Patent US3723646A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3723646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for reconstruction of images
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract Code signals for reproduction of original graphic representations are stored in a memory, unloaded, and synchronously processed to control the charging of individual liquid drops which form dots in the proper matrix locations. The print-out is made through control of individual marking drops which are selectively charged and deposited on or diverted from the receiving member according to the code signals. A clock generates synchronizing signals which control the rate and regularity of drop generation, the rate of relative movement between the receiving member and the stream of drops, and the unloading of information signals from the memory and their application to the drop charging apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 D Behane
- 👤 W Marshall
- 👤 L Spradley
- 👤 L Cahill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/032; H04N1/034; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In apparatus for the precise placement of liquid drops on a receiving surface, said apparatus including a source of positionally correlating information defining the location of dots making up the image, means for generating and projecting a stream of separate uniformly sized drops of liquid along a predetermined initial trajectory, stimulating means operating on said drop generating means to cause uniform drop size and spacing between successive drops, charging means located along the drop path and constructed and arranged to apply an electrostatic charge selectively to the individual drops, means providing a deflection field along the drop path downstream of said charging means, for deflecting charged drops into a different trajectory, means supporting a receiving surface intersecting one of said trajectories, means for interrupting drops following the other trajectory, and drive means producing relative movement between said drop generating means and saiD supporting means; the improvement comprising clock means generating pulses at a rate corresponding to the desired size and spacing of drops, means connecting said clock means to control said stimulating means and said drive means, a memory receiving and storing said positionally correlated information from said source, said memory having an output control also connected to said clock means for unloading information synchronously with drop generation, and a connection from said output control to said charging means for producing an accurately registered image on said receiving member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In apparatus for the precise placement of liquid drops on a receiving surface, said apparatus including a source of positionally correlating information defining the location of dots making up the image, means for generating and projecting a stream of separate uniformly sized drops of liquid along a predetermined initial trajectory, stimulating means operating on said drop generating means to cause uniform drop size and spacing between successive drops, charging means located along the drop path and constructed and arranged to apply an electrostatic charge selectively to the individual drops, means providing a deflection field along the drop path downstream of said charging means, for deflecting charged drops into a different trajectory, means supporting a receiving surface intersecting one of said trajectories, means for interrupting drops following the other trajectory, and drive means producing relative movement between said drop generating means and saiD supporting means; the improvement comprising clock means generating pulses at a rate corresponding to the desired size and spacing of drops, means connecting said clock means to control said stimulating means and said drive means, a memory receiving and storing said positionally correlated information from said source, said memory having an output control also connected to said clock means for unloading information synchronously with drop generation, and a connection from said output control to said charging means for producing an accurately registered image on said receiving member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting the receiving surface is a rotatable drum driven by said drive means, and said drive means also includes means for moving said drop generating means longitudinally of said drum to direct drops toward all possible dot locations in the image area of the receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of information is a magnetic storage in which the dot locations for an image are retained, said memory having a capacity to store only a part of the information for the entire image, and said output control including register means arranged to unload information from said memory and to supply the information serially to said charging means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, including pulse generator means and an associated control circuit constructed and arranged to unload information from said magnetic storage into said memory at a rate sufficient to maintain a continuing supply of information to said output control as it transmits information serially to said charging means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for the precise placement of liquid drops on a receiving surface to form an image, comprising a source of positionally correlated information defining the location of dots making up the image, means for generating and projecting a stream of separate uniformly sized drops of liquid along a predetermined trajectory, stimulating means operating on said drop generating means to cause uniform predetermined spacing between successive drops, charging means located along the drop path and constructed and arranged to apply an electrostatic charge selectively to any individual drop, means providing a constant deflection field along the drop path downstream of said charging means, means supporting a receiving surface intersecting said trajectory, means for preventing the deflected drops from depositing on the receiving surface, drive means including a motor producing movement of said supporting means past said drop generating means at a constant rate, a buffer receiving and storing said positionally correlated information from said source, a clock controlling the speed of said motor, generating marking pulses for gating the output of information from the buffer in positional correlation with the movement of the receiving surface, and driving the stimulator in synchronism with said marking pulses, and, an output connection from said buffer to said charging means for producing an image on said receiving member having correct register in the direction of said relative movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for the precise placement of liquid drops on a receiving surface to form an image, comprising a source of positionally correlated information defining the location of dots making up the image, means for generating and projecting a stream of separate uniformly sized drops of liquid along a predetermined trajectory, stimulating means operating on said drop generating means to cause uniform predetermined spacing between successive drops, charging means located along the drop path and constructed and arranged to apply an electrostatic charge selectively to any individual drop, means providing a constant deflection field along the drop path downstream of said charging means, means supporting a receiving surface intersecting said trajectory, means for preventing the deflected drops from depositing on the receiving surface, drive means including a motor producing movement of said supporting means past said drop generating means at a constant rate, a buffer receiving and storing said positionally correlated information from said source, a clock controlling the speed of said motor, generating marking pulses for gating the output of information from the buffer in positional correlation with the movement of the receiving surface, and driving the stimulator in synchronism with said marking pulses, and, an output connection from said buffer to said charging means for producing an image on said receiving member having correct register in the direction of said relative movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |