US2209720A - Telefacsimile scanner - Google Patents

Description

y 30, 1940- A. c. RUSTAD 2,209,720

TELEFACS IMILE S CANNER Filed June 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR July 30, 1940. c, Rus 2209,7120

TELEFACS IMILE S CANNER Filed June 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZINV5NT2R July 30, 1940- A. c. RUSTAD TELEFACSIMILE SCANNER Filed June 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES TELEFAOSIDIILE SCANNER.

Arthur C. Rustad. Brooklyn, N. Y., Illignor to Press Wireless, Inc., Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1938, Serial No. 213,584

18 Claims.

This invention relates to telefacsimile appara-.

tus and more especially to such apparatus as is used for scanning a longitudinally movable web or strip. A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved structure of telefacsimile scanner which is suitable for use in continuous service such for example as news distribution and the like.

Another principal object is to provide an improved recorder for telefacsimile signals.

A further object is to provide a novel method and apparatus for scanning a longitudinally movable web or record sheet by forming the sheet or web to arcuate shape across the width, and then scanning the convex surface of the sheet.

A still further object is to provide a novel method of supporting and feeding a longitudinally movable record strip in a step-by-step motion past a rotatable scanning device.

A feature of the invention relates to a scanning mechanism wherein the scanning device is rotated around the convex periphery of a curved support which carries the recording web or strip.

Another feature relates to a novel form of paper feed drive for a telefacsimile scanner or the like.

Another feature relates to an improved manner of shaping a normally fiat web or record sheet into transversely curved form and feeding it in its curved form past a continuously rotating scanning member.

A further feature relates to an improved paper feed and moisture control arrangement for a continuous strip telefacsimile scanner. A still further feature relates to the novel organization, arrangement and relative location of parts which constitute an improved telefacsimile recorder which is compact in form and rugged in 40 construction thus rendering it particularly useful for continuous operation, for example in news distribution and the like. Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will be apparent after a considera- 5 tion of the following detailed descriptions and the appended claims.

While certain particular embodiments of the invention will be illustrated, it will be understood 50 that this is done merely for explanatory purposes and not by way of limitation and various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the drawings: 55 Fig. 1 is an elevational view, particularly in section, of a teleiacsimile recorder embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sect onal view of Fig. 1 along the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. i.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the paper feed idler rollers with its locking and releasing mechanism.

Flg. 5 is a sectional view of Pi 4 al line 5-5. I one the Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the feed rollers and the manner of mounting and fastening to the flexible shaft.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Pig. 6 along the line 1-1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional line 8-.

Fig. 9 is a sectional line 99.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the stylus l0 and stylus holder.

Fig. 11 is a front view of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modification of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a telefacsimile recorder the scanner or recording portion of which may be supported on the top wall I of an enclosing box or housing 2. Top i is provided with a continuous slit I of semi-circular shape to allow the recording web or paper strip I to so emerge. therethrough in transversely arcuate form as will be described hereinbelow.

Suitably secured to the top R is a cylindrical drum consisting of a ring I of insulation material such as fibre, hard rubber, Bakelite or the 85 like, and a cylindrical metal flange i; flange i being fastened to ring 5 so that the outer or convex peripheral faces of members i and 5 are flush with each other. The periphery of member 6 is provided with a series of spaced openings 7 and mounted adjacent each opening is a knurled feed roller 0, the feed rollers being driven in unison by a flexible shaft 9 arranged in circular form around the interior of member 6. As shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, each feed roller is provided on opposite sides with integral bearing members M, II, for rotation in the associated bearing brackets l2, l3, fastened to the inner face of member 6. The flexible shaft 8 passes through each roller which is fastened thereto by a set to screw I 4.

