Combined facsimile receiving and sending unit

Claim 2

In a transceiver device for transmitting data signals corresponding to data on the surface of a document to a remote receiver, an elongated light collecting tube having a pair of aligned slit openings extending laterally along and spaced 180* from each other about said tube, a reflective interior surface, and an open end, means for moving a document along the outer wall of said tube opposite a first one of said slits and transverse to both the first slit and the direction of elongation of the tube, means for projecting a scanning beam of light through the first and second ones of the slit openings onto the data bearing surface of said document, so that a pattern of light and shadow is reflected from the document back through said first slit opening into said tube, and light responsive means mounted in the open end of said tube for receiving said reflected pattern and in response thereto producing data signals transmittable to said remote source.

Claim 3

A transceiver device as claimed in claim 1 further including a fiber optic bundle interposed between said first slit and said document, said fiber optic bundle channeling light reflected from the surface of said document into the interior of said light collecting tube.

Claim 4

A transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending to a remote receiver data signals corresponding to information recorded on a document, and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote source, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: document transport means for moving a document fed into said transceiver device along a predetermined feed path; document scanning means located along said path; first and second document sensing means located in spaced apart relation along said path ahead of said scanning means; means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means for causing said document transport means to move said document to said second sensing means; and, logic control means causing said transport means to move said document past said scanning means a predetermined distance for prescanning a portion of said document and to return said document to said second sensing means prior to said transport moving said document entirely past said scanning means, whereby said information recorded on said document is transmitted to a remote receiving station.

Claim 5

A transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending to a remote receiver data signals corresponding to information recorded on a document, and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote source, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: document transport means for moving a document fed into said transceiver device along a predetermined feed path; document scanning means located along said path; first and second document sensing means located in spaced apart relation along said path ahead of said scanning means; means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means for causing said document transport means to move said document to said second sensing means; and, logic control means causing said transport means to move said document past said scanning means a predetermined distance for prescanning a portion of said document and to return said document to said second sensing means prior to said transport moving said document entirely past said scanning means, whereby said information recorded on said document is transmitted to a remote receiving station.

Claim 6

A transceiver device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said document scanning means includes a light source for illuminating said document, a light collecting means for collecting light reflected from the information bearing surface of said document and means for converting said reflected light into transmittable signals.

Claim 7

A transceiver device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said light source includes a cathode ray tube having a face portion along which a scanning electron beam is projected to illuminate said document.

Claim 8

A transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending to a remote receiver data signals corresponding to information recorded on a document, and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote source, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: document transport means for moving a document fed into said transceiver device along a predetermined feed path; document scanning means located along said path; first and second document sensing means located in spaced apart relation along said path ahead of said scanning means; means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means for causing said document transport means to move said document to said second sensing means; signal blocking means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means to block incoming data signals from said transceiver device during the transmitting mode; and logic control means for controlling the movement of said document past said document scanning means in response to said document being sensed by said second sensing means, said logic control means causing said document transport means to move said document past said scanning means, whereby said information recorded on said document is transmitted to a remote receiving station.

Claim 9

A transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending to a remote receiver data signals corresponding to information recorded on a document, and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote source, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: document transport means for moving a document fed into said transceiver device along a predetermined feed path; document scanning means located along said path; first and second document sensing means located in spaced apart relation along said path ahead of said scanning means; means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means for causing said document transport means to move said document to said second sensing means; signal blocking means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means to block incoming data signals from said transceiver device during the transmitting mode; and logic control means for controlling the movement of said document past said document scanning means in response to said document being sensed by said second sensing means, said logic control means causing said document transport means to move said document past said scanning means, whereby said information recorded on said document is transmitted to a remote receiving station.

Claim 10

A transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending to a remote receiver data signals corresponding to information recorded on a document, and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote source, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: document transport means for moving a document fed into said transceiver device along a predetermined feed path; document scanning means located along said path; said document scanning means including a light source for illuminating said document, light collecting means comprising an elongated tubular member having a reflective inner surface, an opening therein and first and second aligned slits extending along the wall of the member and spaced from each other 180* thereabout, for receiving light reflected from the surface of said document, and light converting means including photosensitive means mounted in said opening in said tubular member for receiving light reflected along the inner surface of said member and converting said light into transmittable data signals; first and second document sensing means located in spaced apart relation along said path ahead of said scanning means; means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means for causing said document transport means to move said document to said sensing means; and logic control means for controlling the movement of said document past said document scanning means in response to said document being sensed by said second sensing means, said logic control means causing said document transport means to move said document past said scanning means, whereby said information recorded on said document is transmitted to a remote receiving station.

