US3751159A

US3751159A - Reproduction system

Info

Publication number: US3751159A
Application number: US00144743A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Fisher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-05-19
Filing date: 1971-05-19
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07

Abstract

A machine for reproducing the visual image on documents onto a paper substrate including a television camera for scanning the visual image on a document and converting the visual image into a corresponding electrical video signal; a cathode ray printing tube having a wire matrix; a control circuit electrically connecting the camera to the cathode ray tube to cause the wire matrix to be electrically charged in a pattern corresponding to the mirror image of the visual image on the document, a conveyor for selectively moving the paper substrate by and closely adjacent to the wire matrix to impose the electrical charge pattern from the wire matrix thereon, and a developer applying toner particles to that side of the paper substrate opposite the wire matrix to convert the electrical charge pattern imposed on the paper substrate into a visual image. The developer may include a cylindrical roll defining a driving surface for engaging the paper substrate at the wire matrix and forcing same across the wire matrix in contact with the wires of the matrix. A plurality of cameras with a corresponding number of printing cathode ray tubes may be used for reproducing multi-color copies. The control circuit may include microwave transmitting and receiving station to produce a facsimile system.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Fisher 1 Aug.7, 1973 REPRODUCTION SYSTEM [76] Inventor: William G. Fisher, 1619 E. John Wesley Ave., College Park, Ga.

22 Filed: May19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 144,143

Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Michael D, Harris Attorney-B. J. Powerll [57] ABSTRACT A machine for reproducing the visual image on documents onto a paper substrate including a television camera for scanning the visual image on a document and converting the visual image into a corresponding electrical video signal; a cathode ray printing tube having a wire matrix; a control circuit electrically connecting the camera to the cathode ray tube to cause the wire matrix to be electrically charged in a pattern corresponding to the mirror image of the visual image on the document, a conveyor for selectively moving the paper substrate by and closely adjacent to the wire matrix to impose the electrical charge pattern from the wire matrix thereon, and a developer applying toner particles to that side of the paper substrate opposite the wire matrix to convert the electrical charge pattern imposed on the paper substrate into a visual image. The developer may include a cylindrical roll defining a driving surface for engaging the paper substrate at the wire matrix and forcing same across the wire matrix in contact with the wires of the matrix. A plurality of cameras with a corresponding number of printing cathode ray tubes may be used for reproducing multi-color copies. The control circuit may include microwave transmitting and receiving station to produce a facsimile system.

18 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures REPRODUCTION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many copying machines are available today which copy the visual image of a document onto a paper substrate. One widely used system is commonly known as the Xerox process and uses a charged selenium drum which is exposed to the document visual image to drain off the charge In those areas having no visual image but leaves a charge where there is a visual image. This drum is then dusted with a charged powder which ad heres to the charged portions of the drum and the adhereing powder then transferred to a plain bond paper substrate onto which the powder is fused to develop a copy.

Another widely used process uses a photoconductive paper substrate which is charged and exposed to the visual image of the document in a manner similar to the selenium drum. The charged image left on the paper is then dusted with a charged powder to develop the image on the paper substrate.

Another system uses an electrostatic paper substrate which is electrically charged with the visual image and then dusted with charged powder to develop the image as described above.

Each of these above processes have the inherent disadvantage of being relatively slow because of the several steps necessary to properly place the charge on the paper substrate and develop same. Also, none of the systems have been successful in providing a simple and efficient system of transferring the visual image onto the paper substrate with high resolution. Moreover, those systems using a specially treated paper substrate have had difficulty in producing a copy of sufficient longevity for permanent records and in keeping the paper substrate cost to the consumer at a minimum. Also, those prior art processes have required complex and expensive equipment to properly orient and move the paper substrate to create the necessary copy outputs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other problems associated with the prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by providing a simple and relatively inexpensive reproduction process. The invention can copy on a plain bond paper substrate and combine the charging, exposure, developing and fusing steps of the prior art into a single step. Moreover, the system is compact and allows the document copying section to be remotely located with respect to the copy formation section. This system also eliminates all photoconductive requirements associated with most prior art copying machines. Also, the invention lends itself to full color copying without excessive alteration of operation.

The apparatus of the invention includes a high resolution television camera electrically connected to a cathode ray printing tube with a wire matrix. The document is exposed to the camera through an imaging section and a paper substrate is moved across the wire matrix in the cathode ray tube at the same rate as the document is exposed to the camera.

