US3903526A

US3903526A - Recording apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3903526A
Application number: US403824A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Cotter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-09-10
Filing date: 1973-10-05
Publication date: 1975-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-02

Abstract

The recording medium is preferably a drafting film which has been printed with dark ink, and recording is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by selectively removing the ink using a fine stream of abrasive particles. These abrasive particles impinge on the recording medium to produce a record on the medium. The expended abrasive and ink residue is removed by a collection apparatus, including a vacuum manifold and a pressure manifold, which deposits the abrasive and residue in a collection chamber. A demand feed ink jet is selectively operated for erasing by redepositing ink in the desired pattern.

Description

United States Patent Cotter Sept. 2, 1975 [54] RECORDING APPARATUS 3,621,967 11/1971 Brown 197/18 3,683,212 8 1972 Z01 346 7 [76] Inventor: William L. Cotter, PO. Box 2045, 5 X

Salem, Mass. 01970 Primary Examiner-Joseph W. Hartary [22] Flled: 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks [21] Appl. No.: 403,824

Related U.S. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 395,822, Sept. 10, The recording medium is preferably a drafting m 1973 abandoned which has been printed with dark ink, and recording is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by selec- [52] 346/21 51/8 346/139 R tively removing the ink using a fine stream of abrasive Clparti ese as e p c es on the re [58] Field of Search ....l.{346/21,91 46,8l39 R, cording medium to produce a record on the medium 51/ 3] 17 B The expended abrasive and ink residue is removed by a collection apparatus, including a vacuum manifold [56] References cued and a pressure manifold, which deposits the abrasive NI D STATES PATENTS and residue in a collection chamber. A demand feed 2,384,515 9/1945 Wise 346/21 ink jet is selectively operated for erasing by redeposit- 3,237,748 3/1966 Rifldn 197/181 ing ink in the desired pattern. 3,309,712 3/1967 Cole 346/21 X 3,440,775 4/1969 Thomas 51/319 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures l T T T T 1 ABRASIVE ABRASIVE FEED DISPENSER VAg/E 29 g TO WRITE CONTROL u u l LOGIC 82 l FlLTER W I I VACUUM I PRESSURE PUMP PAIENIEII 2 I975 RECORDING MEDIUM SUBSTRATE OR HOLlgER RECORDER SIIEET 1 [IF 2 RECORDING MEDIUM IO FIG. I

ABRASIVE FEED LINE 1 VACUUM LINE 1 PRESSURE LINE 1 I I I I I I I --ENcooER PULSES RECORD/ERASE HEAD FIG. 2

ABRASIVE DISPENSER TO WRITE CONTROL LOGIC VACUUM PRESSURE PUMP FIG 3 PULS E GENERATOR INK SUPPLY 5 ERASE CONTROL ANOD 2e, ENCODER 0 Y ENCODER PULSES PULSES 29 N 94 X ENCODER PULSES PAIEI-IIEII SEP 2 975 NOZZLE SHEET 2 BF 2 PRESSURIZED APBgSD|E /RE\ MIXIN CHAMBER 44 64 ABRASIVE FEED VALVE MIXING SOLENOID 3/ VIBRATOR 6O AREA 56 TO CONTROL LOGIC RECORDING APPARATUS RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 395,822 filed Sept. 10, 1973.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a recording apparatus and associated method of recording data on an inked film. This invention is also directed to a recording apparatus that readily performs both the re cording and erasing operations, and that can be used with a variety of different recording media such as photographic film or glass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many methods that presently exist for recording information on a recording medium. These methods and apparatus generally do not provide the ability of both recording and deleting data from the same medium without the use ofa scheme such as manual deletion. Many times the presence of an error is corrected by identifying the error and then reproducing the entire record. This is, of course, time consuming and costly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus and method of recording which is compatible with both the addition and deletion of information from a recording medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of recording data on a recording medium and which is of a permanent nature.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which may be used with a larger variety of recording media such as drafting film photographic film, glass, etc. Any of the recording methods presently used do not have this capability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention there is provided an apparatus for recording on a medium printed with an ink film. This apparatus generally comprises a supply of particles of an abrasive material, means coupled to the supply for expelling the particles from the supply under pressure, a nozzle, and means coupled intermediate the supply and nozzle for Selectively directing the abrasive material in a confined stream against the medium.

In the disclosed embodiment the supply of particles comprises a vibrator and means for mixing a pressurized gas with the abrasive particles to expel] the particles from the supply. The means for selectively directing the abrasive material may be a solenoid that is both air and electrically operated to either block or allow the passage of the carrier gas and the abrasive material.