Claim 11

A transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending to a remote receiver data signals corresponding to information recorded on a document, and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote source, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: document transport means for moving a document fed into said transceiver device along a predetermined feed path; document scanning means located along said path; said document scanning means including a light source for illuminating said document, light collecting means comprising an elongated tubular member having a reflective inner surface, an opening therein and first and second aligned slits extending along the wall of the member and spaced from each other 180* thereabout, for receiving light reflected from the surface of said document, and light converting means including photosensitive means mounted in said opening in said tubular member for receiving light reflected along the inner surface of said member and converting said light into transmittable data signals; first and second document sensing means located in spaced apart relation along said path ahead of said scanning means; means responsive to the sensing of said document at said first sensing means for causing said document transport means to move said document to said sensing means; and logic control means for controlling the movement of said document past said document scanning means in response to said document being sensed by said second sensing means, said logic control means causing said document transport means to move said document past said scanning means, whereby said information recorded on said document is transmitted to a remote receiving station.

Claim 12

A transceiver device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said photosensitive means includes a photomultiplier.

Claim 13

A data transmission system comprising a transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending data signals corresponding to information recorded on a data bearing document, to a remote receiver and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote transmitter, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: a supply of copy material; charging, exposing, developing and fusing stations arranged along a copy path and each including appropriate copy processing instrumentalities; transport means for transporting said copy material along said copy path past said stations; means responsive to signals from said remote transmitter to operate the copy processing instrumentalities and to operate said transport means to move said copy material a predetermined distance past said charging station toward said exposing station; means for signaling said remote transmitter upon said copy material being positioned at a predetermined location along said path in a ready position for imaging means included in said remote transmitter, and responsive to signals from said last-mentioned signaling means for controlling the movement of said copy material through said exposing station; means for controlling said transport means to move said copy material past said developing and fusing stations subsequent to the movement of said copy material by signals from said remote transmitter means.

Claim 14

A data transmission system comprising a transceiver device operable to a transmitting mode for sending data signals corresponding to information recorded on a data bearing document, to a remote receiver and to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from a remote transmitter, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device including: a supply of copy material; charging, exposing, developing and fusing stations arranged along a copy path and each including appropriate copy processing instrumentalities; transport means for transporting said copy material along said copy path past said stations; means responsive to signals from said remote transmitter to operate the copy processing instrumentalities and to operate said transport means to move said copy material a predetermined distance past said charging station toward said exposing station; means for signaling said remote transmitter upon said copy material being positioned at a predetermined location along said path in a ready position for imaging means included in said remote transmitter, and responsive to signals from said last-mentioned signaling means for controlling the movement of said copy material through said exposing station; means for controlling said transport means to move said copy material past said developing and fusing stations subsequent to the movement of said copy material by signals from said remote transmitter means.

Claim 15

A transceiver device connectable to a remote transmitter and operable to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from said transmitter, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device comprising the usual copy proceSsing instrumentalities including charging, exposing, developing and fusing stations disposed along a copy path; a supply of copy material; transport means for moving said copy material along said copy path; means responsive to first signals received from said transmitter to operate said copying instrumentalities and to operate said transport means to move said copy material past said charging station towards said exposing station; means for indicating to said remote transmitter the arrival of said copy material at said exposing station to cause said remote transmitter to assume control of the movement of said copy material through said exposing station in accordance with signals transmitted therefrom; and means for controlling said transport means to move said copy material past said developing and fusing stations subsequent to the movement of said copy material past said exposing station.

Claim 16

A transceiver device connectable to a remote transmitter and operable to a receiving mode for receiving data signals from said transmitter, converting the signals into visible information and producing a hard copy thereof, said transceiver device comprising the usual copy proceSsing instrumentalities including charging, exposing, developing and fusing stations disposed along a copy path; a supply of copy material; transport means for moving said copy material along said copy path; means responsive to first signals received from said transmitter to operate said copying instrumentalities and to operate said transport means to move said copy material past said charging station towards said exposing station; means for indicating to said remote transmitter the arrival of said copy material at said exposing station to cause said remote transmitter to assume control of the movement of said copy material through said exposing station in accordance with signals transmitted therefrom; and means for controlling said transport means to move said copy material past said developing and fusing stations subsequent to the movement of said copy material past said exposing station.

Claim 17

In a transceiver device for transmitting data signals corresponding to data on the surface of a document to a remote receiver, an illumination source comprising a cathode ray tube providing a scanning light beam for scanning the data bearing surface of said document; optical means for directing said scanning light beam from said source to the data bearing surface of said document; means for collecting light reflected from said document as said scanning light beam traverses the data bearing surface of said document, said light collecting means comprising a hollow and elongated tubular member having a reflective interior surface and slit extending along the wall of said tubular member through which light reflected from said document surface passes into the interior of said tubular member, said tubular member including a second slit extending along the wall therof spaced from said first-mentioned slit 180* about said tubular member, said scanning light beam passing through both said slits to illuminate the data bearing surface of said document; and photosensitive means mounted in said light collecting tubular member for receiving light collected in said tubular member and for converting said light rays as they are received into transmittable data signals.

Claim 18

In a transceiver device for transmitting data signals corresponding to data on the surface of a document to a remote receiver, an illumination source comprising a cathode ray tube providing a scanning light beam for scanning the data bearing surface of said document; optical means for directing said scanning light beam from said source to the data bearing surface of said document; means for collecting light reflected from said document as said scanning light beam traverses the data bearing surface of said document, said light collecting means comprising a hollow and elongated tubular member having a reflective interior surface and slit extending along the wall of said tubular member through which light reflected from said document surface passes into the interior of said tubular member, said tubular member including a second slit extending along the wall therof spaced from said first-mentioned slit 180* about said tubular member, said scanning light beam passing through both said slits to illuminate the data bearing surface of said document; and photosensitive means mounted in said light collecting tubular member for receiving light collected in said tubular member and for converting said light rays as they are received into transmittable data signals.

Claim 19

A transceiver device as claimed in claim 5 wherein at one end of said tubular member there is provided a mirrored surface facing the interior of the tubular member and wherein at the opposite end of the tubular member there is provided a photomultiplier for receiving light reflected from within the tubular member, and converting said light as it is received into transmittable data signals.

Claim 20

A transceiver device as claimed in claim 5 further including a video signal generator connected to said photomultiplier and having gain control means for increasing the amplitude of weaker signals produced by said photomultiplier.

Claim 21

A copy transceiver unit for making copies of originals on copy material in response to received electrical signals and producing electrical signals representing originals to be transmitted comprising a copy making assembly for making a copy on copy material and including first drive means for moving copy material along a path through the copy making assembly, an original scanning assembly for providing electrical signals representing an original to be copied, said original scanning assembly including second drive means for moving an original along a path through the original scanning assembly, one single controllable source of radiation forming a part of both said copy making assembly and said original scanning assembly and operable according to two different modes of operation, a mode control operable to a first setting to render said first drive means effective, to inhibit said second drive means, and to operate said single controllable source in a first mode such that it is responsive to control by received electrical signals to make a copy on the copy material advanced along its path by said first drive means, said mode coNtrol also being operable to a second setting to render said second drive means effective to move an original along its path, to inhibit the first drive means, and to operate the single controllable source in a second mode such that it illuminates the original as it moves along the path, sensing means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the copy material and responsive to the copy material in it path, and means controlled by the sensing means for enabling operation of the receiving mode of the transceiver unit with the mode control in said first setting.

Claim 22

A copy transceiver unit for making copies of originals on copy material in response to received electrical signals and producing electrical signals representing originals to be transmitted comprising a copy making assembly for making a copy on copy material and including first drive means for moving copy material along a path through the copy making assembly, an original scanning assembly for providing electrical signals representing an original to be copied, said original scanning assembly including second drive means for moving an original along a path through the original scanning assembly, one single controllable source of radiation forming a part of both said copy making assembly and said original scanning assembly and operable according to two different modes of operation, a mode control operable to a first setting to render said first drive means effective, to inhibit said second drive means, and to operate said single controllable source in a first mode such that it is responsive to control by received electrical signals to make a copy on the copy material advanced along its path by said first drive means, said mode coNtrol also being operable to a second setting to render said second drive means effective to move an original along its path, to inhibit the first drive means, and to operate the single controllable source in a second mode such that it illuminates the original as it moves along the path, sensing means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the copy material and responsive to the copy material in it path, and means controlled by the sensing means for enabling operation of the receiving mode of the transceiver unit with the mode control in said first setting.

