US3116964A

US3116964A - Recording devices

Info

Publication number: US3116964A
Application number: US165504A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter J Zenner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-01-11
Filing date: 1962-01-11
Publication date: 1964-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-07
Also published as: GB950933A

Description

Jan. 7, 1964 w. J. ZENNER 3,116,964

RECORDING DEVICES Filed Jan. 1l, 1962 INVEN TOR. WALTER IZENNER.

United States Patent O 3,116,964 RECGREENG DEVICES Walter I. Zennerg, Bes Plaines, lill., assignor to Peter G. S. Mero, Evanston, lill. Filed Ilan. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 165,5@4 6 Ciains. (El. 346-146) This invention relates lto recording devices and more particularly to new and improved recording devices for graphic communication recording stations.

ln graphic communication systems messages, sketches, or other data transcribed upon a writing surface at one station of the system are -automatically reproduced at a second station in the system. Usually, the initial transcription is accomplished manually. A system transmitter includes suitable apparatus for Vanalyzing movements of a transmitter stylus or similar recording device and for developing electrical control signals representative of those movements. These signals are transmitted to and control the operation of a receiver. A preferred system of this general kind is described in United States Patent No. 2,583,535 to Robert Adler7 issued January 29, 1959, and in United States Patent No. 2,649,503 to Robert Adler, issued August 18, 1953. In such graphic communication systems, it is also necessary to provide a means for periodically replacing the recording medium, which is usually a continuous paper web but may constitute individual sheets of paper or other suitable material. A control signal is falso transmitted to the receiver to control the paper-feeding operation at the receiver, a paper feed control apparatus of this kind being described and claimed in Patent No. 2,621,249 to T. l. Ress, issued December 9, 1952. K

`In many instances, it is desirable to use a liquid ink recording arrangement at the transmitter or receiver of a graphic communication system of the kind described briey hereinabove. Control of the ink supply, however, may present substantial problems. This is particularly true if the recording operation entails substantial vertical movement of the recording pen or stylus. Thus, if the pen is moved upwardly relative to an initial starting position, and a gravity feed arrangement is used for the ink, there may be an insufficient supply of ink available at the upper limit of the pen movement. On the other hand, a downward movement of the pen may cause llooding of the recording surface. Similar problems may be encountered with lateral movement of the pen due to the acceleration forces involved. Thus, skipping and flooding, where a liquid ink supply is employed, may lead to substantial illegibility of the recorded message, the problems being most actuated where the recording surface is disposed in a substantially vertical plane, or at least at a substantial angle to the horizontal.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a substantially constant ink supply, throughout the recording operation, in the operation of a graphic communication system recorder.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improved recording device, utilizing a liquid ink supply, that can be employed electively in a graphic communication system recorder in which the recording surface is disposed at a substantial angle to the horizontal.

Another object of the invention is to minimize skipping and flooding in the operation of a graphic communication system recorder that employs a pen of the kind requiring a supply of liquid ink or other recording fluid. Thus, the present invention is directed to a recording device for a graphic Comunication recording station. The recording device comprises a recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet, usually ordinary paper. A

Patented dan. 7, 1%@4 ice pen is provided, together with means for moving the pen across the recording base to record data on a recordreceiving sheet disposed on the base. An yauxiliary ink resem/oir is mechanically connected to the pen for movement therewith `and is maintained lat a predetermined constant elevation relative to the pen. The main ink supply for the recording device is connected by conduit means to the axiliary reservoir, the pen also being connected to the ink supply in parallel with the auxiliary reservoir. A normally closed ink supply valve is interposed in the ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the parallel combination of the pen and reservoir. Means are provided for opening this ink supply valve only during intervals between recording operations so that the feeding of ink to the pen, during a recording operation, is restricted to the supply of ink available from the `auxiliary reservoir.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. `Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic elevation view of a recording device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of one form of ink supply valve that may be utilized in the invention.

FlG. 1 illustrates a graphic communication recording station 1th that may comprise either the transmitter or the receiver of `a graphic communication system. The recording station 1t) includes a recording base or platen 11 across which a paper web 12 extends. The paper web 12 extends from a supply roll (not shown) that may be located behind the platen 11, across a guide roller 13, and into engagement with a paper feed roll 14. In the illustrated arrangement, the paper web 12 is provided with a series of apertures 15 along each edge; these apertures 15 are engaged by a series of projecting sprocket teeth 16 on the paper feed roll 14.

