Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates generally to facsimile recording machines,
and more particularly, to loop electrode arrangements on facsimile recording
machines.
Facsimile recorders are machines which receive electrical signals
as input and transcribe them as visual indicia onto a moving web of paper
arranged between a pair of moving electrodes. One of the electrodes is a
helical band which is arranged about a revolving drum. The other el0ctrode
is an endless belt or loop which is caused to travel both a straight path
and a curvilinear path along its locus of motion. The web of paper is moist
and electrosensitive as it slowly passes between the electrodes, in coordination
with the rotation of the helical drum electrode and the loop electrode. The
locus of contact of the helical and loop electrodes sweeps along the drum
while an electric current passes between the electrodes marking the paper with
ions transmitted thereon from the loop electrode, thus producing the facsimile
message. This ion transmission is important to the recording operation but
also is the cause of gradual erosion of the marking blade, that is, the loop
electrode.
To produce the messages in the most economical fashion, the loop
electrodes must be adjustable toward the travelling web of paper to compensate
for erosion of the electrode, instead of otherwise having to replace them
frequently. An attempt to compensate for loop electrode erosion is shown in
~nited States Patent 2,743,990 to Leonard, wherein a plurality of arms wlth
headed pins at their distal ends are held against the non-eroding edge of the
loop by a spring arrangement. This method is not only complîcated and
difficult to properly maintain, it permits undesirable movement of the loop
electrode such as flexing and reduces clarity of the transcribed message.
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile print-
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ing machine with a loop electrode which is adjustably arranged to be movabletowards and away from the plane of the paper to compensate for erosion of
that electrode.
Another object of -the present invention is to provide a facsimile
printing machine with a loop electrode having a linear portion which is actu-
ally maintained in a linear condition during interaction with its propinquitous
portion of the helical electrode.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile
printing machine with loop electrode supporting means which minim:i~es friction
and heat buildup therewithin.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a
facsimile printing machine having loop electrode adjusting means with means
to indicate the amount of loop electrode erosion therewith.
The present invention comprises a facsimile recording machine
having a loop electrode a portion of which forms a recording zone and is
slidably arranged in a linear track, the linear track fully supporting the
loop electrode against any curvature thereof, while permitting transverse
adjustment thereto, as erosion occurs. The linear track includes an elongated
lubricious member fixedly arranged to a fraMe portion of the machine, and a
channel-shaped member movably disposed over the lubricious member. The loop
electrode is arranged to move adjacent the frame and be in sliding contact
with the lubricious member and an edge of the channel-shaped member. As
erosion occurs, a linkage arrangement is caused to move the channel into
closer registry with the lubricious member, thus causing the channel edge in
contact with the loop electrode to Move transversely towards the plane of
the paper. The channel-shaped member also has cut-out portions to expose
coded portions of the lubricious member, indicating the extent of loop
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electrode adjustment. The movement between the channel-shaped member and the
elongated luoriclous member, as well as the frame, may also be accomplished
by a camming le~er arrangement.
According to a broad aspect oE the invention, there is provided
apparatus for recording graphic signals on a web by electrical erosion of
metal ions Erom an electrode, the apparatus comprising: an electrode with
sides extending to a recording edge; means for moving the electrode on a
linear path across the web; linear guiding means engaging both sides of the
electrode to hold the electrode straight on said path, the recording edge
of the electrode eroding toward the guiding means, and adjusting means inclu-
ding a manually adjustable pusher on the guiding means engaging the electrode,
the pusher being manually adjustable from an initial position, in which it
holds an unworn electrode at an initial extent from the guiding means, to
an adjusted posîtion outward of the guiding means in which it pushes a worn
blade to the same extent thereby to compensate for erosion of the electrode.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a facsimile recording machine with
sections cut away to show portions of the mechanism therein;
Figure lA is an enlarged detail of Figure l;
Figure 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-~ of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, with the adjustment means
thereof in a different position;
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Figure 8 is a view taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 7;
Figure 9 Is a view taken along the lines 9-9 of Figure 7;
Figure 10 is a vie~ taken along the lines 10-10 of Figure 7;
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing an alternative
ad~usting means;
Figure 12 îs a view taken along the lines 12-12 of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 but showing the relative
positions of the parts after movement of adjusting means to the phantom
position shown in Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a side of a portion of the frame opposite an elongated
lubricious member,
Figure 15 is a view taken along the lines 15-15 of Figure 14; and
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Figure 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Figure 2.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figure
1, there is shown a facsimile recording machine 20, in a side view, comprising
a base or frame portion 22, a housing 24, and a cover 26 connected thereto
by a hinge 28. A roll of moist electrosensitive paper 30 is journalled about
a spool 32 supportively disposed within the housing 24. A rotatable drum 34
is also journalled within the housing 24, the drum 34 housing a flexible,
scanning helical electrode 36 disposed therearound, which is in electrical
contact with appropriate circuitry of the facsimile recording machine 20. A
pair of drive rollers 38 is rotatively disposed above the rotatable drum 34,
one each in the housing 24 and the cover 26.
