US2205450A - Method of and apparatus for recording signals electrically - Google Patents

Description

R..L VVHSE June 25, 1940.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1938 FIG.\

INVENTOR R J VVISE MOEN'MF June 25, 1940. 155 2,205,450

IETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY Filed June 29, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R. J WISE BY J ATTORNE R. J. WISE- June 25, 1940.

uzwacn OF AND APPARATUS FOR asconnma SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY Filed June 29. 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

June 25, 1940. J 155 2,205,450

METHOD OFIAND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY Filed June 29, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PIC-3.6

FIG.7

INVENTOR I04, R. J. W'ISE l atented June 25, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD or AND APPARATUS FOR REQORD- IN G SIGNALS ELECTRICALLY RaleighJ. Wise, Dunellen, N. J., assignor to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 29, 1938, Serial No. 216,455

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to the reception of pictures and other subject matter and more particularly to novel means for reproducing a facsimile of a transmitted picture or drawing. In accordance with the invention a pattern of marking material representing receivedsignals is deposited upon a transfer member and thereafter this pattern is transferred to the record sheet. Accordingly the primary object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile receiver embodying means for marking a message sheet by atransfer method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel paper-feeding means on,a facsimile machine employing a transfer member of the helical type.

Still another object of the present invention is to obtain apattern representing a scanned line of a picture or message for ultimate transfer to a record surface.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are defined by the terms of the appended claims and will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a facsimile recorder illustrating in detail features in which the invention resides;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a modification;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in front elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of another modification;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus illustrated by Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of still another modification of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 as viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a drum ill or transfer wheel secured onashaft l I whichis supported for rotation by suitable bearings (not shown) andwhichcarries a toothed pulley I2 positively driven by a perforated belt or chain l3 from a toothed pulley or sprocket I4 mounted on the armature shaft of the driving motor 15. The cylinder I0 is provided with a helical rib I8 which contacts the record sheet or web 19 along the edge 2| where the web passes over the bail member or printer bar 22. The web I9 is drawn from a rotatably mounted supply reel 23 preferably at a constant rate of speed by means of a power driven friction roller 25 cooperating with the friction rollers 26. I The rollers 26 are carried by a shaft or rod 21 which is pressed downwardly by a spring means not shown so that the paper is firmly held between the roll 25 and the rollers 26. Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 28 of 5 the roller 25 from the shaft II by means of a perforated belt or chain 29 in cooperation with pulleys or sprockets 3| and 32. Toinsure that the roller 25 will operate in step with the cylinder ill, the belt 29 may be perforated as shown 10 for engagement with the sprocket teeth 33 on both of the pulleys.

The position of the bail 22 with respect to the portion of the web l9 which extends from the bail to the feed rollers 25 and 25 is an important fea- 15 ture of the present invention. The bail 22 is provided with radial arms 35 which are swingably mounted upon a stationary rod or shaft 31. The latter is located so that it is tangent to the upper part of the paper web l9 when the edge of 20 the bail 22 is in contact with the helical transfer member IS. A pair of springs 38 engaged at their free ends beneath the arms 35 press the bail 22 upwardly so that its edge 2| presses the sharply folded web firmly against the helical 26 member l8. With the arrangement just described, the pressure of the bail against the helical member I8 is virtually independent of the paper feed tension. This insures substantially constant contact of the record sheet I9 80 with the helical member l8. This feature of the invention may be used in recorders employing electrically sensitive papers in contact with a helical recording drum.

A printer bar 39, having a relatively sharp 35 edge 40, is mounted upon the upper end of a pair of rods 42 and 43, the latter each being connected in a suitable manner to the signal responsive members of a pair of conventional loud speaker units 44 of suitable design. The loud speaker units 44 are illustrated as being of the permanent magnet type, but it is to be understood that they may have separately excited field coils or that any suitable type of motor unit or units may be employed to operate the printer 45 bar 40. The movement of the swingable bar members 42 and 43 is limited by adjustable stop members 46 and 41 in the form of set screws engaged in a stationary part of the machine (not shown) and locked in the desired position by 0 means of lock nuts 48.