The toner is applied with a grooved roller which picks up the toner particles from a dry or wet toner mixture and transfers same to the vicinity of the paper substrate at the wire matrix on the cathode ray tube. The charges on the wire matrix cause the entrapped toner particles in the grooves of the roller to be transferred to the paper substrate to form the visual image on the copy. The roller also serves to positively feed the paper substrate past the wire matrix of the cathode ray tube.

In that embodiment of the invention having full color copying capabilities, a camera is provided for each color to be copied along with an appropriate filtering system to expose each camera to those colors of the visual image to be reproduced. A cathode ray tube is connected to each camera and an appropriately colored toner with a separate roller for each toner color is associated therewith to reproduce the image color on the copy. The scan of the document by the cameras and the rate of movement of the paper substrate by the cathode ray tubes are synchronized to re-create the full color image of the document on the copy.

Alternately, a roll composed of compressed toner particles may be placed adjacent the paper substrate on that side opposite the wire matrix and in alignment therewith rather than the roller. The toner bar is charged with a voltage just below Rs ionization potential so that the charged image on the wire matrix causes the toner bar to ionize in those portions corresponding to the charged image and the ionized particles accelerated toward the matrix to be trapped by the paper substrate and be fused therein to form the visual image.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more fully understood upon consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a copying machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the internal layout of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the light receptive face of the scanning section;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 showing the cathode ray printing tube and the developing section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the developing roll shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 but showing an alternate developing system;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the cathode ray tube and developing system shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for electronic control circuit of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-8;

FIG. I0 is a schematic diagram for the mechanical control circuit of the invention;

FIG. II is a schematic drawing showing the internal layout for a full color copying machine;

FIG. 12 is a schematic electrical diagram for that embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11; and,

FIG. I3 is a schematic drawing showing the application of the invention to a facsimile sending device.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose specific embodiments of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the invention is mounted in a housing with a document exposure section 11 and a copy receiving tray 12. Suitable controls 14 are provided to control the copying-duplicating process.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the invention includes generally an imaging section 15, a scanning section 16, a control section 18, a printing section 19, a developing section 20, and a paper transport section 21. The document to be copied is placed on the document exposure section 11 and the imaging section 15 directs the image on the document into the receptive area of the scanning section 16 successively one line at a time. The scanning section 16 converts the visual image received thereby into an electrical charge image which is transmitted to the printing section 19 through the control section 18. The printing section 19 transfers the electrical charge image to a paper substrate or web 22 whereupon the developing section 20 applies toner particles to the web 22 to change the electrical charge image into a visual image and fuse the toner particles into the web to make the visual image permanent. The transport section 21 moves the paper web 22 past the printing section 19 and developing section 20 synchronously with the scan rate of the original document and also cuts-the paper web to the desired length.

The document exposure section 11 includes a curved document exposure glass 30 onto which the document D is placed so that the visual image thereon is on the bottom surface of the document facing glass 30. An enclosure 31 is provided inside housing 10 around glass 30 and is lighted by lamps 32 while the document is being copied.

The imaging section 15 includes a lens 34 is located centrally of the glass in the bottom of enclosure 31. A multifaceted mirror 35 is located below lens 34 so as to be in visual communication with the image on the document D. Each facet 36 of mirror 35 is constructed and arranged to project the visual image into the scanning section 16 without distortion through lens 38 as the mirror is rotated about its axis in conventional manner such as that disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,051,044.

The scanning section 16 includes a television receiver tube 40 having a light sensitive face 41. Any number of receiver tube constructions may be used, however, one such tube 40 that has been found adequate is a tube manufactured by Sylvania Electric Products, Inc. of New York, N.Y., and designated 7735A Vidicon. Tube 40 is located on that side of lens 38 opposite mirror 35 so that the reflected visual image from mirror 35 will be directed against the face 41 of tube 40. As the mirror 35 is rotated, it will move the visual image across the face of the tube 40. A mask 42 is positioned on the face 41 and is provided with a slot 44 therethrough to admit light to face 41. The size of slot 44 is such that it admits the same amount of the visual image from the document therethrough as will be printed by the printing section 19 as explained hereinafter.

The printing section 19 includes a cathode ray printing tube 50 of the type disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,928,973. Such printing tube has a wire matrix 51 formed by an array of fine, closely spaced wires 52 as best seen in FIG. 5 extending through the bulb face 54 of the tube. These wires 52 serve as targets for the electron beam emitted from the cathode 55 of the tube as seen in FIGS. 2 and 8. Such a tube is manufactured by Sylvania Electronic Components of Seneco Falls, N.Y., under their designation 80-4070 and 804071 Electrostatic Charge Printing Type Cathode Ray Tube. Tube 50 has a video input connected to the cathode 55, a sweep deflection coil 56, and a focusing coil 58.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the tube 40 is connected to a scanner control circuit 45 as is conventional. The circuit 45 produces a video output and a sweep output in response to the exposure of the face 41 of tube 40 to the visual image which are connected to control circuit 18.