A loop or band electrode 40, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is disposed
within a frame 42 secured in the cover 26, the frame 42 having a loop electrode
drive motor 44 arranged therethrough, and an adjustable linear track support
46 therealongside. The linear track support 46 holds the straight portion
of the loop electrode 40 against the web of electrosensitive paper 30 as it
is pulled therepast. The loop electrode 40 is caused to move through its
circuitous path by the drive motor 44 which is coordinated with the speed of
the drive rollers 38 and the rotatable drum 34. The drive rollers 38 pull
the web or paper 30 between the loop and helical electrodes 40 and 36 and
through the nip they generate between one another.
The band elec~rode 40 carried on the hinged cover 26 swings with
the cover until the ends of its straight portion engage stop screws 27
~Figures lA, 2 and 4). Each stop screw 27 is adjustable in a flange 29 on
the housing 26 so as to position the straight electrode portion in a pre-
determined position relative to the helical electrode 36 for correct pressure
of the band electrode against the flexible helical electrode.
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The loop electrode 40 is held in a linear configuration ~or tha~
portion of iks path which is comprised of the linear track support 46, the
linear track support 46 including an elongated lubricious member 48 movably
arranged within a ~-shaped channel 50, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The
frame 42 has a flange 52 to which the adjustable linear track support 46 is
attached. A bearing strip 54 is secur0d to the flange 52 and comprises a
portion of the linear track support 46. The flange 52 has a plurality of
concave fingers 56 disposed therealong, which are bowed outwardly along their
centers to provide a smooth yet firm bearing surface against which the loop
electrode 40 may slide. The U-shaped channel member 50 has an inner wall
60 and an outer wall 62, $he inner wall having a support edge 64. The
lubricious member 48, as mentioned above, is disposed within the U-shaped
channel 50 and is fixedly attached to the flange 52 at a plurality of points
therealong. The U-shaped channel 50 may be moved in a direction "A" trans-
verse to the direction of motion of the loop electrode 40, which is indicated
by the letter "B", in Figure 3.
Movement of the U-shaped channel 50 may be effected by a movement
mechanism 70 ~Figure 3) which in the first embodiment comprises an arm 72
which pivots about a fixed pin 74. The pin 74 extends through an arcuate
slot 76 in the outeT wall $2 of the channel 50, and into the stationary
lubricious member 48. One end of the arm 72 is movably attached to a pivot
pin 78, which pivot pin 78 is secured to the outer wall 62 of the channel 50.