In the arrangement shown which forms no part of the present invention, incoming signals are fed to the motor units of the recorder from the line L by way of the transformer 50 and the amplifier II. The amplifier II is connected by way of the transformer 52 to a rectifier comprising a pair of vacuum tubes 88, the anodes of which are connected the motor units 44 and the anode supply battery 86'.

A typewriter ribbon 66 serves as a source of marking material which is intimately transferred, under control of signals from the line L, to the record sheet I8 by the helical member I8. The typewriter ribbon 56 is carried in a conventional manner by a pair of spools 61 and 58 and is held in position before the printer bar 38 by means of a. pair of vertically spaced channelshaped members 6|, the latter being fixed at each end in stationary members 62 each positioned adjacent the ends of the cylinder I0.

In order to provide a constant supply of fresh ribbon, either of the reels 61 and 68 may be driven from pinions 68 and 64 secured on the spool shafts 85 and 66 respectively which mesh selectively with pinions 61 and 68 secured for rotation on the axially movable shaft 68. The shaft 68 is slidably mounted adjacent each end in stationary bearing members I0 and is driven from the motor pinion II, which is in mesh with a gear I2 secured to the pinion shaft. Means (not shown) is preferably provided for moving the shaft 68 axially when the ribbon 56 is completely wound on either of the spools 51 or 58. A pad I3, which is pressed upwardly against the helical member I8 as by springs I4, one of which appears in the drawings, is provided to wipe off the coloring material remaining as the member I8 transfers the pattern thereon to the web I8 and before it receives a new portion of the pattern for the next scanning line.

During operation of the picture recording apparatus just described, the interconnected motor units 44 are supplied with electrical currents from the amplifier 62 and the rectifier 88 controlled in accordance with signals received over the line L. When this current reaches a certain predetermined value, the signal actuated member in this case the printing bar 40, is moved inwardly, thus pressing the ribbon. 86 against the helical ridge II which results in the depositing of a quantity of the pigment thereon from the ribbon 66. If the printing member 40 were held in contact with the helical member I0 during one complete revolution of the drum I0, a solid black line extending across the web I8 at its fold would be produced. The actual number of marks and their lengths produced in each scanning line is therefore determined by the number of times and the duration of each that the printing member 40 presses the ribbon 56 against the member I8 during each revolution of the scanning drum I0. It

will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any suitable means may be utilized for producing synchronism. between the moving parts of the apparatus by which the picture is transmitted and the moving parts of the recording apparatus described above.

A modified form of recorder is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings which embodies the transfer feature of this invention. Reference character 15 designates a cylindrical copy holder which is mounted upon a shaft 76, the latter being supported and driven, for example, in the manner disclosed in applicant's copending application, Ser. No. 84,935, filed June 12, 1936. A message blank Il wrapped around the copy holder I5 is secured thereon by any suitable means. The transfer means of this modification comprises the relatively sharp edge it of a signal transfer wheel 18 secured to a shaft 80 which is journaled for rotation in a pair of upright members 8|. The last named members are joined adjacent their lower ends by a rod 82 which is journalled in a pair of ears 83 extending upwardly from a platform member or base 84. The upright members M are biased toward the copy holder 16 by springs 85 connected to upstanding legs of a U-shaped bracket 86 secured to the base by fastening means 81. A pad 88 of ab sorbent material such as felt is carried by the bracket 86 and is pressed against sharp edged periphery I8 of the signal transfer wheel so as to cleanse it and prepare it for the reception of a fresh supply of pigment or any suitable marking material. An ink reservoir 88 is mounted between the arms 8I and is provided with one or more contacting inking rollers 8I and 82, the former of which dips intov a body of marking fluid such as ink contained in the reservoir 88 so as to transfer ink from. the roller 82 to the sharp edged periphery I8 of the signal transfer wheel I8.