The recording station 1l! further includes a pen support arm 17 that carries, at one end thereof, a pen 13. The pen 18 comprises a capillary ink feeder tube 19 that terminates in a nib 21 which engages the paper web or other recording medium 12 to record a message thereon. The pen support arm 17 forms a part of a pen linkage Z2 that is utilized to control operation of the pen 18 when the recording station 16 constitutes a receiver, the same linkage being employed in the development of coordinate control signals where the device 16 constitutes a transmitter. Thus, the pen support arm 17 is pivotally mounted upon a driving arm 23, the driving arm '23` being mounted for rotation about an axis 24. The pen arm 17 is also connected by a link 2S to a second driving arm 26 that is independently mounted for rotation with respect to the axis 24.

Pivotal movement of the driving arm Z3 may be effected, relative to the axis Z4, by a irst servo motor 27 to control movement of the pen 18 along a first axis designated in FIG. 1 as the Y axis. The driving arm 26 is connected by a pair of links 28 `and 29' to a second servo motor 31. The servo motor 31 controls rotational movement of the drive -arm 26 to actuate the pen arm 17 and move the pen 18 along a second axis designated as the X axis. This pantograph or pen linkage 22 is essentially similar in construction to that described and 3 claimed in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,583,535 of Robert Adler and is of the form presently utilized in graphic communication equipment currently manufactured and sold by Comptometer Corporation.

The recording station l@ illustrated in FIG. l also includes means for moving the record-receiving sheet l2 across the recording base or platen ll. This means comprises a motor 33 that is mechanically connected to the feed roller lid. ln FTG. l, the connection is shown as a direct shaft connection 3d, but it should be understood that a belt drive, gear drive, or other suitable drive arrangement may be employed to connect the motor to the paper feed drive roll. The paper feed motor 33 is electrically connected to a paper feed control device that constitutes a control means for actuating the motor when it is desired to remove a portion of the record-receiving paper web l2 from the platen and replace it with a fresh section of the paper. The paper feed control 35 may be actuated by a sensing switch located adjacent one corner of the platen il and energized by movement of the recording pen l@ to that position, utilizing the control system described in detail in the aforementioned patent of T. l. Ress, No. 2,62i,249. Gn the other hand, a separate manually actuatable control switch or other control arrangement may be employed for the paper feed control 35 without in any way departing from the present invention.

The recording station it), as thus far described, is quite conventional in construction and, indeed., corresponds to that presently manufactured and sold by Comptometer Corporation. Assuming that the device it) is utilized as the receiver in a graphic communication system, suitable signals received from a transmitter unit are supplied to the servo motors 27 and 3l, driving the pen l across the recording medium l2 on the base ll to inscribe a message thereon. The communication system would also include a pen-lift mechanism for moving the pen t8 through a relatively short distance toward and away from the recordreceiving sheet l2 to provide the necessary breaks between words and other elements of an ordinary Written message. inasmuch as the pen-lift mechanism forms no part of the present invention it has not been shown or described herein.

After a given message is recorded, it is necessary to provide a new record-receiving sheet for reception of the next message. To this end, the paper feed control 35 is actuated and supplies an actuating signal to the paper feed motor 33. The motor 313 drives the paper feed roll lli through a predetermined number of revolutions to advance the paper sheet l2 across the recording base lll and thus supply a fresh record-receiving sheet on the recording base. In receiver operation, the paper feed control 35' is energized by a suitable signal from the transn mitter as described in detail in the aforementioned patent to T. I. Ress. The paper feed operation and the recording operation do not ordinarily proceed simultaneously.

The present invention is concerned with the ink supply for the pen i3. It comprises an auxiliary inl: reservoir 4l that is mounted upon an extension portion l2 of the pen support arm i7. Thus, the auxiliary reservoir il is mechanically connected to the pen for movement conjointly with the pen. Moreover, the reservoir di. is maintained at a predetermined constant elevation relative to the pen, regardless of the position of the pen on the recording base l1. The reservoir 4l preferably comprises a llexible resilient sac and may be fabricated from any llexible plastic or elastomer material not subject to substantial corrosion or other deterioration from contact with the particular ink used in the recording device 10.

The recording device l@ further includes a main ink supply which in this instance constitutes an ink bottle 43 that is mounted above the upper limit of the recording base ll. A constant-Jressure pump or other positive ink supply can be utilized instead of the elevated ink reservoir 4. However, the gravity feed afforded by the illustrated il arrangement is less expensive and in many ways more reliable than pumping systems.

The main inl( supply i3 is connected by a series of ink conduits to both the pen ll and the auxiliary reservoir dl.

he ink conduit means connecting the main ink supply 43 to the auxiliary reservoir and the pen comprises, in series, a rst ink conduit and a second ink conduit i5 connected thereto. The conduit i5 extends along the pantograph arm 2S, terminating in a "iconnection The T-connection do, in turn, is connected by a conduit 15.77 to the pen i8 and by a conduit fill to the auxiliary reservoir 4l. lt is thus seen that the ink conduit means fidi8 connects reservoir .'ll in parallel with the pen l@ and connects ooth of these members to the ink main supply 43.

An inh supply valve 5l is interposed in the ink conduit means between the main supply d3 and the pen l and reservoir dll. The valve il is located at the junction of the conduit sections and d5. This valve is a normally closed device subject to external control effective to open the valve and permit ink flow from the main supply 43 through the conduit i4 and into the connecting conduit d5. in the preferred arrangement illustrated in FTG. 1, the device 5l is a solenoid operated valve and thus may be electrically actuated from its normally closed condition to an open condition. Suitable electrical connections are provided from the valve 5l to the paper feed control 35 to permit application of the paper feed control signal to the valve l. This makes it possible to open the valve 5l during those intervals in which a paper feed operation is carried out. On the other hand, the valve 5l is normally closed during a recording operation.

When it is iirst desired to place the recording device lo in operation, the auxiliary ink reservoir comprising the sac 4l is compressed. The valve 5l is then opened, either by energization of the paper feed control 35 or by a separate auxiliary energizing circuit (not shown), to open the connection benveen the

conduits

44 and 45. When this is done, inl( ilotvs from the main supply i3 through the conduits id and i5 and into the conduit Li7 that leads to the pen l. The conduit i7 is a relatively small capillary tube, and this is also true of the pen 18. Consequently, with the pen nib 2l held out of contact with the paper, the conduit i7 and the pen shank 19 till with the ink. However, no ink is forced out of the pen nib 2l. To assure this result, it is of course necessary to limit the pressure head in the system, provided by the elevation of the main ink supply i3 above the pen, but this is a relatively simpie matter to control.

Only a limited amount of ink ilows into the connecting conduit 43 when the valve 5l is irst opened. However, when the auxiliary reservoir il is permitted to expand, the resulting partial vacuum within the auxiliary reservoir draws ink upwardly toward the reservoir through the conduit it may be difficult to obtain a substantial amount of ink in the reservoir il in the irst loading operation as described above, but this procedure may be repeated several times, when the recording device lll is rst placed in operation, until a reasonable quantity of ink is available in the auxiliary reservoir dit. Depending upon the physical dimensions of the various components of the recording device lli), it may even be necessary tO provide some means for opening the reservoir il to the atmosphere in order to fill it initially. However, if such means is provided, it should be possible to seal the auxiliary reservoir for subsequent normal operation of the device ll?.

Once a supply of ink has been stored in the auxiliary reservoir fil, the recording device lil is ready for operation. This is accomplished in the usual manner by actuating the motors 27 and 3l to drive the pen arm 17 and move the pen l across the paper l2. As the recording operation proceeds, ink is fed from the auxiliary reservoir il through the conduit 43 and upwardly by capillary action through the tube 47 to the pen. No ink is su plied to the pen from the main ink supply 53, since the valve 51 remains closed throughout the recording operation. Thus, the ink fed to the pen is restricted to that available from the auxiliary reservoir, and for this reason the reservoir must hold enough ink to complete a normal recording operation on that portion of the paper sheet 12 disposed on the platen 11. Since the ink flow, in a recording operation, is quite limited, this does not place an undue burden on the capacity of the auxiliary reservoir 4i and, indeed, a relatively small reservoir may be employed.