The dispensing nozzle is preferably surrounded by a vacuum manifold. The abrasive particles which bounce off the recording surface, as well as the removed ink particles, are collected by the vacuum manifold. This residue is transported by the flow of air in the vacuum line to a collection chamber where the residue is deposited. In the disclosed embodiment the vacuum manifold is, in turn, surrounded by a pressure manifold which dispenses a high velocity stream of air in the shape of an annulus around the recording area. The pressure manifold establishes a pressure barrier to prevent the escape of abrasive material and aids in directing or funneling the material to the vacuum manifold. When the recording medium is a film, or paper, the pressure manifold aids also in preventing the vacuum from lifting the recording medium from its mounting surface.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention recording is accomplished by abraiding the ink film, and a demand feed ink jet is used to deposit ink over areas which were previously removed during the recording process. However, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention the method of this invention can also be practiced, in one embodiment, by using a film that has not been printed with ink. With this arrangement the recording is accomplished by the use of, for example, a demand feed ink jet and erasing is accomplished by means of the abrasive nozzle discussed hercinabove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Numerous other Objects, features and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the writing head shown in FIG. I along with the abrasive feed valve and abrasive dispenser;

FIG. 3 shows the erase structure associated with the writing head of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows in more detail the abrasive dispenser of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a recording medium 10 supported by a holder 12. In the disclosed embodiment the recording medium is preferably a drafting film that has been printed with a black ink. Writing is accomplished by se lectively removing the ink and erasing is accomplished by reapplying the ink to previously recorded areas.

FIG. 1 also shows the writing head 14 and erase head 16 which is illustratively depicted as an inkjet l8 terminating in a dispensing nozzle 20.

The writing head and erase head are normally commonly mounted on a mechanism which allows the heads to be moved over the surface of the recording medium. By controlling the motion of the head and the times at which these heads are operated, the recorder may be caused to draw lines, figures, or other graphic information. If data. once written, is to be deleted, an erase signal is coupled to the erase head causing the erase head to move into the relative position originally occupied by the recording device. An offset value may be introduced into the head-moving mechanism for controlling during the erase procedure. As depicted in FIG. 1, and discussed in more detail hereinafter the writing head couples to a vacuum line, a pressure line, and a feed line. The erase head is controlled from a pulse generator 24 whose output couples to coil 19 of the inkjet 18. The ink jet 18 also couples to an ink supply 28.

FIG. 2 shows in more detail the writing head 14. FIG. 2 also shows the abrasive feed valve 30 and abrasive dispenser 40. The abrasive dispenser is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. The dispenser 40 generally includes a pressurized gas supply 42, a mixing chamber 44, and

pressure regulator

46 and 48. The mixing chamber 44 includes a top portion 50 for containing the abrasive powder 52.

A feed-tube 54 which is open at its ends couples to a relatively small mixing compartment 56. A vibrator 60 is disposed at the bottom of chamber 44 for vibrating the powder 52 and causing the abrasive powder to be fed down tube 54 to compartment 56. A pressurized gas from supply 42 by way of regulator 46 is also coupled to compartment 56 for mixing with the abrasive powder. The mixture is expelled by way of conduit 64 when the abrasive feed-valve 30 is operated.

The abrasive feed-valve 30 is both electrically and gas operated and the regulator 48 which also coupled to valve 30 is for reducing the supply pressure to a value required by the valve 30. The valve 30 also includes a solenoid 31 which is electrically operated from control logic not shown in FIG. 4, and when the solenoid 31 is activated, the valve 30 is opened to permit the abrasive powder to be fed to nozzle 20.

The solenoid 31 shown in FIG. 4 may be controlled as disclosed by my copending application for selectively writing by means of expelling the pressurized abrasive against the recording medium.

FIG. 2 shows the writing head 14 in more detail. In FIG. 2 the head 14 includes the nozzle 20. This nozzle can be provided in different sizes depending upon the thickness of the line that is to be drawn. The abrasive nozzle is surrounded by a vacuum manifold 75 which collects the expended abrasive material after impingement on the recording surface, as well as the ink particles removed from the surface. The expended powder is returned by means of a vacuum line 76 to a collector 80. The vacuum line also continues through a filter 82 which prevents the abrasive material from entering the vacuum-pressure pump 86. Another vacuum section 88 couples to the pressure manifold 90 which surrounds the vacuum manifold 75. The nozzle 20 and

manifolds

75 and 90 are preferably concentrically arranged.

The pressure manifold 90 serves at least two purposes. One purpose is to establish a pressure barrier which aids in funneling the expended abrasive into the vacuum manifold. The other purpose is to prevent the vacuum manifold from causing the recording medium to lift off its mounting surface because of the flow of air across the recording surface.

It is preferred that the powder be expended at a pressure of approximately 20-40 lbs. per square inch. The pressure used can be varied to control the line density. In FIG. 4 the regulator 46 can be used for controlling the speed of cutting or abraiding of the recording medium. Also, different grades of abrasive powder can be applied to vary the density of the recorded data.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the ink dispensing or erasing mechanism in the form of a demand ink jet 18, ink supply 28, and control means 29. The control means includes a pulse generator 24 which provides the proper amplitude pulse and proper shaped pulse for driving the coil 19 of the ink jet. The pulse generator is activated from gate 92 which is an AND gate receiving an erase control signal on line 93 and another signal from OR gate 94. As long as the erase control signal is present on line 93, and each time an encoder pulse appears then a pulse is generated from generator 24. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3, which is similar to the drawing shown in my copending application both X and Y pulses enable gate 94.