0n the opposite diameter to one of the feed rollers is a ratchet wheel II which is fastened to the ends of the flexible shaft 0 in a manner similar to the fastening of the feed rollers thereto. as

16 view of Fig. 1 along the view of Fig. 1 along the Mountedin radial alignment with feed rollers 8- are corresponding idler rollers i3, each of which is rotatably mounted in a bracket l1 swiveled at IS on a corresponding support l9 fastened to top Each idler roller is adapted to be held in frictional contact with the record strip 4 by a. spring 28 (Fig. 4). For the purpose of locking the idler rollers against the record strip, there is provided a ring 2| the outer peripheral face of which has a circumferential guiding groove to receive slidably an arcuate lip 22 on member 23 the latter being fastened to member l9 by screws 24. Preferably, there is a guiding member 22 mounted on each of the members I!) as shown in Fig. 3. Ring 2| is slidably rotatable on member l9 and is guided by the lips 22. The inner peripheral face of ring 2| adjacent each of the brackets I1 is provided with an inclined key-way or cam slot 25 (Fig. 5) in which rides the key 26 carried by bracket Consequently, merely by turning the ring 2| in one direction or the other, the idler rollers can all be moved in unison towards or away from the recording strip 4.

Each of the members I9 has its inner face provided with a slot 21 to receive the outer margin of a flat rotatable ring 28. Ring 28 is supported for anti-frictional rotation on a plurality of sets of V-shaped rollers 29, 30, which are rotatably mounted on the associated member I9 so that their bearing edges engage the opposite sides of ring 28 to support the latter during its rotation. If desired, ring 28 may be provided on opposite sides with shallow circumferential grooves wherein the rollers 29, 30 may ride. Attached to the inner margin of ring 28 and at diametrically opposite points thereof, are two stylus holders 3|, 32, each carrying a stylus 33 adjustably fastened in place. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the stylus 33 is imbedded in a curved shoe 33 of insulating material, the shoe being fastened to an arm 38 which is slidably mounted in a slot 33 in the holder 3|. The outer or recording end .of the stylus is exposed and if desired, may prospring 33 having one end fastened to member 3|, and the other end is provided with a threaded portion 33 through which is adjustably threaded the stop 33 Arm 33 is also provided with a pin 33 for engagement with a track member 33 As shown in Fig. 3, the track 33 is made in two telescoping sections 33 and 33 which are supported by arms 33 from the member 6. Arms 33 and 33 are telescoped so as to vary the peripheral extent of the track around the memher 6. As shown in Fig. 3 the ends of the sections 33 and 33 are inclined so that when they engage the pins 33 the stylus is cammed radially outwardly away from contact with the'record strip. Thus as shown in Fig. 3, just as the carrier 32 is about to leave thestrip 4, the end of track 33 engages pin 33 thus preventing undesirable contact between the stylus and the nzeimber 3 when the stylus leaves the recording s r p.

As will be seen further in-Fig. 1, the stylus ring 28 is so mounted that each stylus is in registry with the ring electrode 34 embedded in the periphery of ring 5. Electrode 34 may be of carbon or other suitable conductive material and connection may be made thereto by means of a suitable binding post 35.

Ring 28, while it surrounds ring 5 is spaced therefrom so as to allow the record web or strip 4 to pass freely, it being understood that the said strip is of any material well known in the facsimile art capable of producing a permanent record when current corresponding to the tele: facsimile signals is passed from the stylus 33 through the record strip to the electrode 34. For example, the record strip 4 may be of chemically treated paper, or the like well known in the facsimile art. Under certain conditions, it is desirable to preserve the moisture content of the record strip as nearly uniform as possible, and for this purpose the record strip is stored in the form of a roll 36 wound on a suitable core 31 supported for rotation on studs 38. Preferably, a friction brake is provided so that the roller does not unroll too freely. This brake may take the humidor preferably of sheet metal and comprise.

ing a cylindrical storage section 48 closed at both ends by removable cover plates 4|, 42, to allow ,the roll to be inserted. The cover plates may carry the roller stud bearings 33. The section 40 is provided with a longitudinal opening 43 through which the record strip passes. The

humidor also has a curved trough-like section 44 shown in cross section in Figs. land 9, this section being formed of a sheet metal member having a curved wall closed at the front by a removable cover plate 45 so that the paper can be conveniently threaded through the slot 3. The paper trough may be fastened to the top by means of suitable flanges 46 and preferably the humidor is such that when the cover 45 is fastened in" place the paper is enclosed in a substantially moisture-proof manner except for the small clearance at the slot 3 through which paper is fed. a F

I have found that the feeding of the paper is best achieved by maintaining the part of the paper between the roll and the slot 3 out of contact with the walls of the trough-like portion 44 of the humidor, and preferably the parts are so arranged that the paper is unreeled from the roll 36 at a point laterally displaced from the slot 3 as shown more-clearly in Figs. 1, 8 and 9 of the drawing. In other words, the paper between the point where it is paid off from the roll and the point where it passes through the slot 3 is freely suspended within the humidor housing. This is particularly important where moist or damp paper is employed since otherwise the ad-.

humldor might interfere with the proper feeding movement thereof.