The other end of the arm 72 is moved back and forth in the direction indicated
by the arrow "C", shown in Figure 3, by a biasing means 80 which may be a
pressurized cylinder, a spring device a portion of which may be secured to
the frame 42, or the arm 72 may even be moved manually. The end of the arm
72 to which the biasing means 80 is connected, has an indicating knob 82
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disposed therein, shown in Figures 3 and 4. A plurality of holes 84 or
detents is arranged in the outer wall 62 of the channel 50 to indicate succes-
sive locations of movement of the swingable end of the arm 72. The lubricious
member 48 has a cut-out portion 86 (Figure 4) which eliminates any interference
it may have with the knob 82.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the relative position of the loop electrode
40 with respect to the location of the indicating knob 82 at the end of the
biased arm 72. Figure 4 shows the knob 8Z in indicating hole 84 marked number
1 in Figure 3. The walls 60 and 62 of the channels only partially envelope
and mate with the lubricious member 48, because the loop electrode 40 in this
Figure is of full width and has not yet begun to erode. The support edge 64
of the inner wall 60 which is in sliding engagement with the non-eroding edge
of the loop electrode 40J is positioned only approximately halfway down the
side of the flange 52 of the frame member 42. Figure 5 shows the fixed pin
74 near the lower end of the arcuate slot 76, and Figure 6 shows the pivot
pin 78 secured to the outer wall 62, as well as a securing means 90 which
fastens the lubricious member 48 to the flange 52, through an opening 92 in
the inner wall 60 of the channel 50, which opening 92 permits the lubricious
member 48 to remain fixedly secure with respect to the frame 42, while per-
mitting the channel 50 to slide therearound, upon proper activation of themovement mechanism 70.
The swingable arm 72 in the position shown in Figure 7, is situated
with the knob 82 in the last indicating hole 84, designated here as number
3. In this position, suppo-r* edge 64 of the inner wall 60 of the channel
50 is caused to push the non-eroding edge of the loop electrode 40 to a
position further alongside the flange 52, to compensate for the material lost
or eroded from the loop electrode 40 as the facsimile machine 20 has been used.
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The elongated lubricious member 48 is more fully enclosed by the walls 60 and
62 of the chalmel 50, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. That is, the eroded
edge of the loop electrode 40 is approximately the same distance from the
distal edge of the flange 52 of the frame 42 as it was when the loop electrode
40 was new and not eroded and the channel 50 in a preadjusted position.
A second embodiment of the movement mechanism 70 is shown in Figure
11, where the transverse movement of the channel 50, indicated by the letter
"D" is effected by an eccentrically rotatable disc 100 in a closely mating
cam relationship with a port 102 having a plurality of edges 104 disposed in
the outer wall 62 of the U-shaped channel 50. Ihe rotating disc 100 has a
lip 106 which is connected to a lever arm 108. The disc 100 may rotate about
an axis 110 arranged eccentrically with respect to the disc 100 and fixed with
respect to the lubricious member 48 into which it is embedded. The lever arm
108 may be caused to swing arcuately in the direction of the arrow labeled
"E" as shown in Figure 11, by a means 112 such as a spring biasing means, a
pneumatic biasing means, or by manual manipulation, all adapted to actuate
the movement mechanism 70 as erosion of the loop electrode 40 occurs. The
position of the lever arm 108 shown in full lines in Figure 11 indicates the
initial position with respect to the channel 50 and with respect to the
elongated lubricious member 48, and is depicted in cross-section similarity in
Figure 12. During erosion of the loop electrode 40, the lever arm 108 may
be pivotally swung to the position indicated in phantom in Figure 11 and which
position is also shown in cross-section in Figure 13 wherein the camming
relationship of the disc 100 and the portion in the outer wall 62 have caused
the channel 50 to move with respect to the flange 52 to cause the loop
electrode 40 to move transversely with respect to its direction of motion,
thus providing a replenished edge to the web of paper 30 traveling therepast.
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Indicia of location of the lubricious member 48 with respect to the
channel 50 is accomplished by a plurality of color coded spots 116 on the
lubricious member 48 which are successively exposed through an opening 118
in the outer wall 62 of the channel 50 as relative movement therebetween pro-
gresses.
The bearing strip 54 is shown more fully in Figures 14 and 15, with
the bowed fingers 56 formed thereacross which press the loop electrode 40 as
it travels in engagement with the moving web of paper 30. The lubricious
member 48, may preferably be constructed from a plastic material such as poly-
propylene or polyethylene having appropriate lubricity and rigidity character-
istics.
As shown in Figure 16 the loop electrode may be in the form of a
band having two lengthwise, parallel portions bonded together~ for example
a portion of relatively precious metal such as silver Ag, and a portion of
relatively base metal such as steel or stainless steel alloy SS. The exposed,
eroding portion is of silver, the precious metal, supported by the steel
portion which though it lacks the black marking qualities of silver is a good
support for the silver.
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