US2111776A - Recording paper system - Google Patents

Description

March 22, 1938.

1V. 1.. HOGAN RECORDING PAPER SYSTEM Filed June 5. 1936 J/wv Vi .jia ya/w \NVENTOR ATTORNEY mean 1938 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE naconnmc PAPER SYSTEM John V. L. Hogan, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to Radio Inventions, Inc., New York, N. Y.. a corporation of New York This invention deals with a system and apparatus for keeping and using moist electrolytic recording paper, as in facsimile recording systems for the reproduction of electrically transmitted text and pictures.

More particularly this invention is designed to afford a method whereby a roll of electrolytic recording paper may be kept in the proper condition for use without the necessity of employing special devices to moisten the same just prior to use.

In the art of electrolytic recording it has been found that there is a certain optimum degree of moisture which, should be present in paper or other similar material upon which the recording is to take place. Many artiiices have been proposed for securing the proper degree of moisture in such a paper.

For example, one method in use has been to 20 pass the paper through a bath containing the electro-sensitive chemicals which are employed to render it ready for use, and then to remove the surplus moisture from the paper and feed it to the marking pen or stylus. Such a system is open to many objections, especially in connection with electrolytic recorders designed for use by the laity. For example, such a system demands apparatus which shall be capable of properly coating the paper. The proper coating of such paper is an operation which demands considerable skill and furthermore the use of chemical baths is undesirable in domestic recorders, because of the liability to spill, the necessity of keeping such a bath at the proper density of solution and the undesirabllity of having chemicals present in such a form as solutions thereof. Likewise it has been found in practice very dimcult to supply any species of electro-sensitive' coating in a form which may readily be applied merely by passing a paper through a bath thereof. Such species of coatings as'can be simply applied are not satisfactory from a viewpoint of sensitivity and permanence of marking. The best species of coatings are necessarily applied by persons skilled in the art, since they demand close attention to such factors as the temperature and density of the coating bath, and the speed of the paper passing therethrough. Also many of the better types of coatings require the use of a plurality of baths, rather than a single bath. Likewise the removal of the surplus solution from such papers is also very difllcult to secure by means of simple apparatus which may readily be incorporated in a domestic receiver.

An alternative system which has been proposed,

bath tends to remove some of the active chemicals from the paper as it passes therethrough, until such bath has reached a very high degree of concentration with respect to the soluble chemicals employed. Under such conditions, the bath eventually becomes a chemical solution, thus giving rise to the disadvantages previously pointed out in connection with the first described system. Likewise the same problems with respect to removing the surplus moisture, are present with this system.

I have found that the most efiicient method of manufacturing, shipping and utilizing electrolytic recording paper in domesticapparatus, is to properly coat and sensitize the paper, as well as to bring it to the proper degree of moisture, at the place where the paper is packed for shipment. In this way, very sensitive and permanent types of chemicals may be employed to render the paper sensitive, and the surface of the paper may be finished so that it will cooperate with the marking stylus to give the best results.

I have found that by the employment of suitable coating or impregnating mixtures, a paper may be produced which will function ,efli'ciently over a considerable range of moisture content. Accordingly if such a paper is produced with the maximum allowable degree of moisture therein, is shipped in sealed containers so that the evaporation during transit is reduced to a minimum and if the domestic recording device is supplied with a suitable type of container and with other suitable means for substantially preventing the evaporation of moisture while the roll of paper is in the machine and also while the paper is passing from the container to the point of marking, it is possible to completely avoid the necessity of using any kind of chemical or water bath in connection with the recorder. Moreover, the operation of the recorder is improved and stabilized, for the paper is presented to the marking point with substantially the optimum moisture content, and regardless of whether the recorder is being operated in a dry or a humid atmosphere.

The amount of humidity in the atmosphere varies greatly and may extend from a low degree which is far below the degree required in a facsimile paper for optimum results, to a degree greater than that desired. If a paper be exposed for a relatively long time to the atmosphere, as is the case in that type of recorder without undue friction. In case that container whichusesasheetwrapped aboutadrum,itwill II is constructed of somematerial which would be only at very rare times that such sheet will be deleteriously effected by the chemicals smbeexposedtoanatmospherewhichwillmainployedinthepapentheedgesofslitqmaybe tain' its moisture content at the proper degree. lined with some material not acted upon by the Iftoomoist,therewillbedificultyinobtaining chemicaIasuchasphenolicinsulatingrain. sharpdenni onorwiththemarkingstylusdig- Justadjacentonesideofslit 24liesthemarking ginginto thenalie fisndiftoodry. the marking platen 2|,whichmaybeheldinframellbypins willbefaintand unsatisfactory. suchasshownat ilandisplaced closely adia- Previouslyonepracticehasbeentohavethe cent'containerilsoastominimiseany-considpapermoremoistthsndesiredanddependupon erablecirculationofairbetweenthetwo.

where the paper is moistened lust prior to marking thereupon. great diiliculty is experienced in apparatus. designed for domestic use, in drying ess of my invention.

The construction and operation of my invention will be more clearly explained by reference to the accompanying drawing. where one form thereof is shown.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation in cross section upon the line |l of Pig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in cross section and with certain portions cut away.