When the recording operation is complete, the paper feed control 3S is energized and supplies an actuating signal to the motor 33 to advance the paper web 12 across the recording base il and thereby present a new recording sheet for use. Simultaneously, this actuating signal is supplied to the valve 51 and opens the valve, permitting a iow of ink from the main supply 43 through the

conduits

44 and 45 to the supply tubes 47 and d8. Surface tension within the

capillary tubes

47 and 19 prevents ilooding of the new recording surface that is being led into recording position on the base 11. However, the ink flows through the tube 48 and replenishes the supply in the reservoir sac 4l. When the paper feeding operation is completed, the control device 35 operates to interrupt the energizing signal supplied to the devices 33 and 5l. The device 10 is then ready for the next recording operation.

During a recording operation, the auxiliary reservoir dit moves concurrently with the movements of the pen 18.

iccordingly, there are no substantial variations in the static and dynamic pressure conditions obtaining between the auxiliary inl; reservoir and the pen. Consequently, the ink supply remains essentially constant and skipping and liooding are eiiectively minimized during the recording operation.

ln the foregoing description, it has been assumed that the recording medium comprises the continuous paper web 12. However, the present invention is equally applicable to an arrangement in which individual paper sheets or the like are fed to the recording position on the platen 1l. rl`hat is, it makes no diiierence whether the recording sheets comprise individual sections of a continuous web, as illustrated, or physically separate sheets. f course, more elaborate pen structures can be substituted for the simple cantilever tube and nib illustrated in FiG. l without adversely alectng operation of the ink supply system ot the present invention. Moreover, the invention is of substantial advantage even in recording devices in which the recording base 11 is not disposed perpendicular to the horizontal, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the invention may be applied to a receiver in which the recording base lll is horizontally disposed, although it is especially advantageous where the recording base is inclined to some extent from the horizontal. ln this regard, it should be noted that the expression vertically disposed, as used in the appended claims, is intended to apply to any recording surface that is substantially displaced from horizontal alignment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred form of valve construction for the ink supply valve l. As shown therein, the valve S1 comprises a irst housing section 61 into which a second housing section 62 is threaded. A non-magnetic closure member 63 extends across the open ends of the two housing members 6i and 62, sealing off interior ot the housing 62 from the housing 61 and defining a closed chamber 64 within the housing section 62. The chamber 6d is completely sealed except for two

ports

65 and 66, aiiorded by suitable couplings for connecting the chamber 64 to the

ink conduits

44 and 45, respectively.

A solenoid coil 67 is disposed within the housing section 6l of the valve 5l, the axis of the coil being aligned with the outlet port 66 of the valve. T he port 66 is provided with a valve seat 68 disposed within the chamber 64, the valve seat preferably being of conical configuration. A conical valve member 69 is normally seated on the valve seat 66; the valve member 69 is mounted upon an armature member '71 that extends axially of the valve chamber 64 and into a guide opening in a cylindrical guide member 72 that is mounted at the end of the chamber 64 adjacent the closure member 63. A spring 73 is disposed in encompassing relation to the armature member 71 and normally maintains the valve member 69 in the seated or closed position as shown in FIG. 2.

During a normal recording operation, the Valve 51 re mains unenergized. The spring 73 holds the valve closed at this time. During a paper feed operation, however, as described hereinabove, the coil 67 is energized and the magnetic field of the coil pulls the armature member 71 to the left, as seen in FIG. 2, against the biasing force aiorded by the spring 73. The movement of the armature 71 is quite small, but is sufcient to clear the valve member 6@ from its engagement of the valve seat 68. When this happens, the valve is open and a continuous connection is provided from the initial ink conduit 44 through the chamber 64 to the further ink conduit 45. Thus, the relatively simple valve arrangement shown in FIG. 2 provides a convenient and economical controllable inl; supply valve for utilization in the recording device l@ of FlG. l.