In order to effect the timed feeding of the record strip with respect to the recording movement of the stylus '33 and in order to revolve the stylus, there is provided a suitable motor 41 which may be of the synchronous type and mounted on the top i interiorly of the ring 5. The motor shaft 48 is connected through suitable reduction gearing 49 and appropriate bevelled gears 50 to a countershaft 5| which is mounted for rotation in a suitable bearing bracket 52. 'Shaft 5| has fastened thereto a pinion 53 which meshes with the rack teeth formed in the outer peripheral surface of the ring 28. Ring 28 therefore serves not only to carry the recording stylus but also serves as a circular rack which is driven by the pinion 53. Thus the stylus 33 is revolved around the axis of the ring 5 at a continuously uniform rate of speed determined by the speed of recording. Inasmuch as the stylus 33 when it is recording, is in actual contact with the record strip 4 it is important that the said strip be fed in a step-bystep movement and that this feeding occur only when the styllus is out of contact with the strip. For this purpose, there is provided a pawl 54 which engages the ratchet wheel 53. Pawl 54 is pivotally carried on an arm 55 which is mounted for vertical reciprocal motion in a bracket 55. Arm 55 is normally pressed downwardly by means of a spring 51 located between the bracket 56 and a suitable shoulder 58 on the said arm. Arm 55 also carries at its lower end a roller or cam follower 59 which is adapted to be engaged by cams 60, 8|, carried by ring 28. Each cam is located on the ring 28 so that it engages the member 59 just after one of the styli has left the edge of the strip 4 and just before the other stylus is about to engage the said strip. Thus, during this indexing interval, the arm 55 is forced upwardly to rotate the ratchet wheel l5 a predetermined distance. Wheel I5 being coupled to the flexible shaft l9 also transmits its rotary movement to the feed rollers 8. It will be understood of course that the ratchet wheel i5 is provided with any suitable and well-known means for preventing back-lash and preferably also ratchet wheel I5 is provided with any suitable form of friction brake. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the wheel l5 may be provided with a peripherally grooved shoulder 62 which is encircled by a friction band or cord 63. One end of band 63 may be fastened directly to the bracket 56 and the other and may be fastened to the said bracket through a tension spring 64.

The manner of operation of the recorder will be obvious to those familiar with facsimile recording art. Suffice it to say that prior to setting the mechanism in operation, cover plate 45 is removed and one or both of the closure members 4| is removed whereupon the paper roll 36 is inserted within the humidor section 40. The cover plates 4| may then be placed in condition and the paper threaded through opening 43 and then curved transversely until it assumes a substantial semi-circular shape whereupon it may be threaded through the semi-circular slot 3 and upwardly between the members 5 and 28 and between the feed rollers 8 and the idler rollers iii. For this latter purpose, the ring 2| may be rotated to unlock the rollers l6 to facilitate the initial insertion of the strip, whereupon the ring 2! may be rotated in the opposite direction to lock the rollers 16 in place against the 4|, 42 and 45 may then be fastened in place. The received telefacsimile signals after suitable amplification and/or detection are impressed across the two styli 33 and the ring 84 and the motor 41 may be started in operation to revolve the styli around the transversely curved recording strip 4. Assuming that the strip 4 is curved so as to embrace approximately 180 of the surface of ring 5, then each stylus 33 will be arranged to scan or record on successive parallel linear elements of the strip 4. In other words, just as one styli is leaving the strip 4 and just before the other stylus is about to engage the strip 4, the ratchet wheel i5 is given an impulse to rotate the feeding rollers 8 thus advancing the strip 4 the width of a linear element, whereupon the next stylus is ready to record on the strip. By means of the inclined end of the section 33*, just as the recording stylus is about to leave the strip 4, it is forced radially outwardly and is maintained in its outer position by the track 33. Likewise, just as the other stylus is about to engage the strip 4, it rides off the inclined end of the section 33 If the strip 4 embraces more or less than one-half the circumference of the member 6, then the track 33 can be correspondingly adjusted by reason of its telescoped character so as to disengage one stylus from the strip 4 during the portion of its rotation where it is not recording. It will be understood of course that the motor 41 is rotated in synchronism with the scanning or analyzing equipment at the transmitter, the styll continuing to rotate and record until thecomplete message is reproduced on the strip 4. If desired, the entire mechanism may be enclosed in a suitable housing provided with a Window in one of its walls past which the strip 4 passes.