An electromagnetic recorder unit 83 which may, if desired, be similar to one of the motor units 44 previously described, is provided with an armature 84, the upturned free end 85 of which is adapted to engage the sharp edge I8 of the signal transfer wheel. The free end 88 of the armature is preferably very thin and is notched as shown at 86 to insure good pigment scraping contact with the sharp edge I8 of the transfer wheel. The leads 81 extending from the electromagnetic recorder unit are connected so as to receive signals from. the line L in the manner already and fully described. in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings,

The platform 84 is carried by a pair of guidesor rods 88 and 88 upon which it slides on bear ing shoes MI and I02. The bearing member IOI embraces the rod 88 so that the platform 84 may be tilted upwardly, thus permitting a halfnut I03 which is secured to the base to be disengaged from the propelling lead screw I04. The halfnut I08 is carried on a resilient arm I06 secured at I01 to the platform 84. A stop member I08 may be provided on the bracket 86 to lift the transfer wheel '18 out of contact with the blank II when the halfnut is disengaged from the lead screw thus permitting the entire carriage comprising the base 84 to be moved along the blank I1.

In operation of the modified form of apparatus of Figs. 2 and 3, a message blank TI is secured in any manner around the periphery of the cylinder I5 and the platform 84 which carries the scanning apparatus is positioned with the transfer'wheel I8 in contact with the blank adjacent one edge thereof. Rotation is imparted to the cylinder I5 and the signal transfer wheel is rotated by reason of its frictional contact with the blank II, the lead screw I04 advancing the signal transfer wheel axially of the drum I5 to provide a scanning action.

Coloring matter is applied to the sharp edged periphery 18 of the transfer wheel from the rollers 9| and 82 and if the armature 84 is normally biased away from the blank, in the absence of line signals, a continuous helical line will be traced around the blank II which will resultin the blank 11 being covered uniformly with the pattern of lines. However, if the armature is normally biased into contact with the blank, in the absence of line signals, no mark will be produced on the blank 11. Positive or '5 of the drawings.

negative signals may be used for transmission depending on the normal bias of the armature in a manner now to be described.

Assuming that facsimile signals representing a negative copy of the transmitted subject-matter are being supplied from the line L to the device 93 having an armature biased to remain out of contact with the wheel during absence of signals, portions of the ink will be removed from the edge 18 of the transfer wheel when the armature moves upwardly. The remaining portions of the marking material will be left on the periphery I8 of the wheel 19 for transfer to the blank 11. In this manner a positive facsimile copy of the transmission subject matter will be reproduced.

If the transmitted signals represent a positive of the transmitted copy, the armature of the motor device 93 can be biased normally into contact with the blank so that a positive copy will be reproduced.

Another modification embodying the transfer feature of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 and Referring now to these figures reference character III designates a cylindrical copy holder similar to the copy holder 15 of Figs. 2 and 3 which is rotated by means (not shown) known to the prior art. The cylinder III is provided with a recording blank 'I'Ia secured thereon in any suitable manner so that the signal transfer wheel II2 will roll against it when the cylinder III is rotated. The wheel H2 is mounted by a spindle II4 journalled in frame members II5, like frame members 8| of Fig. 3, which are joined together adjacent their lower ends by a member H6. The last named member is pivoted in the brackets I I1 secured to the platform or base IIB. This platform is mounted upon a pair of guide members 98a and 99a in the manner already described in connection with Fig. 2 of the drawings. A half nut III3a carried by a member Ililia which is secured to the platform H8 at IDIa engages a lead screw "1411 so as to propel the wheel II2 longitudinally of the cylinder III to produce a scanning action.

