Patent GB-797548-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to facsimile apparatus
IPC: H04L21/00
Filed: 1955-09-01
Abstract: 797,548. Copying-telegraphy. EASTMAN KODAK CO. Sept. 1, 1955 [Nov. 18, 1954], No. 25086/55. Class 40 (3). Apparatus for translating into visual representation characters denoted by a code arranged in successive lines of a medium which is scanned to produce output pulses according to the code and which are passed via various networks to control a multi-unit switching assembly arranged to be equivalent to the columns and rows of a matrix and in which marking means associated with each row of the matrix and following collateral paths on a record surface are operated selectively and simultaneously for each of the successive columns of the matrix to produce a rectangular mosaic of dots for the character, includes means for selectively interconnecting signals representative of the character in an inverted order so that the output of the rows of the switching assembly cause the marking means to produce an inverted visual representation of the characters on the record surface. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 which is generally similar to that of Specification 792,861, the signal impulses derived from photb-cells 11 in accordance with the perforations in section A of punched card 10 are applied through a code distribution circuit 21 to a memory circuit 22 under control of an arrangement 20 comprising a slotted disc and a photo-cell providing a synchronizing pulse for each column of perforations on the sections A, B, C, D of the card. The signals from the circuit arrangement 20 are also passed to a ring circuit having a number of units equal to the number of coded lines present in each of the sections. A circuit 25 provided for each character seven impulses which are passed to a seven-stage flip-flop circuit 27 providing five pulses over conductors 28 for controlling the passage of five sequential sets of impulses from a matrix 37 to amplifier stages 47 ... 53 connected to the seven printing members 65 ... 71 operating to print simultaneously a selected number of dots in line across the tape 63 lying under a carbon tape 62. A seventh pulse is applied to a ring chain 26 controlling the memory circuit 22 to pass pulses over leads 30 to a circuit 31 producing combinations of pulses applied to a decoding device 32 which generates a voltage on one of the conductors 34 appropriate to the selected character and leading to a circuit 35 which synthesises the impulses corresponding to the character and controls the matrix 37 which under control of the five successive pulses on the leads 28 applies pulses selectively to the seven conductors 40 ... 46 which are normally connected to the amplifiers 47 ... 53. If the letters or numerals produced on the tape 63 are to be inverted, the switch 75 is moved upwardly so that the upper conductors 75a are inoperative and the lower connectors. 75b are operative, the output from conductor 40 being applied to amplifier 53 and that from conductor 46 being connected to amplifier 47. Similarly, the outputs from the conductors 41, 42 are interchanged respectively with those from conductors 45, 44, the output from the conductor 43 passing in either case to the amplifier 50. If the coded information in the areas A, B, C, D represents the four lines of an address and the characters are simultaneously reproduced by four sets of seven styli, such as 65 ... 71, it is necessary, if the address is to be printed by heat applied to the unmarked surface of the strip, that the positions of the lines of characters should be inverted, i.e. the fourth line as the first line, the third line as the second line and so forth. This operation together with the reversal of the individual characters, is effected by the switching arrangement shown in Fig. 2 in which the outputs of the four matrix members, such as 37, are applied to four groups of seven conductors indicated at 80 ... 83, and the inputs to the four sets of amplifiers connected to the seven styli of the four printers are indicated at 84 ... 87. For normal reproduction, the switches 88 ... 95 are in the positions shown, the pulses on the sets 80 ... 83 of conductors passing without change to the corresponding conductors of the sets 84 ... 87. When the address in inverted form is to be reproduced, the switches 88 ... 95 are rotated through 180 degrees and, for example, a pulse on conductor 80a of the first set 80 passes through switch member 94 to the seventh output connection 87a of the set 87 leading to the fourth printer assembly. Similarly the pulse on the seventh conductor of the fourth set 83 will pass via switch 95 to the first output connection 84a of the set 84 leading to the first printing assembly. Other path connections can similarly be traced. Specifications 711,497 and 711,498 also are referred to.