U.S. patent number 3,735,040 [Application Number 05/026,543] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-22 for facsimile transceiver.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Xerox Corporation. Invention is credited to John F. Hatzmann, Vernon E. Punt, Charles G. Van Neil.
United States Patent |
3,735,040 |
Punt , et al. |
May 22, 1973 |
FACSIMILE TRANSCEIVER
Abstract
Facsimile transceiver of the drum scanning type wherein the
writing stylus and scanning head carriage is releasibly attached to
a drive belt whereby the carriage can be manually moved relative to
the belt to any point along the longitudinal axis of the drum. The
transceiver is further characterized by the provision of stylus
retracting structure which effects disengagement of the stylus from
a copy sheet when the access cover is opened for removing or
installing copy paper. Stylus retraction or disabling is also
accomplished when the carriage is manually moved or when the
transceiver is placed in the send mode of operation.
Inventors: |
Punt; Vernon E. (Fairport,
NY), Van Neil; Charles G. (Webster, NY), Hatzmann; John
F. (Rochester all of, NY) |
Assignee: |
Xerox Corporation (Rochester,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21832419 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/026,543 |
Filed: |
April 8, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/476;
346/139A; 346/68; 358/478 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
1/12 (20130101); H04N 1/032 (20130101); H04N
1/126 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
1/12 (20060101); H04N 1/032 (20060101); H04n
001/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;346/68,139A,139B,139C
;178/7.6,DIG.27,6.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Griffin; Robert L.
Assistant Examiner: Orsino, Jr.; Joseph A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Transceiver apparatus comprising:
a rotatable document supporting drum structure,
a stylus and support carriage therefor mounted for movement along
the longitudinal axis of said drum structure,
drive means including an endless belt, and
means for attaching said carriage to said endless belt for movement
therewith and providing manual means for moving said carriage
relative to said endless belt, said attaching means comprising a
manually actuable lever one end of which is spring biased towards a
post member whereby the belt is securely captivated between said
one end and said post member.
2. Structure as specified in claim 1 including, means associated
with said manually actuable lever for effecting movement of said
stylus away from said drum upon actuation of said lever.
3. Structure as specified in claim 1 wherein, said scanning device
is mounted above said stylus and spaced apart from a 60.degree.
therefrom.
4. Structure as specified in claim 1 including, means cooperating
with said mode selecting means for moving said stylus away from
said drum structure once the apparatus is conditioned for
transmitting.
5. Structure as specified in claim 4 wherein said means for moving
said stylus away from said drum structure comprises lever means
supported by a stationary support frame and an elongated cam member
which is co-extensive with the longitudinal axis of said drum
structure.
6. A facsimile transceiver comprising,
housing structure,
a document supporting drum structure,
means for imparting rotational movement to said drum structure,
a carriage having a recording pen and scanning means thereon,
means for moving said carriage relative to said drum along the
longitudinal axis thereof,
a cover structure providing access to said drum structure for
installing a copy sheet thereon and,
means for effecting movement of said recording pen away from said
drum structure when said cover structure is moved to an open
position, said movement effecting means being ineffective when said
cover structure is moved through an angle less than 70.degree..
7. Structure as specified in claim 6 including, mode select means
for conditioning said machine for either transmitting or sending,
and;
means operatively associated with said mode select means for
effecting movement of said recording pen away from said drum
structure when said machine is in the transmit mode of
operation.
8. Structure as specified in claim 6 including,
a drive arrangement drivingly connected to said carriage, said
drive arrangement including an endless belt, and
manually operative means for disconnecting said carriage from said
endless belt for permitting relative movement therebetween over a
portion of said belt coextensive with substantially the
longitudinal axis of said drum structure.
9. Structure as specified in claim 8 including,
means actuated by said disconnecting means for rendering said
recording pen inoperable.
10. Structure as specified in claim 9 wherein,
said means actuated by said disconnecting means comprises a cam and
lever arrangement effective to move said pen recording structure
away from said drum structure.
11. Structure as specified in claim 10 including, mode select means
for conditioning said machine for either transmitting or sending
information, and
means actuated by said mode select means for rendering said
recording pen inoperable when said machine is conditioned for the
transmit mode of operation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to facsimile devices such as drum scanning
transceivers and, more particularly, to a pen or stylus drive and
retracting mechanism therefor.
