Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1994-11-07
2001-09-04
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C399S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285469
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a portable facsimile machine design. The device in particular, relates to a slender shape which is unstable in its upright operating mode without the aid of rotating arms that pivot at both ends. These arms lock in an open position to provide necessary stability during operation and also lock in a closed position to minimize occupied space during transportation and storage. In the closed position, the arms follow the profile and contours of the ends forming an extension of the main body's shape without any noticeable projections.
Conventional facsimile components and communication methods are utilized by the invention. What is unique about the invention is the fact that a single drive roller is utilized for scanning, printing, facsimile and copying as disclosed in prior art by the Inventor Raja S. Tuli in application No. 08/020,368, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,697, is herein incorporated by reference. Multiple drive rollers and motors, or reversal of the main drive roller for scanning and printing operations, are not required as found in conventional methods, since the scanned document and the printed media move in parallel planes in opposite directions on opposite sides of the single drive roller, in accordance with the present invention. The thermal sensitive print media, either sheet feed or roll form, is externally stored enabling compact lightweight design and portability.
An object of the present invention is to provide a design for a portable means of facsimile and copying documents with external media feed and storage. The external surface of the main body is fitted with contoured projections to correctly position and guide an external thermal sensitive paper roll, which by the nature of the design and direction of travel of the paper, rotate the paper roll snugly against the body of the device without the need for additional fixation means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, a portable facsimile and copier is constructed having properties of lightweight, slim design, and unique operational stability arms. The device has portable practical applications as a facsimile and copy machine, with the added features of external media storage and positioning means.
The heart of the invention lies in the rotating arm mechanism. Only one roller is used in the invention to drive the printer and also the scanner, individually at separate times or simultaneously as required. This significant accomplishment in reducing power and space requirements considerably for this machine, as only one motor is required instead of two or more, was achieved by positioning the scanner and print head on opposite sides of the single drive roller. The thermal sensitive print media and scanned document traverse in parallel planes, in opposite directions, and on opposite sides of the drive roller. Due to the slender profile of the present device with the base narrower than the height, it becomes very unstable in its upright operating mode. To solve this problem, arms pivoted at each end rotate and lock into an opened position thus providing a stable position for the device in which it is no longer vertically upright, but at an angle where print media can enter without difficulty and scanned documents can also be fed without obstruction by the print media roll. The arms lock into a closed position in which they follow the contours of the main body as an extension of the device without any noticeable protrusions.
Locating the print media, either in sheet form or roll form, with respect to the printer of the device, is accomplished by alignment projections on the main body which guide the media into its correct position over the print head, and also prevent the roll or sheet from sliding perpendicular to its direction of travel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4527149 (1985-07-01), Swensen
patent: 4735394 (1988-04-01), Facco
patent: 4856748 (1989-08-01), Obermeyer
patent: 5264949 (1993-11-01), Stemmle
patent: 5420697 (1995-05-01), Tuli
patent: 5469327 (1995-11-01), Cheng
Toatley, Jr. Gregory
Wong Peter S.
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