Claim 23

The copy transceiver unit set forth in claim 14 including first and second optical means for coupling the controllable source to the copy making and original scanning assemblies, said first and second optical means including a portion common to both of said first and second optical means.

Claim 24

A copy transceiver unit for making copies of originals on copy material in response to received electrical signals and producing electrical signals representing originals to be transmitted comprising a copy making assembly for making a copy on copy material and including first drive means for moving copy material along a path through the copy making assembly, an original scanning assembly for providing electrical signals representing an original to be copied, said original scanning assembly including second drive means for moving an original along a path through the original scanning assembly, one single controllable source of radiation forming a part of both said copy making assembly and said original scanning assembly and operable according to two different modes of operation, a mode control operable to a first setting to render said first drive means effective, to inhibit said second drive means, and to operate said single controllable source in a first mode such that it is responsive to control by received electrical signals to make a copy on the copy material advanced along its path by said first drive means, said mode control also being operable to a second setting to render said second drive means effective to move an original along its path, to inhibit the first drive means, and to operate the single controllable source in a second mode such that it illuminates the original as it moves along the path, sensing means disposed adjacent and responsive to an original in the path of movement of the original, and means controlled by the sensing means for inhibiting operation of the receiving mode of the transceiver unit with the mode control in said first setting.

Claim 25

A copy transceiver unit for making copies of originals on copy material in response to received electrical signals and producing electrical signals representing originals to be transmitted comprising a copy making assembly for making a copy on copy material and including first drive means for moving copy material along a path through the copy making assembly, an original scanning assembly for providing electrical signals representing an original to be copied, said original scanning assembly including second drive means for moving an original along a path through the original scanning assembly, one single controllable source of radiation forming a part of both said copy making assembly and said original scanning assembly and operable according to two different modes of operation, a mode control operable to a first setting to render said first drive means effective, to inhibit said second drive means, and to operate said single controllable source in a first mode such that it is responsive to control by received electrical signals to make a copy on the copy material advanced along its path by said first drive means, said mode control also being operable to a second setting to render said second drive means effective to move an original along its path, to inhibit the first drive means, and to operate the single controllable source in a second mode such that it illuminates the original as it moves along the path, sensing means disposed adjacent and responsive to an original in the path of movement of the original, and means controlled by the sensing means for inhibiting operation of the receiving mode of the transceiver unit with the mode control in said first setting.

Claim 26

A copy transceiver unit for making copies of originals on copy material in response to received electrical signals and producing electrical signals representing originals to be transmitted comprising a copy making assembly for making a copy on copy material and including first drive means for moving copy material along a path through the copy making assembly, an original scanning assembly for providing electrical signals representing an original to be copied, said original scanning assembly including second drive means for moving an original along a path through the original scanning assembly, one single controllable source of radiation forming a part of both said copy making assembly and said original scanning assembly and operable according to two different modes of operation, a mode control operable to a first setting to render said first drive means effective, to inhibit said second drive means, and to operate said single controllable source in a first mode such that it is responsive to control by received electrical signals to make a copy on the copy material advanced along its path by said first drive means, said mode control also being operable to a second setting to render said second drive means effective to move an original along its path, to inhibit the first drive means, and to operate the single controllable source in a second mode such that it illuminates the original As it moves along the path, and sensing means disposed adjacent and responsive to an original in the path of movement of the original for enabling operation of the transmitting mode of the transceiver with the mode control in it second setting.

Claim 27

A copy transceiver unit for making copies of originals on copy material in response to received electrical signals and producing electrical signals representing originals to be transmitted comprising a copy making assembly for making a copy on copy material and including first drive means for moving copy material along a path through the copy making assembly, an original scanning assembly for providing electrical signals representing an original to be copied, said original scanning assembly including second drive means for moving an original along a path through the original scanning assembly, one single controllable source of radiation forming a part of both said copy making assembly and said original scanning assembly and operable according to two different modes of operation, a mode control operable to a first setting to render said first drive means effective, to inhibit said second drive means, and to operate said single controllable source in a first mode such that it is responsive to control by received electrical signals to make a copy on the copy material advanced along its path by said first drive means, said mode control also being operable to a second setting to render said second drive means effective to move an original along its path, to inhibit the first drive means, and to operate the single controllable source in a second mode such that it illuminates the original As it moves along the path, and sensing means disposed adjacent and responsive to an original in the path of movement of the original for enabling operation of the transmitting mode of the transceiver with the mode control in it second setting.