Hence, While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that they are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall Within the purview of the following claims.

l claim: l. A recording device for a graphic communication recording station comprising a recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet, sheet-feed means for replacing the record-receiving sheet on the recording base, and control means for actuating the sheet-feed means, said recording device comprising:

a pen; means for moving the pen across said base to record data on a record-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir;

means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to the pen for movement therewith, with the reservoir mounted at a predetermined elevation relative to the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel with the pen to the main ink supply;

an ink supply valve interposed in the ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen and reser voir;

and means connecting the supply valve to said control means to open the valve during intervals in which the sheet-feed means is actuated and to maintain the valve closed otherwise, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

2. A recording device for a graphic communication recording station comprising a substantially planar vertically disposed recording base for supporting a recordreceiving sheet, electrically actuated sheet-feed means for removing a record-receiving sheet from the recording base and replacing it with a fresh sheet, and control means for supplying an actuating signal to the sheet-feed means, said recording device comprising:

a pen, mounted upon a vertically extending support arm;

means for moving the pen arm vertically and horizontally across said base to record data on a recordreceiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary inl; reservoir;

means for mounting the auxiliary ink reservoir on said 3,1 'F pen arm adjacent said pen and at a predetermined elevation relative to the pen;

a main ink supply;

a normally closed solenoid-operated ink supply valve interposed in the inl; conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen and reservoir;

and means for applying the sheet-feed actuating signal to the ink supply valve solenoid to open the valve only during intervals in which the sheet-feed means is actuated, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

3. A recording device for a graphic communication recording station comprising a substantially planar vertically disposed recording base for supporting a portion of record-receiving web, electrically actuated feed means for moving a record-receiving web across the recording base to present a clean recording surface, and control means for supplying an actuating signal to the feed means, said recording device comprising:

a pen;

means for moving the pen across said base to record data on a record-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir comprising a ilexible sac;

means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to said pen for movement therewith with the reservoir mounted at approximately the same elevation as the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel with the pen to the main inl: supply;

a normally closed electrically actuatable ink supply valve interposed in the ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen and reservoir;

and means for supplying the actuating signal to the ink supply valve to open the valve only during intervals in which the feed means is actuated, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

4. A recording device for a graphic communication recording station comprising a recording base, for supporting a record-receiving sheet, electrically actuated sheetfeed means for removing a record-receiving sheet from the recording base and replacing it with a fresh sheet, and control means for supplying an actuating signal to the sheet-fed means, said recording device comprising:

a pen support arm;

a pen mounted at one end of `the support ann adjacent the recording base;

means for moving the pen support arm vertically and horizontally relative to said base to record data on a record-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir comp-rising a ilexible sac;

means mounting `the auxiliary ink reservoir on said pen arm immediately adjacent said pen;

a main ink supply;

flexible ink conduit means comprising capillary tubing extending along the pen support arm and connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel with the pen to `the main ink supply;

normally closed electrically actuatable ink supply valve interposed in the ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen and reservoir;

and means `for supplying the sheet-feed actuating signal to the ink supply valve to open the valve only `during intervals in which the sheetafeed means is actuated, restricting the feeding of inl; to the pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

5. A recording device for a ygraphic communication recording station comprising:

a recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet;

a pen;

an auxiliary ink reservoir;

`means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to said pen `for movement therewith with the reservoir maintained at a predetermined constant elevation relative to the pen;

a main inl; supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel with the pen to the main supply;

normally closed ink supply valve interposed in the ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen and reservoir;

and. means for opening the ink supply valve only during intervals between recording operations, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

6. A recording device for a graphic communication recording station comprising:

a recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet;

a pen;

an auxiliary ink reservoir comprising a resilient ilexile inkproof sac;

means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to said pen for movement therewith with the reservoir maintained at a predetermined constant elevation relative to the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means including a supply conduit connecting the auxiliary reservoir to the main inl; supply, said ink conduit means further including a capillary tube connected from the pen to the medial portion of the supply conduit;

and means for opening the ink supply valve only during intervals between recording operations, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

No references cited.

Claims

1. A RECORDING DEVICE FOR A GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION RECORDING STATION COMPRISING A RECORDING BASE FOR SUPPORTING A RECORD-RECEIVING SHEET, SHEET-FEED MEANS FOR REPLACING THE RECORD-RECEIVING SHEET ON THE RECORDING BASE, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE SHEET-FEED MEANS, SAID RECORDING DEVICE COMPRISING: A PEN; MEANS FOR MOVING THE PEN ACROSS SAID BASE TO RECORD DATA ON A RECORD-RECEIVING SHEET DISPOSED ON THE RECORDING BASE; AN AUXILIARY INK RESERVOIR; MEANS MECHANICALLY CONNECTING THE AUXILIARY INK RESERVOIR TO THE PEN FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, WITH THE RESERVOIR MOUNTED AT A PREDETERMINED ELEVATION RELATIVE TO THE PEN;