Pig. 8 is a detail showing the connection of an electrical switch with the sliding shield shown in Fig. l.

In the drawing, the members II, II represent portions of the frame of the recorder. A substantially closed container ii is held in this frame and located properly with respect thereto by means of a pin l2 which engages a slot II in frame ll. Additional supports l4, l4 may also be used to aid in holding the container II in place. Within this container is a spool it upon which is wound the paper I. Spool I5 is provided at its end with flanges l1 and the central point of these flanges may be supplied at either end with an opening I'I fitting upon a projecting pin ll supplied with an enlargement is serving as an axis of rotation, by passing through the opening l1, and maybe supplied at either end with a frictional spring device is which serves to prevent spool I! from rotating, except when a force indicated by the arrow 20 is applied to the portion of the paper strip II, which has passed beyond the marking stylus 22.

However, it is to be understood that s rotative force may be applied .to spool I! by any other suitable means. For example paper II may have a pulling force applied thereto atvsome point prior to its passage under the marking stylus 22, provided the paper is also properly drawn over the platen 25. The portion of the paper strip 23, just after leaving the parent roll of paper l6, passes through a long slit-like opening 24 which runs longitudinally of container II. This slit is preferably made no wider than is necessary to allow the paper to pass therethrough 0n the other side of the slit is located a guard member 24 which extends around a portion of the periphery of platen 2. with suillcient space therebetween for paper strip 21 to pass between the two members on its way to stylus 22. This guard 20 I have found to be of great importance in preventing the-partial or complete drying out of the paper while in passage between slits 24 and stylus 22. Likewise another guard (not shown) may be placed between the platen 24 and the container II to reduce the evaporation through any space between these elements. Such guard may rest lightly upon platen 2', so as not substantially to retard the rotation of the latter.

The atmosphere within' container ll soon reaches a condition of equilibrium with respect tic nature, such as metal sheet, and so to bias this strip that it will, when allowed so to do, expand in a fashion tending to widen slit 24. I then provide a rigid end cover 21, having therein grooves 2| for the reception of the ends of cylindrical container H. Accordingly when cover 21 is removed for the purpose of inserting a roll of paper into container II, the elasticity of the walls of container II will cause them to expand so that slit 24 has an average width considerably greater than normal, thus allowing the paper readily to be threaded therethrough. Then when cap 21 is replaced upon the end of container II, it will be necessary to squeeze together the walls of container If, in order for its end to seat itself in grooves 28, thus automatically restoring the correct width of slit 24.

Referring now to the device incorporated in my invention for still further reducing the leakage of moisture through slit 24, I have found it desirable to utilize a movable cover which will substantially completely close this slit, and which will only open the same when the recorder is in operation. One convenient way of accomplishing this result automatically, is to use a suitable form of electrical switch 30 for setting in motion the recorder, and to couple this switch with such a closure device as that just mentioned. For example, the switch 30 may be of the type known as a toggle switch, having a lever II and a manipulating handle 32. Lever will move vertically from the position shown in Fig. 3 by unbroken lines to the alternative position shown by dotted lines. This lever BI is connected by a rigid mechanical link 33 to a short rigid projecting piece nates in a shielding cover 35 which is formed as a portion of a cylinder having its internal radius substantially equal to the external radius of cylindrical container II.

In Fig. l, the shielding cover 35 is shown pulled downwardly to its lower position, at which point its upper edge lies below slit 24, thus allowing paper strip 23 to pass through the slit without encountering shield 28. -When switch 30 has its handle 22 thrown upwardly, as shown inl 'lg. 3, then shieldingcover 35 will also be pushed upwardly, taking with it a small length of the paper strip 23, which portion of paper is thus squeezed between cover I! and container II and affords a substantially hermetic seal for the container.

.It will thus be seen that the same operation which determines the discontinuance of recording, will eifectuatc the sealing of the paper roll against evaporation of its moisture and conversely when the recorder is put into operation, by snapping down handle 3| container l I will be opened sufliciently to allow paper It to pass outwardly therefrom. It is true that the portion of 'paper strip 23 lying between slit 24 and stylus 22 will not be so efhciently protected during periods when the recorder is not in operation. However, the length of paper thus involved is very small and it is a simple operation when setting the recorder into operation, to feed forward strip 23 until a. moist portionthereof lies beneath stylus 22.

I have found it convenient in the manufacture of the rolls of electro-sensitive paper, to cover the outermost layer of such paper with a strip of some material substantially impervious to moisture, such as paraflin paper. This strip will fit snugly between the two end flanges of the spool of paper and thus will afford a still further moistureretaining seal for the spool while it is being transferred from the shipping .container to the recorder paper-containing receptacle HZ Further-- more I have found it advantageous to attach such a dry covering strip at one of its edges to the electro-sensitive paper proper, thus allowing thisdrystrlp to be fed conveniently through slit 24' when the spool is inserted in the receptacle, and to act as a leader" for the sensitive paper.