While the mechanism for feeding the recording strip 4 has been disclosed above in connection with a recorder wherein the recording is done on the convex peripheral surface of a transversely curved record sheet 4, it will be understood that the invention is equally Well applicable to a recorder of the type where the recording is done on the inner or concave surface of the curved strip. For details of such a recorder, reference may be had to my prior application Serial No. 195,486. A typical arrangement of this character is schematically illustrated in Fig. 12 wherein the parts which are similar to those of Fig. 1, bear the corresponding designation numerals. Thus the paper or record strip 4 is threaded through a semi-circular slot 3 in the wall i and is maintained against the inner concave face of a ring 65 which has embedded on its inner face a conducting ring 88 similar to the ring 3 3 (Fig. l). A suitable curved paper guide or guides 61 may be mounted on the wall I to maintain the recording strip 4 in its transverse arcuate curved shape against the inner face of ring 65. The paper 4 is fed or indexed by means of the ratchet wheel l5 which is fastened to the circular flexible shaft 9 which in turn carries the knurled feed rollers 8 as above described. The motor 41 through suitable gearing 49 rotates an arm 61 which carries at each end a stylus 33 in alignment with the electrode 66. For the purpose of indexing the ratchet wheel l5, the motor also rotates an arm 68 which carries the cams 50 and SI for operating the ratchet 54. The remainder of the embodiment of Fig. 12 may be the same as that of Fig. l, and further description thereof is not believed necesstrip. The cover plates sary. It will be noted that each of the styli 33 75.

records on the inner or concave surface of the transversely curved strip I and the strip is indexed in a step-by-step fashion during the interval when both of the styli are out of engagement therewith. It will be understood of course that the showing in Fig. 12 is essentially diagrammatic and that the various supports for the parts and the paper supply and humidor are omitted for the sake of clarity in the drawings.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the invention has been described in connection with a recorder of the electro-chemical type, it will be understood that the feeding mechanism and related parts are equally well applicable to recorders 'of the electrooptical type. For example, the strip 4 may be in the form of a sensitized photographic film and the ring 28 instead of carrying a pair of styli may carry a pair of light sources modulated by the telefacsimile signals, the light sources of course being provided with wellknown apertured masks to limit the exposure of the film 4 to successive elemental light spots. It will be understood of course, that with this type of recorder,'the entire mechanism must be used in a photographic dark room or enclosed in a light-proof housing. If desired, one or more of the feed rollers 8 may have their surfaces curved or inclined so as to conform to the curvature of the strip 0 and if desired, two oppositely disposed feed rollers may be inclined so that during their feeding movement they tend to maintain the paper taut around the member 6 as described in detail in said application Serial No. 195,486. Likewise while the feed rollers 8 are shown disposed on the interior of member 6 and the idler rollers it are shown on the exterior of the said member 6, it will be understood that the position of these rollers may be reversed. That is to say, the flexible shaft 8 may be mounted so that it surrounds the outer periphery of the member 6. The feed rollers 8 will then engage the outer surface of the strip 4 and the idler rollers I6 will engage the inner or concave surface of the strip.

What I claim is:

1. A telefacsimile recorder including a cylindrical drum having a conductive strip electrode insulatingly mounted around the periphery thereof and having its concave surface exposed to the interior of the drum, a shaft mounted substantially concentrically within said drum, a

stylus arm extending radially from said shaft and rotatable interiorly of said drum, and a recording stylus carried by the end of said arm facing the concave surface of said strip.

2. A telefacsimile scanner including a curved support to support a record strip to be scanned, and means to feed said strip along said support comprising a plurality of feed rollers in contact with said strip, a common flexible driving shaft curved to correspond with the curvature of said support and to which all said rollers are fastened for rotation therewith, and means to rotate said flexible shaft to advance said strip.

v3. telefacsimile scanner including means to form a record strip into a transversely curved shape, and means to feed said strip while in its curved shape past a scanning device, the lastmentioned means including a plurality of feed rollers to engage said strip, said feed rollers being arranged around the curved portion of the strip, a common flexible drive shaft to which said rollers are fastened for rotation therewith, and

means to rotate said flexible shaft to advance said strip.

