US3359566A

US3359566A - Motor action capillary

Info

Publication number: US3359566A
Application number: US569463A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel J Donalies
Original assignee: Xerox Corp
Current assignee: Xerox Corp
Priority date: 1966-08-01
Filing date: 1966-08-01
Publication date: 1967-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-19
Also published as: DE1537562B2; DE1537562A1; GB1196932A

Description

Dec. 19, 1967 D. J. DONALIES 3,359,566

MOTOR ACTION CAPILLARY Filed Aug. 1, 1966 ELECTRICAL SIGNAL SOURCE ELECTRODE MAG NET N S MAGNET I I /6 ELECTRODE INVENTOR. FIG 2 DANIEL J. DONALIES A TTORNEYS United States Patent York Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 569,463 3 Claims. (Cl. 346140) This invention relates to apparatus for recording information and, in particular, to recording information in the form of electrical signals or pulses on paper or the like with ink.

More specifically, this invention relates to the art of recording facsimile signals with droplets of ink on paper or record receiving material in response to electrical signals received from a remote source. In the art of facsimile reproduction, the copy to be reproduced is scanned in a manner which will create electrical signals indicative of dark and light areas on the original copy. For example, a spot of light is moved across the surface of the document to be scanned and light reflected from the surface of the document is used to activate a photocell or similar device. When the light is reflected from a light colored spot on the paper, the photocell is actuated and when the light spot encounters a dark area on the paper, the photocell is not actuated thus electrical signals can be produced depending on whether or not the photocell has seen reflected light or in response to the amount of reflected light that the photocell has received. The electrical signals are transmitted to a remote location where they are translated into light and dark spots on a piece of paper to produce a facsimile of the original document. The present invention pertains to a device which is responsive to such signals to lay down a spot of ink on a sheet of material such as paper. Thus, if the scanning of the original document is in small incremental areas and electrical pulses indicative of dark areas are transmitted, then a drop of ink placed on the copy sheet which is in response to that signal will produce a dark area on the copy sheet in the same relative position as the incremental area scanned.

Although there are many ink depositing devices known in the art, the present invention provides a novel method for controlling the flow of the liquid or ink through a capillary by utilizing the forces created when an electric current is passed through a conductor in a magnetic field. In the present invention an electrical current is made to flow through a conductive liquid material which is positioned perpendicular to a magnetic field. The conductor, which in this case is the recording ink, will experience a force which will act perpendicular to both the current flow and the flux of the magnetic field. The force experienced is utilized to apply drops of ink to the surface of a paper or recording medium in response to the electrical current. Thus, if the electrical current applied to the conductive ink is related to the electrical pulses received, then the ink deposited will correspond to the incremental areas as scanned on the original document.

It is the principal object of this invention to produce a facsimile reproduction of an original document by means of ink droplets deposited on a sheet of paper or the like in response to electrical pulses.

It is a further object of this invention to deposit droplets of ink in accordance with the electrical signals.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a recording device which utilizes a magnetic field and an electric current in the recording medium to produce ink droplets in response to electrical pulses.

These and other objects of this invention are obtained by means of a capillary positioned adjacent to a copy sheet in a magnetic field and having a pair of electrodes capable of transmitting current through a conductive liquid in the capillary. Electrically pulsing the electrodes pro- 3,359,566 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 duces a force on the conductive liquid longitudinal to the direction of the capillary, resulting in movement and droplets of the liquid material onto the copy sheet.

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is bad to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a recording device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inking capillary used in the device shown in FIG. 1.;

In facsimile recordings, marks are made on a sheet of copy paper in response to electrical signals received from a remote source. There are various approaches to producing the marks on the paper. For example, an electric spark may be used to produce a mark from carbon paper onto the copy paper, or an electrolytic reaction on the copy paper may be used to produce discoloration, or selectively discharging an electrostatic charge on a photoconductive surface, and, as in the present invention, selectively depositing droplets of ink in accordance with electrical signals.

The invention disclosed herein pertains to inking type or recorder and basically consists of supplying conductive liquid ink through a capillary to the surface of a copy sheet. The capillary is positioned in and perpendicular to a magnetic field and has an electric current passed through the ink perpendicular to the capillary. By pulsing the current passing through the ink, droplets are caused to be deposited on the surface of the paper or support material. FIGURE 2 shows the walls 10 of a capillary tube 12 and the north and south poles of a magnet 14 positioned adjacent to the capillary 12. The ink is intended to flow down through the capillary tube 12 into contact with the surface of the copy paper. The capillary is sized so that the ink will not flow without some added force. A pair of electrodes 16 and 18- extend through the walls 10 into contact with the ink inside the capillary. When an electric current is placed on the

electrodes

16 and 18 through the ink and the capillary 12, the ink is caused to flow through the capillary depositing on the surface of the copy material.