The video output is connected to the video amplifier of circuit 18, thence to modulator 61 driven by power supply 62 and thence to the video input of the cathode 55 of tube 50. The sweep output of from the scanner control circuit 45 is connected through gate 63 and sweep oscillator 67 to the vertical sweep amplifier 64 and the horizontal sweep amplifier 65 of control circuit 18. The vertical amplifier 64 is powered by a power supply 66 and the output of amplifier 64 is connected to the main drive motor 100. The horizontal amplifier 65 is powered by

power supplies

68 and 69 and the output therefrom is connected to the sweep deflection coil 56 around tube 50. The positive output of modulator 61 is connected to the anode outside tube 50 opposite the wire matrix 51. Portions of the developing section 20 are illustrated as the anode as will be explained.

The paper web 22 is carried by the transport section 21 which is in turn driven by the main drive motor 100. The transport section 21 is shown for dispensing the paper web from a roll, however, it is to be understood that the section 21 could be used for other types of dispensing such as sheet dispensing.

Section 21 includes a cradle 70 for rotatably support ing the roll 71 of paper web 22, a pair of feed rolls 72, and a pair of guide rolls 74 as seen in FIGS. 2. The feed rolls 72 and guide rolls 74 are positioned on opposite sides of a paper knife assembly 75 between the paper roll 71 and the bulb face 54 of tube 50. The feed rolls 72 receive the paper web 22 from roll 71 and move it over anvil 76 and under the rotary knife 78 of assembly 75 to guide rolls 74 as seen in FIG. 2. The guide rolls 74 engage and drive web 22 toward the bulb face 54 as seen in FIG. 5.

Section 21 also includes a pair of drawing rolls 79 for receiving the paper web 22 after it passes the wire ma trix 51 in bulb face 54 to complete the passage of web 22 across the wire matrix as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. The web 22 with the copy thereon is deposited onto a conveyor 80 for moving same to the copy receiving tray 12.

The developing section 20 includes a roll positioned directly opposite the bulb face 54 for developing the copy on the web 22 and for driving same across the wire matrix 51 in bulb face 54. Roll 90 is carried by a spring assembly 91 at each end thereof as seen in FIG. 4 and is driven at the same speed as

rolls

72, 74 and 79 by the main drive motor 100. Each spring assembly 91 includes a slide block 92 which rotatably journals the shaft 94 of roll90 and a spring 95 which urges the block 92 in its guide 96 toward the bulb face 54 along a path perpendicular to the bulb face. A stop 98 is provided in guide 96 for limiting the movement of roll 90 toward bulb face 54 to a position-such that the clearance 99 between the outer surface 100 of roll 90 and the ends of wires 52 flush with the bulb face 54 is less than the thickness of the paper web 22 as best seen in FIG. 5.

The diameter of roll 90 is such that that portion of the outer peripheral surface 100 directly opposite the wire matrix 51 is substantially parallel thereto as seen in FIG. 5. The peripheral surface 100 of roll 90 is helically grooved at 101, the grooves 101 being V-shaped in cross-section as seen in FIG. 6. A toner bin 102 is provided under and partially around the roll 90 leaving that portion of the peripheral surface 100 opposite wire matrix 51 exposed. The bin 102 is adapted to receive toner 104 in a dry or wet form. As the roll 90 is rotated within bin 102, the toner 104 is entrapped in the grooves 101 in the surface 100 of roll 90 and moved past the wire matrix 52 and in juxtaposition with that surface 104 of the paper web 22 opposite the surface 105 of web 22 in contact with wires 52. As the web 22 is moved past the wire matrix '51, the surface 105 will contact the ends of wires 52 while surface 100 will be in contact with surface 104.

The roll 90 serves as the anode for tube 50 with the positive output from the modulator 61 being connected thereto. A base negative voltage of a magnitude substantially equal to the positive voltage on anode or roll 90 is also imposed on the wire matrix 51 of tube 50 by the modulator 61. The magnitude of these voltages are just below that potential necessary to cause the toner 104 carried in grooves 101 to be ionized and accelerated toward the wire matrix 51. When the video signal is imposed on the particular wires 52 of matrix 51 from the cathode 55 of tube 50, the imposed voltage will create a potential difference greater than the ionization potential in those wires 52 onto which a charge from cathode 55 is imposed. This causes those toner particles trapped in grooves101 substantially opposite the additionally charged wires 52 to be ionized and accelerated toward these wires 52. Since the web 22 is interposed between the wire matrix 51 and roll 90, such ion-' ized toner particles will impinge on the web 22 in the same pattern as the charged image imposed on the wire matrix 51 by cathode 55 to develop a visual image on surface 104 of paper web 22. By generating sufficient kinetic energy in the toner particles as they are accelerated toward the surface 104, enough heat will be generated when the particle is arrested by surface 104 to cause the particle to fuse to the web '22, especially if each particle is coated with a thermoplastic. Thus, the heater normally used in fusing can be eliminated and since the electrical charge does not need to be retained on web 22, a plain bond paper web can be used.

Referring back to FIG. 2, it will be seen that knife 78 i has three equally spaced cutting edges thereon which extend across the width of the web 22. As knife 78 is rotated, each cutting edge will engage and cut web 22 against anvil 76. A solenoid actuated ratchet drive 77 selectively rotates knife 78 so that the web 22 will be cut each time the drive 77 is actuated. The distance d as seen in FIG. 2 between the knife 78 and the beginning of wire matrix 51 is equal to the length of the paper web 22 to be cut and supplied to tube 50 as will be explained.

The main drive motor 100 is directly connected to guide rolls 74, roll 90, drawing rolls 79 and conveyor to drive same at a constant speed. The drive motor is connected to the feed rolls 72 through a solenoid actuated clutch CLl as seen in FIG. 2 and to the mirror 35 through a solenoid actuated clutch CL2 to drive same. A paper sensing switch S2 is engaged by paper web 22 before it reaches the guide rolls 74 and a guide plate 101' is used therewith to insure that the web 22 activates same as seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the roll 90 of the first embodiment of the invention has been replaced by a roll 90'. Roll 90' is made of a cylindrical bar of compressed toner particles held together by a suitable binder so as to have an ionization potential of a predetermined value. The roll 90' serves to force the paper web 22 past the wire matrix 51 of tube 50 similarly to roll 90 and is mounted by spring assemblies 91 to be driven by motor 100.

The roll 90', like roll 90, isconnected to the positive output of modulator 61 and charged with a potential just below its ionization potential. When the wires 52 are charged as described above, the toner particles of the roll 90 will be ionized similarly to those in the grooves on roll 90 and driven into the paper web 22 to form the visual image.

The paper web or substrate 22 may be of any of a variety of paper types now used in reproductive processes. Plain bond paper may be used when the developing section 20 applies the toner to web 22 at the wire matrix 51. On the other hand, an electrostatic paper may be used which holds the charged pattern thereon after passage by the wire matrix 51. If an electrostatic web .22 is used, the developing section 20 may apply the toner particles to the web 22 after or during passage of the web 22 past the wire matrix 51. Also, an electrofax paper normally used in facsimile systems may be used as web .22. This paper has a dark sublayer with a white top layer that is responsive to an electrical charge to be burned or evaporated in the area of the electrical charge to expose the darker sublayer and produce a visual image. The electrofax web 22 would thus eliminate the need for a toner.

MECHANICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT Referring now to FIG. 10, a control circuit 200 for the mechanical components of the machine is illustrated, it being understood that other circuits could be used therefor.

The circuit 200 is connected to a 1 10 v. A-C source and includes a rectifier RT converting the v. A-C to 90 v. d-c. The positive side of rectifier RT is connected to a common hot wire 20] and the negative side to common ground wire 202. A start control circuit branch 204, a paper feed control circuit branch 205', an imaging control circuit branch 206, a knife control circuit branch 208, a lamp control circuit branch 209, and a counter control circuit branch 210 are connected between hot wire 201 and ground wire 202 in parallel with each other.

The start control circuit branch 204 includes a coil Rl-C of relay R1 and normally closed contacts TM1-2 of timer motor TM1 connected between wires 201 and 202 in series with each other and the parallel circuit of normally open start switch S1 and normally open holding contacts RI-l of relay R1. Branch204 also includes the coil R2-C of relay R2 and normally open contacts R1-2 of relay R1 in series between wires 201 and 202.

The paper feed control circuit branch 205 includes the normally open contacts R2-1 of relay R2 and the paper feed clutch coil CLl connected in series between wires 201 and 202.