The wheel I I2 has a sharp edged periphery I2I which is continuously supplied with ink from an inking roller 920 which is in contact with a partially or wholly immersed roller 9Ia. The spindles of these rollers are journalled in the wall of the ink reservoir 89a in the manner described in connection with Fig. 3.. A conduit I22 in communication with a convenient source of air or other fluid under pressure is provided with a nozzle I 23 having a very fine opening which projects air in a stream upon the peripheral edge I2I of the wheel II2. This air stream when it impinges on the wheel II2 removes ink therefrom so that no mark is transferred to the blank 'I'Ia. To provide control of the air stream in accordance with line sigupon receipt of signals over the line L.

nals and thereby to cause the ink rema ning on or, if desired, removed from the wheel II2 to represent line signals, an electromagnetically controlled valve member I24 ending in the form of a vane I25 is positioned to cover at times the nozzle I23. A signal controlled motor device I21, which may be a loud speaker unit of the type previously described, is operatively connected to the valve member I24 to withdraw the vane I26 from the opening of the nozzle I23 It Will be understood that actuation of the vane may depend on an absence of line signals in which case a positive copy will be produced from signals representing a negative. A type of motor unit having an adjusting device indicated at I29 is preferably selected so that the normal or inoperative position of the vane I26 may be set prior to the beginning of a recording operation.

In operation of the modified recorder just described, ink is supplied to the reservoir 89a and the cylinder III is caused to rotate in synchronism with a more or less remote transmitter. With no signals being supplied from the line L to the motor unit I21 by way of its leads 91a, the vane I26 is moved to cover the nozzle I23 by the adjusting means I29 until no mark appears on the record sheet'IIa. This is the correct adjustment for best operation of the recorder and it will be noted that this adjustment may also be obtained when a signal is supplied to the motor unit I21 in the event that picture reversal is to be had withsignals being received by the motor means I21 as explained above. The vane I26 will be vibrated longitudinally in accordance with the signals which represent the transmitted subject matter and ink remaining on the periphery of the wheel II2 will be transferred to the message blank 11a in the manner already described in connection with Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A modification somewhat similar in detail to the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In the last named figures of the drawings reference character 15a designates a cylindrical copy holder mounted upon the shaft 16a which is supported and driven in the manner already described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. Power for driving the cylinder 15a and lead screw I04a is derived from a motor I32 which is provided with a driving pinion I33 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be understood that suitable gearing is provided between the motor pinion I33 and the message drum and lead screw in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The transfer means of this modification which cooperates with a message blank 'I'Ia comprises the relatively sharp edge 18a of the signal transfer wheel 19a which is mounted upon a shaft a journaled in the uprights BI a.

by the upstanding apcrtured ears 83a. The pivoted support for the transfer wheel 19a. which comprises the members 8Ia just described is adapted to be moved so as to withdraw the wheel 19a from contact with the message blank by a solenoid I3I having a pull rod I36 pivotally connected at or adjacent its end to the cradle member. The point of pivotal connection is indicated by the reference character I31. A pad I38 of absorbent material such as felt or the like is carried by a shaft I39 journaled at its ends in a pair of similar frame members I4 I.

The means for supplying the pattern of marks to the periphery 18a of the transfer wheel will now be described in detail. It comprises an electromagnetic recorder unit I42 of any of the types similarly mentioned which is secured in a suitable manner to the frame members MI. The recording unit is provided with a vibrator armature member I43 bifurcated as shown in the drawings, each arm I46 of the bifurcation being provided with an aperture I47. The marking material such as ink is applied to a strand such as a thread of silk I49. The thread is wound upon two spools I 5| and I52, these latter being carried by shafts I53 and I54 journaled in bear- The upright members 8Ia are -mounted on a rod 82a which is pivotally received ing blocks I56 in order to permit the direction of movement of the thread to be reversed when it is completely wound on either of the spools. The reel shafts may be driven from pinions III and I58 which mesh selectively with pinions I66 7 and I6I secured for rotation on the axially movable shaft Ifl. The shaft I63 is slidably mounted adjacent each end in stationary members I and is driven from the motor-pinion 133 which is in mesh with a gear I66 secured to the pinion shaft I63. Means (not shown) is preferably provided for moving the shaft I63 axially when the thread I 49 is completely wound on either of the reels.