These pulses typically occur for every movement of 0.0025 inches in either axis. As the deposited ink spe size may approximately be 0.010 inches in diameter a line is then deposited on the recording medium as the head moves.

In FIG. 3 the ink jet 18 may be a glass capillary tube which is drawn to a small orifice tip. The coil 19 may be in the form of a ferro electric coating to which two leads are attached. A pulse or voltage applied between the two leads causes a mechanical compression of the ferro electric material and the glass capillary which forces a drop of ink from the capillary tip. This process is repeated at high speed to allow erasing of lines and characters as the jet is moved across the surface of the recording medium. The ink jet is driven by a pulse generator 24 which shapes and amplifies the pulses to coil 19. In the disclosed embodiment drive pulses are derived from position encoders attached to the mechanism which moves the heads over the surface of the recording medium. Other methods may also be used to dispense the ink such as a recording pen or an air brush.

In view of the obvious modifications that can be made in the embodiments of the invention herein described and in view of the different forms of the invention it can take it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise arrangements illustrated herein. Rather, it is intended that the scope of the invention be delimited by the appended claims and that within that scope be included such structures as depart from the essential nature of the invention only by obvious changes or by the substitution of equivalence but do not alter the basic scheme of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for recording on a medium which has a removable film deposited thereon, said apparatus comprising; i

a supply of particles of an abrasive material, a nozzle, means coupled intermediate the supply and nozzle for selectively directing the abrasive material under pressure to the nozzle from where it is expelled in a confined stream against the medium,

means for collecting the expelled material including a collecting head disposed about said nozzle,

said collecting head defining a pressure manifold and a vacuum manifold,

a collection chamber for the expelled particles,

a pump means,

and conduit means connecting in sequence the vacuum manifold, collection chamber, pump means and pressure manifold, whereby the pump means creates a vacuum to draw expelled particles via the vacuum manifold to the collection chamber.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a stream of abrasive particles to perform writing or erasing on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising;

a nozzle for directing the stream of abrasive particles,

an abrasive dispenser,

means coupled intermediate the nozzle and dispenser for selectively conveying the particles to the nozzle,

and means for collecting the expelled particles including,

a collection head enclosing the nozzle and defining a vacuum manifold adjacent the nozzle and a pressure manifold adjacent the vacuum manifold and remote from the nozzle relative to the vacuum manifold,

and means including a collection chamber and coupled to both the vacuum manifold and pressure manifold for drawing expelled particles through the vacuum manifold to the collection chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for drawing expelled particles includes a vacuum pressure pump and conduit means interconnecting in sequence the vacuum manifold, collection chamber, pump and pressure manifold for carrying said particles from the vacuum manifold to the collection chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure manifold is disposed about said vacuum manifold so as to direct the expelled particles toward the vacuum manifold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nozzle, vacuum manifold and pressure manifold are concentrically arranged.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including a filter connected by sections of the conduit means between the collection chamber and the pump.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said abrasive dispenser includes a supply chamber, vibration means a source of pressurized gas, conduit means having a plurality of conduit sections, said vibration means for vi brating said supply chamber and a mixing chamber connected by a conduit section to the source and another conduit section to the means for selectively conveying and having means for receiving the vibrated particles which are forced to the means for selectively conveying by the pressurized gas.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording on a medium which has a removable film deposited thereon, said apparatus comprising; a supply of particles of an abrasive material, a nozzle, means coupled intermediate the supply and nozzle for selectively directing the abrasive material under pressure to the nozzle from where it is expelled in a confined stream against the medium, means for collecting the expelled material including a collecting head disposed about said nozzle, said collecting head defining a pressure manifold and a vacuum manifold, a collection chamber for the expelled particles, a pump means, and conduit means connecting in sequence the vacuum manifold, collection chamber, pump means and pressure manifold, whereby the pump means creates a vacuum to draw expelled particles via the vacuum manifold to the collection chamber.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a stream of abrasive particles to perform writing or erasing on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising; a nozzle for directing the stream of abrasive particles, an abrasive dispenser, means coupled intermediate the nozzle and dispenser for selectively conveying the particles to the nozzle, and means for collecting the expelled particles including, a collection head enclosing the nozzle and defining a vacuum manifold adjacent the nozzle and a pressure manifold adjacent the vacuum manifold and remote from the nozzle relative to the vacuum manifold, and means including a collection chamber and coupled to both the vacuum manifold and pressure manifold for drawing expelled particles through the vacuum manifold to the collection chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said abrasive dispenser includes a supply chamber, vibration means a source of pressurized gas, conduit means having a plurality of conduit sections, said vibration means for vibrating said supply chamber and a mixing chamber connected by a conduit section to the source and another conduit section to the means for selectively conveying and having means for receiving the vibrated particles which are forced to the means for selectively conveying by the pressurized gas.