In drum scanning, facsimile transceivers, scanning is accomplished
through rotational movement of the document supporting drum
relative to the scan head carriage while the scan head carriage is
moved longitudinally of the drum.
It will be apparent that one may not want to transmit all of the
information contained in a document, accordingly, it is desirable
to be able to skip blank areas or portions which are of no
interest. In prior art devices this has been accomplished through
elaborate control circuits and very simply by the provision of a
feed screw mounted coextensively with the longitudinal axis of the
drum and a half-nut secured to the carriage, the carriage being
pivotally mounted relative to the feed screw so that the half-nut
can be disengaged therefrom.
It will be appreciated that elaborate control circuits are costly
and that the use of a feed screw requires the employment of a much
more costlier drive motor than desired, in the interest of
minimizing the overall cost of the machine. Furthermore, gear wear
and delayed starts due to improper meshing between the half-nut and
the feed screw threads, particularly when the feed screw is
rotating, are inherent in the feed screw and half-nut type of
arrangement.
When a transceiver is capable of manually skipping segments of a
text, particularly, in the receive mode, pen or stylus retraction
will be necessary prior to moving the pen along the longitudinal
axis of the drum in order to prevent damaging of the pen. Pen
retraction is also desirable, in order to prevent damage to the
pen, when the transceiver is in the send mode and also, when the
access cover is in the full open position during paper removal.
Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a
new and improved facsimile apparatus.
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide, in a
transceiver, a new and improved drive for the pen and scan
carriage.
Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved pen
retraction mechanism for use in a transceiver.
Still another object of this invention is to provide interlocks for
effecting pen retraction at times when the lack thereof would be
injurious to the pen.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide, in a
transceiver, a new and improved pen and scan carriage which can be
manually moved for the purpose of skipping certain segments of the
text.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent when considered in view of the description of the
preferred embodiment of the invention and drawings forming a part
hereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transceiver incorporating the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the transceiver illustrated in FIG. 1,
but with the top cover removed; and
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the left side
of the machine of FIG. 1.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished by the provision
of a carriage drive including a motor and an endless belt, the
latter of which is adapted to be coupled to the carriage by means
of a clamping arrangement integral with the carriage. The clamping
arrangement constitutes a pivotal lever and upstanding post member
which captivate the belt therebetween, the lever being spring
biased in the direction of the post member. By virtue of such an
arrangement the carriage can be selectively moved during either
mode of operation in order to manually skip certain portions of a
document (i.e. blank areas or unnecessary information).
Since the pen or writing stylus is in contact with the copy paper
during a receive mode, transverse movement of the pen relative to
the paper could be injurious to the pen, accordingly, an interlock
is provided which insures pen retraction or disengagement at any
time the carriage is manually moved. This is accomplished by
plurality of levers and cams, all of which are integral with the
carriage.
Pen retraction is also effected when the access cover is fully open
and when the transceiver is in the send mode. To this end, a lever
arm is provided which is mounted on a frame member remote from the
carriage. In the case of the mode selection, the mode selector
button is also remotely supported relative to the carriage, in a
position to operatively engage the aforementioned lever. An
elongated cam which is coextensive with the path of travel of the
carriage is so positioned as to be actuated by the remotely
disposed lever arm. The rear edge of the cover acts through the
same lever and cam arrangement to effect pen retraction, however,
an intermediate arm is utilized.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character
10 designates generally a transceiver comprising housing structure
12 including a base member 14 and top cover member 16. The cover
member 16 is provided with a recessed area 18 forming a cradle for
a telephone piece 19, as shown. A coupling device (not shown) is
contained in the recessed area 18 and serves to operatively connect
the transceiver 10 with another transceiver by means of the
telephone piece 19 and associated communications network.
Internally of the housing structure 12, supported intermediate a
pair of upstanding support frames or plates 20 and 21, is a drum
structure 22 comprising an outer shell 23 on which sheets of copy
paper or a document (not shown) to be copied is supported during
use of the apparatus in either the receive or send mode. The paper
may comprise any electrosensitive composition commonly used in
devices of the type herein contemplated.