Coloring material is supplied to the thread I49 from an inking pad or roller I61 dipping into an ink reservoir I66. This reservoir is supported from the base member 84a of the apparatus by a bracket I69.

In order to compensate for inclination of the thread I46 as it is wound in more or less quantity on either of the spools I5I and I62, guide members III are provided which are secured to the frame members Ma. The guide members III are provided with eyelets I12 through which the thread is passed.

In operation of the apparatus of Figs. 6 and 7 just described and assuming that blank Ila is in place on the recording cylinder, picture or message signals are supplied in a well known manner to the motor unit I42 by way of the leads IBI. The thread I49 as it leaves the reel I5! is supplied with a quantity of ink from'roller I61 which is applied to the periphery 18a. of the transfer wheel when the armature I63 of the recorder unit moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 6 in response to a signal. It will be understood that the armature I43 vibrates in accordance with the received signals and that therefore a pattern of marks will be applied to the periphery 16a of the transfer wheel for transfer to the message blank I'Ia. In order to secure maximum effectiveness with the apparatus an ink roller I61 similar to that described above is preferably mounted adjacent the spool I52.

In this form of the invention a separate inking roller in contact with the periphery of the transfer wheel may be used in which case the thread will remove ink from the periphery of the wheel in response to signals in a manner similar to that described in connection with the armature 94 of Figs. 2 and 3. From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention provides recorders which operate in accordance with novel principles and which are cheap to manufacture and can be used on ordinary paper or any other material which presents a surface of any color capable of receiving ink.

While the invention has been described and explained in detail in connection with four illustrative embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms and, therefore, the invention is not limited except as indicated by the terms and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a scanner for the reception of facsimile signals including transfer means and means to support a recording surface in engagement with said transfer means, means to cause said transfer means to scan said recording surface and means to provide said transfer means with marking material in accordance with received facsimile signals for transfer to said recording surface.

2. In a facsimile recorder, to hold a record sheet, a marking device and means to support the same for contact with said sheet,

means to cause said marking device to scan said record sheet and means to provide said marking device with a pattern of marking material, said pattern of marks representing line signals.

3. The combination of scanning means including a rotatable spiral member and a cooperating printer member arranged to be moved substantially radially with respect to said spiral member, means interposed between said printer member and said spiral member to apply marking material to the latter upon. radial movement of the printer member, and means arranged to support and move a record receiving sheet in continuous contact with said spiral member at a point spaced circumferentially from said printer member.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means interposed between said printer member and said spiral member is a typewriter ribbon, means to support and guide said ribbon, and means for feeding and receiving said ribbon whereby it is moved longitudinally.

5. The combination of a scanner including a rotatable transfer member and means to support a record receiving surface in contact with said transfer member, means to cause said transfer member to scan said record receiving surface and inking means to provide said transfer member with marking material in accordance with signals for transfer to said recording surface.

6. In. a facsimile recorder, means to hold a record sheet, a marking wheel and means to support'the same in contact with said sheet, means to cause said marking wheel to scan said record sheet and means to provide said marking wheel with a pattern of marking material, said pattern of marks representing line signals.

7. The combination of scanning means including a rotatable spiral member and a cooperating printer member arranged to be moved radially spiral member to apply marking material to the latter upon radial movement of the printer member, and means comprising a pivotally mounted bail arranged to support and move a record receiving sheet in continuous contact with said member at a point spaced circumferentially from said bar.

8. In a facsimile recorder, scanning means including a transfer member, means to apply marking material to said member in accordance with signals, means to support. and move a record sheet comprising cooperating feed rollers at least one of which is power driven, a bail member and means to swingably mount said bail member for engagement with said transfer member, and guide means located substantially at the axis of movement of saidbail member to guide said record sheet whereby the contact pressure of said bail member on said transfer member is unaffected by the tension applied to the sheet by said feed rollers.