The imaging control circuit branch 206 includes the parallel circuit of normally open sensing switch S2 and normally open contacts TM2-2 of timer motor TM2 connected between wires 201 and 202 in series with normally closed contacts TM3-l of timer motor TM3 and coil R3-C of relay R3. Branch 206 also includes normally open contacts R3-2 of relay R3 in series with timer motors TM2 and TM3 and connected between wires 201 and 202. Also included in branch 206 is the series circuit of normally open contacts TM2-l of timer motor TM2 and scan clutch CL2 connected between wires 201 and 202.

The knife control circuit branch 208 includes normally open contacts TM l-l of timer motor TMl, normally closed contacts R2-3 of relay R2 and solenoid SOL-1 of knife drive 77 connected between wires 201 and 202 in series. Branch 208 also includes normally open contacts R2-2 and timer motor TMI in series between wires 201 and 202.

The lamp control circuit branch 209 includes normally open contacts R3-3 of relay R3 in series with coil R4-C of the lamp relay R4 between wires 201 and 202. The counter control circuit 210 includes normally open contacts R2-4 of relay R2 in series with counter C-1 and connected between wires 20] and 202.

The U v. A-C source is connected to rectifier RT through power switch P1. The lamp circuit 220 is connected across the 110 v. A-C source through switch P1 and includes normally 'open contacts R4-l of relay R4 in series with lamps 32. The main drive motor 100 is also connected to the 110 v. A-C source through switch Pl.

OPERATION From the foregoing, it will be seen that the power switch P1 is closed to start the machine. When this occurs, the motor 100 is energized to drive

rolls

74, 79 and 90 and the conveyor 80. Power is also connected to the power supplies 62, 66, 68 and 69 as well as the control circuit 45 to actuate the scanning and printing sections 16 and 19. The document D is then placed on the exposure glass 30 and print start switch S1 is depressed to start the copying operation.

As seen in FIG. 8, closing switch S1 energizes coil Rl-C to close contacts Rl-l to keep coil Rl-C energized and to close contacts Rl-2 to energize coil R2-C. This closes contacts R2-1 to engage clutch CLl and drive feed rolls 72 and feed the paper web 22 from the paper roll 71 to already moving rolls 74. When coil R2-C is energized, contacts R2-2 are closed to energize timer motor TMl to start the paper feed timing cycle. Contacts R2-3 are opened to prevent energization of solenoid SOL-l of the knife assembly 75 and contacts R2-4 are closed to activate counter C-l.

As the paper web 22 approaches guide rolls 74, switch S2 is closed by the leading edge of web 22 to energize coil R3-C. This closes contacts R3-2 to energize timer motors TM2 and TM3 to start the scanning timing cycle and closes contacts R3-3 to energize coil R4-C and close contacts R4-l to energize lights 32 and illuminate the document D to be copied.

As the web 22 reaches registration with the nearest edge of the wire matrix 51, timer motors TMl and TM2 time out and respectively close contacts TMl-l, TM2-l and TM2-2 and open contacts TMl-2. Closing contacts TMl-l and opening contacts TM l-2 deenergizes coils Rl-C and R2-C to stop the feeding of web 22 and simultaneously activate solenoid SOL-1 to cut the web 22 to length. Closing contacts TM2-1 energize clutch CL2 to rotate mirror 35 and project the visual image of the document D into the face of tube 40. Since both the web 22 and mirror 35 are driven from motor 100, synchronization is insured.

As the mirror 35 presents the visual image to the tube 40, this image is supplied to the printing tube 50 as an electrical charge image and imposed on wires 52. The toner particles from roll or 90' are ionized and impinged on web 22 to form the visual image on the web. Since the image is formed on the back side of web 22, the image is electrically reversed in known manner as it passes through the control circuit 18 so that the image on the copy is intelligible.

The timer motor TM3 is set to time out at the end of the proper scan distance on the mirror 35. This opens contacts TM3-l to de-energize coil R3-C and stop the scanning of mirror 35. The finished copy on web 22 is transported from tube 50 to the copy receiving tray 12 to complete the copying operation.

FULL COLOR EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the full color embodiment of the invention is housed in the housing 510 with the document exposure section 511 and a copy receiving tray 512. Controls 514 are used to control the copying-duplicating process.

An imaging section 515, scanning section 516, control section 518, printing section 519, developing section 520 and paper transport section 521 is provided similar to that shown in FIG. 2. The copying process is similar to FIG. 2 except that three receiver tubes 540 are provided in alignment with the image projected from mirror 535 so that the face of each tube 540 will be successively exposed to the image. Masks 542 are provided for each tube 540 similarly to tube 40. A filter 543 is provided over the face of each tube 540. One filter 543 is effective to allow one primary color light to expose its associated tube 540, another to allow another primary color light to expose its associated tube 540, and the other to allow the other primary color light to expose its associated tube 540. Thus, each portion of the image on document D will be exposed successively to the tubes 540 so that the image will be separated into its primary colors.