4. In combination, means to form' an elongated strip into transversely curved shape, and means to feed said strip in the direction of its length, the last-mentioned means including a plurality of feed rollers bearing against the sheet, a common curved flexible shaft to which said rollers are fastened for rotation therewith, and means to rotate said flexible shaft to advance said strip.

5. In combination, means to form an elongated strip into transversely curved shape, and means to feed said strip in the direction of its length, the last-mentioned means including a plurality of rollers mounted to roll in planes parallel to the feeding movement of said strip, said rollers being mounted so that their axes of rotation are at an angle to each other, a common flexible drive shaft for said rollers and to which said rollers are fastened for rotation therewith, and means to rotate said flexible shaft to advance said strip.

6. In a telefacsimile scanner, a curved support for supporting a record sheet therearound, and means to feed the sheet along the support comprising a plurality of feed rollers engaging the sheet, said rollers being circumferentially spaced around the periphery of said support, a curved flexible drive shaft to which said rollers are fastened for rotation therewith, and means to rotate said flexible shaft to advance said sheet.

7. A scanner according to claim 6 in which said feed rollers have roughened driving faces.

8. A scanner according to claim 6 in which a pivoted idler roller is mounted adjacent each feed roller to engage the sheet on the opposite side from that engaged by the adjacent feed roller.

9. A facsimile scanner comprising a ring electrode, a recording stylus, a carrier for supporting said stylus in coaxial relation around the convex surface of said ring and means to feed a recording web between said stylus and said ring, the last-mentioned means including a curved flexible driving shaft with the same curvature as said ring, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotating said shaft.

10. A scanner according to claim 9 in which a rotating cam is rotated with said carrier to operate the pawl and ratchet mechanism in timed relation to the rotation of the recording stylus.

11. A scanner according to claim 9 in which said carrier is provided with a cam for operating the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

12. A web feeding mechanism for a facsimil scanner comprising means to support the web in transversely curved shape, a plurality of knurled feed rollers surrounding the curved web and engaging one face of said curved web, a curved flexible driving shaft for operating said feed rollers, means to rotate said shaft to advance the web, a plurality of idler rollers mounted adjacent the feed rollers to engage the opposite surface of the curved web, and means to move all the idler rollers as a unit into and out of engagement with the web.

13. In a mechanism of the character described, a scanning device having a curved support for a recording web, a pay-off reel for said web, a completely enclosed humidor housing for said reel and for the web between the reel and the scanning device, a curved slot through which said web is fed to said scanning device and means to mount the reel in relation to said slot so that the portion of the web between the reel and slot is offset with respect to said curved support whereby said portion is freely suspended within the housing out of contact with the walls thereof.

14. In a mechanism 0! the character described, a scanning drum for scanning an elongated record strip while in transversely arcuate form, a pay-off reel for said strip mounted with its axis perpendicular to the axis of said drum, a completely enclosed humidor housing for said reel and for the portion of said strip between the reel and the scanning drum and positioned so that the pay-off portion of the reel is offset laterally with respect to the periphery of said drum whereby said portion of the strip is freely suspended within said housing out of contact with the walls thereof.

15. A facsimile scanner including a curved support to support a record strip to be scanned, a rotatable scanner for scanning the concave surface of said strip, and means to feed said strip along said support comprising a plurality of feed rollers in contact with said strip, a common curved flexible drive shaft to which said rollers are fastened for rotation therewith, and means to rotate said flexible shaft to advance the strip.

16. A stylus arrangement for a teleiacsimile scanner, comprising a stylus support, an arm slidably mounted in said support, said arm carrying a stylus at one end, and a resilient stop for the other end of the said arm, and means for adjusting the position of said stop with respect to said stylus.

17. A stylus arrangement according to claim 16 in which said stop is adiustably carried by a spring support.

18. A stylus according to claim 16 in which the stylus arm carries a curved insulating shoe in which the stylus point is embedded.

ARTHUR C. RUSTAD.

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