn by a feed roll 12 past a recording head 13 toward the exit 8.

The paper 9 on the roll can be a commercially available paper with a dry thermally sensitive coating on its inner side on the roll. A suitable recording head is Rohm type KH1071, available from Rohm Corporation, Irvine, California. Such a recording head has, for example, two thousand heating elements 14 is a line across the width of the paper on a ten inch wide core. Graphic signals are applied from a source 1 6 successively to the elements across the paper so that the paper is marked with the graphic information of the signals line by line as the paper 9 is fed past the head 13.

According to the invention a device 16 for uncurling the paper 9 as it leaves the roll is mounted within the hosuing in a position to bear on the paper. The uncurling device 16 comprises a folded metal sheet 17 swinging on the pivot 18 at the top of a standard 19 extending from the bottom wall 4. The uncurler 17 is yieldingly pressed down on the paper roll 9 by a spring 21 or by a weight W, or both.

When the paper roll is full straight edge means 22 at the forward, free end of the uncurling device 17 and extending across at least the width of the paper 9 is tangential or clear of the paper 9 between the roll and the recording head 13. As the paper supply is depleted by unwinding off the core 11 the diameter of the remianing turns decreases toward the diameter of the core. These inner windings tend to retain the tighter residual curl adjacent the core after leaving the core. But the forward straight edge 22 of the uncurling device progressively swings into the paper path applying an increasing bend A up to a right angle in the altered paper path 9* as shown by the phantom position 17* of the uncurling device. Thus the increasing bend imparts an increasing uncurling effect on the paper proportionate to the tighter residual curl of the inner paper windings.

The ability of the present recorder to compensate proportionally for the residual curl of the increasingly tighter inner paper windings makes possible a substantially great reduction in the diameter of the core despite the resultant greater tightness of the inner windings.

Whereas prior cores for dry recording paper exceeded two inches in diameter, a present core size of approximately one half inch and less is now practicai and useful. A core with a twenty or greater to one ratio of core length to core diameter is possible. This newly achieved diameter and ratio makes possible a greatly reduced size of recorder.

Claims

1. A facsimile recorder comprising a housing containing recording means co-operating with recording paper supply means, said supply means including a cylindrical core and a length of thermally sensitive recording paper wound tightly on the core; wherein the core diameter is approximately one half inch or less in diameter and the ratio of core length to the core diameter is substantially twenty to one or greater; wherein uncurling means is provided to bend the path between the roll and the recording means to remove the residual curl from the paper.

2. A recording paper supply for a facsimile recorder; said supply comprising a cylindrical core and a length of thermally sensitive recording paper wound tightly on the core; wherein the core diameter is approximately one half inch or less in diameter, and the ratio of core length to the core diameter is substantially twenty to one or greater, and the recording paper has a thermally sensitive surface facing inwardly toward the core so that the paper can be fed in a folded path leading from the core to remove the curl from the paper.

3. A paper supply according to claim 2, wherein means is provided to remove the curl from the paper.

4. A facsimile recorder incorporating a paper supply according to claim 2 or 3.

5. A facsimile recorder according to claim 1, wherein the uncurling means is a pivotable shaped sheet metal member forceable biased onto the paper roll.

6. A facsimile recording comprising a housing around a space receiving a roll of recording paper; a recorder head in the housing for applying recording signals to the paper; means to feed paper from the roll on a path to the recorder head; and straight edge means at least the width of the paper roll supported on a pivot in the housing in a position to bear on the paper between the roll and the feed means, the pivot being located relative to the paper feed path to swing the straight edge progressively into the paper path as the paper roll diameter diminishes thereby to apply an increasing uncurling bend to the paper.

7. A recorder according to claim 6, wherein the straight edge means includes a terminal straight edge bending the paper path.

8. A recorder according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the pivot of the straight edge means is located to increase the bend in the paper approximately to a right angle.

9. A recorder according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the straight edge means includes a portion intermediate its pivot and straight edge bearing on a full roll.

10. A recording according to any one of claims 6 to 9 and further comprising means yieldingly urging the straight edge means toward the paper roll.

11. A recorder according to claim 10, wherein the urging means comprises a spring.

12. A recorder according to claim 10, wherein the urging means comprises a weight.

13. A recorder according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the roll receiving space is between the straight edge means pivot and the feed means.

14. A facsimile recorder or paper supply therein substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.