The printing section 519 includes three printing tubes 550. each printing tube 550 has the same construction as tube 50 and the output of one of the receiver tubes 540 is connected a corresponding printing tube 550. Therefore, by ordering the arrangement of tubes 550 the same as tubes 540, taking into consideration the difference in dimensions of the tubes, it will be seen that the electrical charged image of each color component of the image on document D will be applied to the paper web 522 so as to recreate the visual image as seen on the document D.

The developing section 520 includes a developing roll 590 associated with each tube 550 and operates in the same manner roll 90 in conjunction with tube 50. A toner bin 602 is provided around roll 590 and carries a primary color toner 604 corresponding to the electrical color component image received by tube 550. Thus,

each tube 550and roll 590 in conjunction with toner 604 reproduces one primary color component of the visual image onto the paperweb 522. Since the spacing s between tubes 550 corresponds to the spacing s' between tubes 540, the primary color components produced by each tube 550 will be in registration to recreate the full color image on paper web 522.

Since most of the components of the first embodiment of the invention are virtually the same as the full color embodiment of the invention corresponding parts of the full color embodiment have the same numbers increased by 500 applied thereto.

Referring more particularly to FlG. 12, there are three control sections 518 corresponding to section 18, with one section 518 connecting one receiver tube 540 with its associated printing tube 550.

In operation, the full color embodiment of the invention is similar to the first embodiment thereof except that the scan cycle is greater in duration. This is to allow each selected line of the visual image on document D to be sequentially exposed to each tube 540 and the paper web 522 to be sequentially developed by each printing tube 550 to recreate the full color image.

FACSlM lLE SYSTEM Referring to FIG. 13, it will be seen that the facsimile system 800 includes the same components as that embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, however, a microwave transmission device 801 and a microwave receiving device 802 have been interposed therein. For simplicity, those portions of the system 800 common to that embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 will be'designated by primes of the reference numerals used in FIGS. 2 and 9. This allows the document exposure section 11', imaging section 15', scanning section 16' and scanner control circuit 45 to be located in a first housing 804; and the printing section 19, control section 18, developing section 20 and paper transport section 21 to be remotely located in a second housing 805. The output from scanner control circuit 45 is connected to the transmitting device 801 through a special telephone hookup now available in the telephone systems capable of transmitting a video signal. The transmitting device 801 then transmits this video signal output on its microwave band to the receiving device 802 which then transmits this signal through the special telephone hookup to the control section 18 for reproducing the original visual image on the paper web 22.

Because the scanning and receiving sections 16' and 19' are separated the main drive motor 100' is used to power the imaging section 15' and a second drive motor 806 is used to power the paper transport section 21' and developing section 20'. The sweep output from circuit 45' is also connected to motor 100' through gate 863, sweep oscillator 867, vertical sweep amplifier 864 powered by power supply 866 of the second vertical sweep control circuit 808. The output from vertical sweep amplifier 64' is connected to motor 806 to synchronize the speeds of motors 100' and 806.

In operation, then, the facsimile system is readied for transmission by establishing a microwave link between the devices 801 and 802. A document D' is placed in thedocument exposure section 11' and activating the controls 14. This transmits the electrical charge pattern to the printing section 19 to produce a copy of the visual image on the web 22.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it is to be understood that full use of modifications, substitutions and equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A machine for reproducing the visual image on documents onto a paper substrate comprising:

support means;

display means carried by said support means for selectively displaying said document;

camera means for scanning said document and for converting the visual image on said document onto a corresponding electrical video signal;

imaging means for selectively exposing said visual image on said document to said camera means;

a cathode ray printing tube means having a wire matrix; circuit means electrically connecting said camera means to said cathode ray tube means to cause said wire matrix to be electrically charged in a pattern corresponding to the visual image exposed to said camera means; and, including means for reversing the electrical image produced by said camera means;

transport means for selectively moving the paper substrate by and closely adjacent to said wire matrix at a rate corresponding to the exposure rate of the visual image to said camera means; and

developing means for converting said electrically charged image imposed on said paper substrate into a visual image including a member for positively forcing said paper substrate across said wire matrix at a ratecorresponding to the exposure rate of the visual image to said camera means, toner particles, and means for applying said toner particles to the electrically charged image imposed on said paper substrate on that side of said paper substrate opposite said wire matrix.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said means for applying said toner particles to said paper and said member for positively forcing said paper substrate include roll means having a driving surface engaging said paper substrate at said wire matrix to force same by said wire matrix and for transporting said toner particles into close proximity to that side of said paper substrate opposite said wire matrix and wherein saiddeveloping means includes drive means for rotating said driving surface of said roll means at the same rate as the exposure rate of the visual image to said camera means.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said roll means includes forcing means for resiliently urging said driving surface toward said wire matrix and into engagement with said paper substrate.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said roll means includes a cylindrical roll defining said driving surface, said roll composed of said toner particles and having an emission threshold potential of a predetermined value.