It is well known that a current carrying conductor in a transverse magnetic field has a force exerted upon it. The magnitude of the force is dependent upon the strength of the field and the magnitude of the current. This is the principle which is the basis for the operation of electric motors and generators. It is also the principle upon which the present invention relies for the motive force which produces droplets to be deposited on the copy paper. In this application the current carrying conductor are the

electrodes

16 and 18 and the conductive ink in the capillary 12. As seen in FIGURE 2, the conductive ink will form a closed circuit between the two

electrodes

16 and 18. The transversed magnetic field is produced by the electro-magnets 14 placed on each side of the capillary 12 and connected to a source of electrical current, not shown. In FIGURE 1 a signal source 20 is connected to the

electrodes

16 and 18 by a pair of

lead wires

22 and 24, respectively. The electrical signal source 20 is only shown schematically since it does not constitute part of the invention herein and is well known in the art. The electrical signals can originate from a remote source such as a facsimile scanning device or may be produced from a computer or a magnetic tape storage device.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is a rotatable drum 24 adapted to have a sheet of paper or record receiving material wrapped about its outer surface. The drum 14 is journaled for rotation by a motor MOT-1 at a speed which is usually synchronized with the movement of an original document past a facsimile scanning station at a remote location; The motor MOT-Lalso drives a lead screw 26 which advances a support block or nut 28 along the length of the drum 24.The block 28 supports the capillary '12 adjacent to the drum 24. As the "drum rotates through one revolution, one line or incremental,

area of the copy paper passes beneath the tip of the capillary 12,- and'as the lead-screw rotates, the capillary 12 of copy paper istrave'rsed by successive rotations of the drum 24. Above the capillary 12 there is mounted an ink reservoir 30 containing a supply of electrically conductive ink32;siich"as, for. example; Chart Recording Ink sold by the Esterbrook Company or any ink that has adequate'electrical'conductivity.' v

When anelectrical'pulse is produced in

lines

22 and 24 through the

electrodes

16 and 18, zawforceis created along the length of the conductor herein the electrode is advanced'in even increments so. that the entire; sheet 16,"the ink'supply, and the electrode 1S'.'With the magneticfield oriented so that the-lines oftforce extend from left to right between the magnets as seen inFIG. '2 and the current' flows from'the electrode 16 tothe electrode 18, thenthe. forcelon' the'in'k'i's 'produced' in the direction which will'cause the ink to flow towards the record receiv- 1 tion, both the 'direction of the current and the flux I3 0 throughthe capillary maybe reversed without changing the-direction of 'force exerted on the, ink. Ifthe current passihgfthrbhgh the electro-rnagnet is reversed periodically and the current passing through the ink is also reversed in synchronism Withthemagnetic field the force on the ink 'willbe in thesarne direction at all times. The function of each of the electrodes-in the capillary will alternatefbetween' bei'ng'ac'athode and an anode thus preventing theplating-out 'of metal. It may' be desirable to reversethe current in the electro magnet and the signal 'current at'the end of each line of scan or at the end of each-document thereby'reversing the cathode andthe anode and preventing any plating-out of the metal.

While the'inv'ention has been described with reference to the structuredisclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set-forth; and this application is intended to cover such modifications-or" changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope ofthe following claims; i

What is claimed is: I

1. A recording apparatus of the type wherein information in the tor-n1 of electrical signals is recorded on receiving sheets-by thedeposition of drops of ink including a capillary tube positioned adjacent to a record receiving-sheet with anopen end closely spaced from the surface of the sheet,

means to supply an electrically conductive ink to the capillary, v

a pair of magnets positioned adjacent to the capillary in position to provide a field of flux at right angles to the capillary, i

apair of electrodes extending into the capillary into contact with fluid in the base of the capillary, and

means to pass electrical current through the electrodes in accordance with electrical causes the ink to flow.

2. Axrecording apparatus of the typewherein information in the form ofelectrical signals is recorded on record receiving sheets or the like'by'deposition of drops 'of ink including means to support a record receiving sheet;

a capillary tube capable of containing a conductive ink positioned adjacent to the support means and having anopen-end closely spaced tromthe surface of a record receiving member on the support means, means to supply electrically conductive ink to the capillary, means to create a magnet field perpendicular to the capillary tube, i 1 v I a .pair of electrodes positioned perpendicularto the capillary and extendinginto the capillaryinto contact with the'conductive ink therein, 1 1

means to electrically energize the .electrode'siin response to electrical signals; andr means; to produce scanning movement between the capillaryand the supportmeans; s

3. The apparatusof claim 2 wherein the means to support a'record-receiving sheet includes ,a rotatable. drum adapted to hold a record receiving sheet and-the means toproduce scanning movement between, the capillary and'thetsu'pport means includes a dry means to rotate the rotatable; drum and a means to move the capillary tube longitudinallyalong' thesurfa-ce of the drum as'the drum is rotated? to thereby advance the capillary a given-distance forfleach, revolution of the drum.

I .1- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,882,(l4 3' 10/1932 Schroter 178-96 3,289,2l1 11/1966 Klavsons et a1. 3.46 TRICHA RD Bt WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

no. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner.

signals received which

Claims

1. A RECORDING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE WHEREIN INFORMATION IN THE FORM OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALS IS RECORDED ON RECEIVING SHEETS BY THE DEPOSITION OF DROPS OF INK INCLUDING A CAPILLARY TUBE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO A RECORD RECEIVING SHEET WITH AN OPEN END CLOSELY SPACED FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SHEET, MEANS TO SUPPLY AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE INK TO THE CAPILLARY, A PAIR OF MAGNETS POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE CAPILLARY IN POSITION TO PROVIDE A FIELD OF FLUX AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE CAPILLARY, A PAIR OF ELECTRODES EXTENDING INTO THE CAPILLARY INTO CONTACT WITH FLUID IN THE BASE OF THE CAPILLARY, AND MEANS TO PASS ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH THE ELECTRODES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ELECTRICAL SIGNALS RECEIVED WHICH CAUSES THE INK TO FLOW.