The drum structure 22 preferably comprises a hollow cylinder which
is formed from a material which is light in weight, yet rugged and
durable in construction. Accordingly, the drum may be fabricated
from light-weight metals or plastics. The drum structure further
comprises a cylindrical sleeve member 24 and a pair of annular
rings 26. A pair of discs 28 disposed within the rings 26 serve to
close the ends of the drum structure. The discs 28, also provide
means cooperating with a shaft 30 for supporting the drum structure
in the bearings 32, the bearings being carried by the plates 20 and
21. Counterclockwise rotation of the drum structure, as viewed from
the left in FIG. 2, is attained by virtue of the synchronous motor
34 and a gear drive arrangement, not shown.
A slot 36 extending longitudinally of the drum structure 22 has
disposed therein a gripper 38 in the form of an elongated bar
member which is somewhat shorter than the drum structure. As viewed
in FIG. 3, the bar member comprises a lip portion 40 which engages
the leading edge of the paper or document to be supported on the
drum structure. As can be seen, the lip portion extends toward the
right as viewed in Fig. 3, or in a direction opposite to the
direction of rotation of the drum structure. The bar member is
supported in the slot 36 by a plurality of spring members 42 which
normally bias the bar member inward such that the lip portion
captivates the edge of the document between it and the surface of
the shell 23.
A pair of lever arms 44 (only one being shown) are pivotably
supported by the plates 20 and 21 adjacent the left and right ends
(as viewed from the front of the machine) of the drum structure 22
by means of shafts 48. The lever arms are each provided with a cam
surface 50 which extends from the plates 20 and 21 toward the ends
of the drum structure such as to be engageable with the undersides
of the end portions of the gripper member 38. Each arm 44 has an
upwardly projecting flange 52 for abutment with the back edge of
the gripper member to thereby provide stops for the drum
structure.
A door or closure member 54 supported on pivots 56 provides access
to the drum structure 22 for placement of paper thereon. The rear
edge of the door structure acts as a camming surface to effect
pivoting of the lever arms 44 and when the door is raised to its
open position. To this end, the arms 44 are provided with a
rearwardly extending segment 62 which engaged by the rear edge 60.
It will be appreciated that by virtue of the construction of the
lever arms 44 and, the drum structure will be stopped and the
gripper raised for insertion of a paper, when the gripper bar is at
approximately top dead center thereby facilitating installation and
removal of paper. Furthermore, although not apparent from the
drawings, the relationship of the lever arms 44 with the door
structure 54 is such as to permit the door structure to be opened a
substantial distance before interaction of the rear edge 60 and the
rearwardly extending segments 62 takes place. Thus, the door
structure which is mounted for rotation through an angle of
approximately 90.degree., can be rotated about 70.degree. without
effecting actuation of the gripper bar 38.
Inasmuch as the instant construction provides for a free trailing
edge of the document or copy paper supported on the drum structure
22, a plurality of guide members are located about the drum
periphery to maintain the paper or document in close proximity to
the surface of the drum structure during operation. To this end, a
plurality of ribs 64 are secured to a front door structure 66
pivotably supported by the frames 20 and 21. A plurality of ribs 68
are also provided as an integral part of the door structure 54 such
that when the door structure is in its closed position a guide way
is effected between the ribs 68 and a portion of the drum structure
22. Adjacent, the drum structure, at the side thereof opposite the
door structure 66, a plurality of wiper bars 70 mounted by a means
of a rod 72 serve the same purpose as ribs 64 and 68. The door
structure 66 is provided with a plurality of louvers 71 for
permitting heat to escape from within.
Disposed rearwardly of the drum structure 22 supported for
transverse movement contiguous thereof is a carriage 74. The
carriage is mounted for travel intermediate the support frames 20
and 21 by a pair of guide and support rods 76, only one being
shown, the ends of which are supported by the frames 20 and 21. A
motor 78 carried by a support bracket 80 together with an endless
belt 82 serve to move the carriage between its end-of-travel
positions.