5. The machine of claim 3 wherein said roll means includes a cylindrical roll defining said driving surface, said roll defining grooves at said surface to entrap toner particles; and wherein said developing means includes a storage bin for receiving and storing said toner particles in contact with said surface of said roll.

6. The machine of claim 1 wherein said transport means includes means for feeding said paper substrate from a roll and means for selectively cutting said paper substrate into predetermined lengths.

7. The machine of claim 1 wherein said camera means includes a Vidicon television receiver tube having a receptive surface for converting said visual image into a corresponding electrical image.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said camera means includes masking means for exposing selected portions of said receptive surface of said Vidicon television receiver tube to said visual image.

9. The machine is set forth in claim 1 wherein said cathode ray printing tube means includes a plurality of cathode ray printing tubes, each having a wire matrix; wherein said camera means includes color separation means for separating the colors of the visual image on said document into selected color portions and converting each color portion of said visual image into a corresponding electrical video signal; wherein said circuit means connects one of said electrical video signals corresponding to a color portion of the visual image to each of said printing tubes; and wherein said transport means selectively moves said paper substrate by said wire matrix of each of said printing tubes at the same rate and in the same order as said visual image is exposed to said camera means.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said developing means includes a plurality of rolls means, one roll means being associated with said wire matrix of each of said printing tubes for forcing said paper substrate across its associated wire matrix and toner particles operatively associated with each of said roll means, the toner particles having the color to reproduce that color portion of the visual image to which its associated printing tube is supplied as an electrical video signal.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein said camera means includes a plurality of television receiver tubes, one of said receiver tubes corresponding to each of said printing tubes and a color separation means associated with each of said receiver tubes.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein said receiver tubes are spaced from each other a first predetermined distance and wherein said printing tubes are spaced from each other a second predetermined distance related to said first predetermined distance to cause each color portion of the visual image to be reproduced on said paper substrate in the same relative position as the color portion on said original document.

13. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit means include microwave transmitting and receiving means.

14. In a machine for printing a visual image onto a paper substrate which includes a cathode ray printing tube having a selectively charged wire matrix; drive means for positively forcing said paper substrate across said wire matrix including a cylindrical roll member positioned closely adjacent said wire matrix and having a driving surface for engaging said paper substrate and forcing said substrate across said wire matrix while maintaining said substrate in contact with said wire matrix; support means for resiliently urging said dirving surface of said roll member toward said wire matrix to insure positive engagement between said substrate and said driving surface; and means for selectively rotating said roll member, and wherein said roll member is composed of carbon toner particles pressed together and having an emission threshold potential of a predetermined value to deposit said particles on said paper substrate in the electrical charge pattern imposed on said paper substrate by said wire matrix.

15. In a machine for printing a visual image onto a paper substrate which includes a cathode ray printing tube having a selectively charged wire matrix; drive means for positively forcing said paper substrate across said wire matrix including a cylindrical roll member positioned closely adjacent said wire matrix and having a driving surface for engaging said paper substrate and forcing said substrate across said wire matrix while maintaining said substrate in contact with said wire matrix; support means for resiliently urging said driving surface of said roll member toward said wire matrix to insure positive engagement between said substrate and said driving surface; and means for selectively rotating said roll member, and wherein said roll member defines grooves at said driving surface, and further including carbon toner particles and bin means for supporting said particles in contact with said driving surface and said grooves so that said grooves entrap said particles and move same into the vicinity of said wire matrix so that said particles will be deposited on said paper substrate in the electrical charge pattern imposed on said substrate by said wire matrix.

16. In a machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said grooves are sufficiently close together to present a substantially solid surface of toner particles to said paper substrate.

17. A method of duplicating the visual image on a document onto a paper substrate including the steps of:

a. converting the visual image on the document into an electrical charge pattern;

b. reversing the charge pattern thus formed so that the resulting charge pattern corresponds to a mirror image of the visual image on the document;

0. imposing the reversed electrical charge pattern on one side of the paper substrate; and,

d. positioning toner particles in the vicinity of the opposite side of the paper substrate to cause the particles to adhere to said opposite side of the paper substrate to reproduce the visual image.