Many advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, but it is par? ticularly to be noted that my invention simplifles and stabilizes the use of moist electrolytic recording papers to such an extent that it is feasible for the-laity to employ such papers in domestic use, which has hitherto been considered commercially impossible. By the use of a paper which is brought to its proper degree of moisture by those skilled in the art at the point of manufacture, and which then is kept from losing such moisture (or from absorbing excess moisture) until after the record has been made thereupon, I secure great practical and economic advantages.

While I have described one form of my invention, it is to be understood that this form is given only as an example of the application of my invention and that my invention is limited only by the scope of the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of manufacturing, transporting, storing and using moisture-containing electrolytic recording paper, including the steps of producing said paper with substantially the optimum degree oi. moisture present therein, transporting said paper while substantially preventing the evaporation of moisture therefrom, storing said paper closely adjacent to the point of marking, while substantially preventing evaporation of moisture from said paper, passing said paper through a channel closed away from free access of air currents thereto, so as to retard evaporation from said paper while passing through said channel,

and exposing said paper to the air only as required for marking purposes and only when substantially at the point of marking.

e 2. Apparatus for transporting, storing and using electrolytic recording paper, including means for sealing said paper from exposure to the air during transportation, substantially closed means for storing said paper adjacent to the recording point, means for withdrawing the paper from said storage means, at a rate proportional to the speed of recording and only when recording thereupon, means for actuating said withdrawal means and evaporation reducing means substantially completely shielding said paper during transit between said storage means and said recording point.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and also including means fcr substantially sealing the closure of said storage means, when said paper is' not being withdrawn therefrom, said sealing means substantially entirely preventing movement of said paper therethrough when closing said storage means and exerting substantially no frictional restraint upon the movement of said paper 'therethrough after opening said storage means.

4. Apparatus according toclaim 2, characterized in that the storage means has means for altering its degree of closure, and means for coupling said altering means with said paper withdrawal actuating means, whereby the actuation of the withdrawal means will simultaneously render the degree of closure a minimum and vice versa.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for withdrawing the paper is electrically driven, the actuating means is a. switch having a reciprocating handle, and also including means for substantially completely sealing and unsealing the closure of said storage means, and connecting means between said switch handle and said sealing means whereby the actuation of said withdrawal means will at the same time cause the unsealing of said storage means.

6. An electrolytic paper recording system including a. substantially closed container storing pre-moistened paper, a mechanical feeding device withdrawing paper from said container when said recorder is in operation and a substantially closed passageway extending from the point of withdrawal of said paperto the point of recording thereupon.

'7. A recording paper system including a substantially closed receptacle containing premoistened paper, a feeding device withdrawing paper from said container, a platen over which said paper passes and means for marking upon said paper while passing over said platen, said platen and said receptacle being placed closely together, whereby said platen acts to shield one side of said paper from atmospheric action while said paper passes from said receptacle to the marking position on said platen.

8. A facsimile paper supply and recording system including means for storing recording paper, means for substantially preventing drying of said paper during storage comprising a substantially moistureproof flexible sheet closely surrounding and in close contact with said recording paper and a further moistureproof container surrounding said flexible sheet and said paper, means for minimizing drying of said paper when in use comprisng a substantially closed container therefor, having a narrow open slit tor the withdrawal of paper therefrom, means for reducing drying of said paper while in transit between said slit and the point oi recording comprising two moistureprooi suriaces adjacent to one another and providing therebetween a passageway ior said paper. and means for impelling said paper from said closed container through said slit and said passageway to said point oi recording.

9. A recording system according to claim 8 and also including means for substantially completely closing said slit when paper is not passing through, whereby movement of paper through said slit is mechanically restrained when said slit is clmd.

10. A recording system according to claim 8 further characterized in that it includes means ior setting in motion the paper impelling means, means for closing the paper slit and means connecting said last two means whereby the setting in motion oi the paper impelling'means will open the slit and the stoppage oi the paper impelling means will close the slit.

11. An elongated hollow iascimile paper container provided with a longitudinal slit and including a removable cap at one end, said slit extending to the end at which said cap is located and said container being formed oi material having a tendency to return at least partly to a flat sheet, whereby the removal of said cap will cause said slit to become, at least in part, wider, so as to facilitate the'insertion therethrough oi a paper strip. I

12. Theprocess oi'elec'troiytic recordingupm paper including the stepsoiatcringthepapcrat apcintadiacenttothemarkingpdntandatthe properdegreeoimoisturawithdrawingthspaper ataratewwrtionaitoitsusapsoteetingithun g evaporation after withdrawal and presenting it tothemarkingpointcontainingadegreeotmds turesubstantialiyequaltothatpreaentinsaid 7 paper during storage.

13. Apaperstoringandieedingdevicetordectrolytic-papcrrecccderaoitbeiypedcscribedincludingmeansiorstoringthepaperinequilihsiun with an atmosphere containing a optimum degree of moisture, meanstor withdrawingsaid paper only when recording thereuponis practiccdandataratenogreaterthantherate atwhichsaidrecordingispracticed,andmeans i'ormaintainingambatanflallyimdiminiaheddegreeoi'moistureinsaidpaperwhilepasaingbe-- tweensaidstoragemeansandthepointwherelaid so

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