A lever arm 84 mounted on the carriage 74 for pivotal movement
about the vertical axis cooperates with a post member 86 to attach
the carriage to the belt 82 for movement thereby, the belt being
operably supported by a plurality of pulleys 88 and 90 and 92, the
latter of which is carried by the output shaft of the motor 78. An
offset segment 94 of the arm 84 is urged in the direction of the
post member by means of a bias spring 96 secured, both to the
movable arm and to the carriage. The circumference of the post
member is knurled or otherwise suitably treated so as to prevent
relative slippage of the belt 82 between the segment 94 and the
post member. An offset segment 98 of the arm 84 extends upwardly
past the top wall of the cover (see FIG. 1) for facilitating
manipulation thereof by the operator. A stationary arm 100 also
secured to the carriage 74 has an offset segment 102 which extends
upwardly past the cover and is disposed adjacent to but spaced
apart from the offset segment 98. Thus, the carriage can be moved
to any point along the axis of the drum structure 22 through the
movement of the offset segment 98 toward the segment 102 which
releases the carriage from the drive belt.
As viewed in FIG. 3, a recording pen 111 or stylus structure 104 is
pivotably supported by a pivot member or pin 106 forming an
integral part of the carriage 74. The pen structure comprises a pen
holder 108 and a pen 111 the holder being normally biased in the
counterclockwise direction such that the pen is urged into
engagement with the copy paper. It should be apparent that while
certain relative motion between the pen and the drum are
acceptable, at least one is not. In other words, it would not be
desirable to have manual movement of the pen 111 along the
longitudinal axis of the drum structure 22, while the pen engages
the paper. Accordingly, when the carriage is manually moved through
manipulation of the offset segment 98, it is necessary that the pen
111 be disengaged from the copy sheet. To this end, an L-shaped cam
arm 112 is pivotably supported by the carriage 74 for movement
about a horizontal axis. The lower end of segment 114 engages the
top of the pen holder 108 such that clockwise movement thereof will
effect clockwise movement of the pen holder to thereby effect
disengagement of the pen 111 from the copy paper. The upper end of
segment 116 of the L-shaped arm 112 engages a horizontally movable
rod 118 (see FIG. 2) which pivots with the lever arm 84.
Thus, it can be appreciated that whenever the carriage is manually
moved through manipulation of the offset segment 98, the pen 111 is
moved out of engagement with the copy paper.
It will be appreciated that disengagement of pen 111 at other times
will also be necessary. For example, when the transceiver 10 is in
the send or transmit mode of operation. For this purpose, there is
provided a mode selector 120 which is pivotally supported by the
frame member 20 in a position such that the upper end 122 thereof
is accessible adjacent the top of the cover structure 12 and the
lower end 124 thereof engages a bar link 126 also pivotally
supported by the frame member 20. The bar link, at its lower end
engages an elongated cam structure 128 which in turn engages a cam
follower 130 forming an integral part of pen holder 108. It will be
appreciated that since the pen holder 108 moves with the carriage
74, the cam follower 130 is coextensive with the longitudinal axis
of the drum structure 22 so that the mode selector can be changed
from the receive to the send mode anywhere along the traversed path
of the carriage and the pen 111 will be retracted by virtue of the
clockwise rotation of the cam follower 130 which is effected
through movement of the bar link 126 in the counterclockwise
direction by the mode selector 120.
At one other time it is desirable to have the pen 111 out of
engagement with the copy paper, that is, when the door structure 54
is in its fully open position. Accordingly, the rearwardly
extending segment 62 of the pivotal arm 44 engages the bar link 126
to effect counterclockwise movement thereof which as discussed
hereinabove causes retraction of the pen 111.
An optical scanning device 132 supported by the carriage 74 for
movement therewith is employed, in the send mode of operation, to
transmit information contained in a document. The device 132 is
positioned above the location of the pen 111 (approximately
60.degree. along the circumference of the drum) to thereby prevent
contamination of the optics by paper residue. Since the specific
details of the device 132 form no part of the present invention a
detailed discussion thereof has been omitted. However, it will be
noted that a suitable scanner is disclosed in U.S. Patent
application Ser. No. 795,510, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,846 filed in
the name of David O. Kingsland and assigned to the same assignee as
the present invention. The optical scanning device is adapted to be
energized through the closing of a switch (not shown) which is
mounted on the frame 20 in a position to be operated by a switch
actuator 134 operatively coupled to the mode selector 120.
* * * * *