18. In a machine for printing a visual image onto individual sheets of paper substrate having a leading edge using a cathode ray printing tube having-a selectively charged wire matrix mounted in the tube face with a prescribed height, the improvement comprising drive means operatively associated with the tube face for driving the leading edge of the sheets of paper substrate individually across the tube face and in close proximity to with the wire matrix, said drive means including a cylindrical roll member defining a driving surface of a radius substantially greater than the presecribed height of the tube face for engaging the leading edge of each sheet of paper substrate and forcing said sheet across the tube face, support means rotatably mounting said roll and constantly urging said roll member toward the tube face so that one side of the leading edge of the sheet of substrate will be engaged by said driving surface and the opposite side will be slidably supported on the tube face so that said roll member will drivingly engage the leading edge of the sheet of paper substrate to drive same across the tube face in close proximity to the wire matrix as said roll member is rotated; means for selectively rotating said roll member at a presecribed speed; and, feed means for selectively feeding the leading edge of the sheet of paper substrate into engagement with said driving surface of said roll member and the tube face, said support means including a resilient spring urging said roll member toward said tube face and a stop for arresting movement of said roll member so that said driving surface does not contact the tube face but is spaced therefrom a distance less than the thickness of the sheet of paper substrate.

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Claims

1. A machine for reproducing the visual image on documents onto a paper substrate comprising: support means; display means carried by said support means for selectively displaying said document; camera means for scanning said document and for converting the visual image on said document onto a corresponding electrical video signal; imaging means for selectively exposing said visual image on said document to said camera means; a cathode ray printing tube means having a wire matrix; circuit means electrically connecting said camera means to said cathode ray tube means to cause said wire matrix to be electrically charged in a pattern corresponding to the visual image exposed to said camera means; and, including means for reversing the electrical image produced by said camera means; transport means for selectively moving the paper substrate by and closely adjacent to said wire matrix at a rate corresponding to the exposure rate of the visual image to said camera means; and developing means for converting said electrically charged image imposed on said paper substrate into a visual image including a member for positively forcing said paper substrate across said wire matrix at a rate corresponding to the exposure rate of the visual image to said camera means, toner particles, and means for applying said toner particles to the electrically charged image imposed on said paper substrate on that side of said paper substrate opposite said wire matrix.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said means for applying said toner particles to said paper and said member for positively forcing said paper substrate include roll means having a driving surface engaging said paper substrate at said wire matrix to force same by said wire matrix and for transporting said toner particles into close proximity to that side of said paper substrate opposite said wire matrix and wherein said developing means includes drive means for rotating said driving surface of said roll means at the same rate as the exposure rate of the visual image to said camera means.

17. A method of duplicating the visual image on a document onto a paper substrate including the steps of: a. converting the visual image on the document into an electrical charge pattern; b. reversing the charge pattern thus formed so that the resulting charge pattern corresponds to a mirror image of the visual image on the document; c. imposing the reversed electrical charge pattern on one side of the paper substrate; and, d. positioning toner particles in the vicinity of the opposite side of the paper substrate to cause the particles to adhere to said opposite side of the paper substrate to reproduce the visual image.

18. In a machine for printing a visual image onto individual sheets of a paper substrate having a leading edge using a cathode ray printing tube having a selectively charged wire matrix mounted in the tube face with a prescribed height, the improvement comprising drive means operatively associated with the tube face for driving the leading edge of the sheets of paper substrate individually across the tube face and in close proximity to with the wire matrix, said drive means including a cylindrical roll member defining a driving surface of a radius substantially greater than the presecribed height of the tube face for engaging the leading edge of each sheet of paper substrate and forcing said sheet across the tube face, support means rotatably mounting said roll and constantly urging said roll member toward the tube face so that one side of the leading edge of the sheet of substrate will be engaged by said driving surface and the opposite side will be slidably supported on the tube face so that said roll member will drivingly engage the leading edge of the sheet of paper substrate to drive same across the tube face in close proximity to the wire matrix as said roll member is rotated; means for selectively rotating said roll member at a prescribed speed; and, feed means for selectively feeding the leading edge of the sheet of paper substrate into engagement with said driving surface of said roll member and the tube face, said support means including a resilient spring urging said roll member toward said tube face and a stop for arresting movement of said roll member so that said driving surface does not contact the tube face but is spaced therefrom a distance less than the thickness of the sheet of paper substrate.