Patent GB-789144-A (GB)
Title: Facsimile apparatus for use in producing tickets, messages and the like
IPC: H04N1/00
Filed: 1955-11-18
Abstract: 789,144. Copying telegraphy. CREED & CO., Ltd. Nov. 18, 1955 [Nov. 23, 1954], No. 33061/55. Class 40 (3). A facsimile machine in which a sheet is wrapped into cylindrical form for internal scanning comprises a cylindrical former to which is attached the leading edge of a flexible wrapper having a following portion for receiving the leading edge of the sheet between the cylindrical former and the web and means for rotating the cylindrical former through a predetermined angle so that the sheet, wrapped between the web and the former, is held in cylindrical form whilst its inner surface is being scanned. The sheet t which is in the form of a blank which carries certain preprinted information and which is to receive printed matter transmitted from a central station is normally held between a bar 20 and a stop 124 resiliently attached to a cylindrical sleeve 101 and drum 102 rotated by a reversible motor 114. The front edge of the wrapper 100 is attached by a pin 103 to the sleeve 101 and its trailing edge is secured to a drum 120 rotatable against the action of a spring which holds the wrapper 100 taut on the sleeve 101. The limiting positions of the drum are determined by pin 129, and a further pin (not shown), on a collar 130 engaged by a pin 127 on the idler gear 106 of the gear train 104 ... 110. The scanning carriage is attached to a chain 46 driven by a gear 49 and passing over a sprocket 64 which normally idles. When the scanning operation is to take place an electromagnetic clutch 62 attached to the scanning carriage is energized so that the latter is moved by the chain. At the end of the scanning traverse a switch 31 operated by an arm 79 cuts off the motor 36 so that the carriage is returned to its normal position by a spring 8 mounted on the guide and supporting shaft 54. A cam on the shaft of the gear 108 closes a normally open switch 136 when the wrapping operation commences and operates a further switch 135 to its alternative position when the wrapping operation has been completed. Soon after the commencement of the wrapping operation the presence of the sheet t is indicated by the actuation of a switch 142 by an arm 140. The stylus 44, which is preferably a tungsten wire, is mounted on an L-shaped bracket 192 pivoted at 194 to a cap 196 secured by a pin 195 to an extension of a hub 184, Fig. 10, which is secured by a pin 186 to the extension of a sleeve 50 having a split end 50a clamped by a set-screw 51 and collar 154 to the shaft 45 driven by the motor 36. The member 192 is biased by a spring 200 against a pin 198 mounted in cap 196. A drum 150 connected by a torsion spring 188 to the hub 184 has an extension 150b movable in a slot formed in the member 184 so that before the scanning operation and during the unwrapping operation the sleeve 150 is retarded so that the extension 150b moves against the shoulder 184b and rocks the L- shaped member 192 against the action of its spring 200 so that the end of the stylus 44 is moved out of contact with the inner surface of the sheet t. The retarding action is effected during the wrapping operation by brake shoes 156, Fig. 15, carried by arms 160, which engage the cylindrical extension 150a of the drum 150 and are released by the operation of an arm 166 by a magnet 172 at the commencement of the scanning operations. During the unwrapping operation when the motor is cut off, the spring 188 will act on the shaft 45 to rotate it in the reverse direction so that the stylus 44 contacts the sheet t. To counterbalance this action of the spring 188, a brake member operates on a disc secured to the shaft 45 to prevent the spring 188 from rotating the sleeve 184 and, as a result, moving the end of the stylus 44 into engagement with the sheet t. Circuit arrangements. When the operator at the central station is to transmit a message by facsimile telegraphy a voltage over the line L2 energizes a relay LR2 which operates the buzzer 28 and also illuminates a message lamp 27. The local station operator inserts a message blank instead of a coupon or ticket blank and actuates a button 22 energizing a start relay STR which locks up and operates stylus motor 36 and also the wrapper motor 114 over a circuit including the conductors 296, 297. When the blank has been wrapped, the switch 142 is closed and switch 135 is moved to its opposite position so that a relay DLR is operated and locks up. Armature 2 of relay DLR energizes the brake magnet 172 so that the stylus is released to contact the inner surface of the blank t. At armature 3 relay DLR removes ground from conductor 265 leading to a phasing amplifier 267 which compares pulses derived from the distant transmitter and pulses generated in a coil 38 by a magnet fixed to the shaft of the motor 36, the arrangement being that when the phase of the receiving motor has been adjusted by a motor 251 which operates once every 15 revolutions of the motor 36 so that such pulses are obtained simultaneously, a number, e.g. fifteen, of these pulses are integrated to produce a voltage operating a relay PHR which prevents further phase variation of the receiver by the switch 255 operated by the motor 251, and also operates the clutch coil 66 so that the carriage is slowly traversed. Also armature 9 of relay PHR short-circuits a capacitor 288<SP>1</SP> so that the normal line current is increased, and a relay at the transmitter cuts off the phasing pulses and starts the scanning operation. When the message has been scanned, the end-of-message switch 31 is operated and a relay WUR operates and locks up over a circuit including the contacts of switch 136. The relay STR releases, followed by relay PHR which opens the circuit of the clutch magnet coil 66 so that the carriage is returned to its normal position. Also the motor 114 is energized in reversed direction over conductor 297 and a further conductor to unwrap the recorded blank. The end-of-message lamp 25 is illuminated and the buzzer 28 is energized. The operation of button 24 releases relay WUR so that the lamp 25 is extinguished and the buzzer 28 silenced. For the transmission of a ticket, a coupon button operated at the transmitter operates line relay LR1 in lieu of relay LR2 and illuminates the lamp 26 so that the operator inserts a preprinted ticket form instead of a message blank. The information may be automatically recorded on an inserted sheet by the movement of switch 30 to its " on " position. If the apparatus has been set into operation without the insertion of a recording blank or a preprinted ticket, the wrapping cycle will be completed, and on operation of switch 135 to its lower contact, relay WUR will be operated over the unoperated contacts of the switch 142 and effect the lighting of lamp 25 and the sounding of the buzzer 28. As the switch 142 was not moved to its lower position, the relay DLR was not operated so that the phasing operation was not initiated.