9. A recorder comprising transfer means, electrically operated means to apply recording material to, said transfer means, means to apply tension to a record sheet to advance the same, a. pressure member free to move in an arcuate path into contact with said transfer member, and a guide member located substantially at the center of the arcuate movement of said pressure member, said-record sheet being looped over said pressure member and passing over said guide member, the location of said guide member with respect to said pressure member acting to prevent the tension on said sheet from affecting the contact pressure of said pressure member'on said transfer means.

10. The combination of scanning means including a rotatable spiral member, and a cooperating bar arranged to be moved radially with respect to said member, means interposed between said bar and said member to apply marking material to the latter upon radial movement of the bar, means arranged to support and move a record receiving sheet in continuous contact with said member at a point spaced circumferentially from said bar, and means to remove marking material remaining after contact with said sheet, from said member.

11. The combination of scanning means including a rotatable spiral member, means intermittently to apply a marking medium to said member includinga cooperating bar arranged to be moved radially with respect to said member, and means arranged to support and move a record receiving sheet in continuous contact with said member at a point spaced circumferentially from said bar.

12. The combination of a scanner including a transfer wheel and a rotatable cylinder adapted to hold a record sheet in contact with the periphery of said transfer wheel, means to apply marking material on the periphery of said transfer wheel, means to remove portions of said material from said wheel, in accordance with signals so that only the remaining material will be transferred to said sheet continuously to form a facsimile record, and means to remove substantially all of the material remaining after contact of said wheel and said sheet.

13. A recorder adapted to be operated by picture signals comprising means to hold and advance a record sheet, a transfer member presenting a thin edge to said sheet, means to cause said member to scan said sheet, means to form a pattern of marking material on said edge in accordance with received signals and means to cause said pattern to be transferred from said edge to said sheet.

14. A recorder adapted to be operated by picture signals comprising means to hold and advance a record sheet, a transfer member presenting a thin edge to said sheet, means comprising a moving filament carrying a pigment and a signal controlled member for moving said filament into and out of contact with said edge to form a pattern of marking material on said edge in accordance with received signals, and

means to cause said pattern to be transferred from said edge to said sheet.

15. In a facsimile recorder the combination of a scanner including a rotatable transfer wheel and means movably to support a record receiving surface in contact with said transfer wheel, means to cause said wheel to scan said record receiving surface and inking means to supply ink to said transfer wheel in accordance with sig; nals for transfer to said recording surface.

16. The combination of scanning means including a rotatable spiral member and a cooperating printer member arranged to be moved radially with respect to said spiral member, carbon bearing means supported between ysaid printer member and said spiral member to apply marking material to the latter upon,radial movement of the printer member and means to support and move a record receiving sheet in continuous contact with said spiral member, said last named means being spaced from said printer member.

17. The combination of scanning means including a rotatable spiral member and a cooperating printer member arranged to be moved substantially radially with respect to said spiral member, an ink carrying strip interposed between said printer member and said spiral membeer to apply marking material to the latter upon radial movement of the printer member, and means arranged to support and move a record receiving sheet in continuous contact with said spiral member at a point spaced circumferentially from said printer member.

18. In a facsimile recorder, a helical marking member, a paper strip on which recording is to be effected, means to apply tension to said strip to advance the same, a pivotally mounted elongated pressure member disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said marking member, means to cause said pressure member to bear against said marking member with substantially uniform pressure throughout its length, said strip being looped to pass over said pressure member between said pressure member and said marking member, and guide means over which both runs of said loop are drawn by said tension means, said guide member lying substantially in a plane defined by the portion of said pressure member which presses said strip against said marking member and the pivotal mounting axis of said pressure member, whereby the uniformity of contact of said strip with said marking member is independent of the tension in said strip.

RALEIGH J. WISE.

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