Thermofax

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Thermo-Fax (very often Thermo fax ) is a 3M trademark name for copying technology introduced in 1950. It is a form of thermographic printing and a dry example of the silver process. This is a significant advance because no chemicals are needed, other than those on the photocopy itself. Thin-sensitive photocopy paper sheets are placed on original documents to be copied, and exposed to infrared energy. Wherever the image on the original paper contains carbon, the image absorbs infrared energy when heated. The hot image then transfers heat to the heat-sensitive paper that produces the original black copy image.

Video Thermofax

Model 12

The first commercially available Thermofax machine is Model 12. The original 'layup' and copy paper are placed on stationary glass plates and infrared lights and the assembly reflector moves beneath the glass, radiating upward. The layers are held in position with the lid with the inflatable rubber which is locked by the user.

Maps Thermofax

Model 17

In the next version, starting with Model 17, the layup is inserted into the slot, and is continuously exposed when it passes through the lamp and reflector. Model 17 and successors are machines on the table, about the size of a typewriter of the same era.

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System Q

A variation of this technology is a billing system called Q System, commonly used by medical and dental offices. A 'master' consisting of a sheet of heavy backing paper and a thin piece of paper taped over it at the top edge is made for each patient. The billing entry is then made with a pencil on a thin sheet for each patient visit. To make a copy of the invoice, a sheet of heat-sensitive paper is inserted between the backing and the entry sheet and through the ThermoFax machine, Model 47 is the most commonly used.

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Transparency

As a sophisticated copying technology, the Thermofax machine is then marketed as a method of generating transparency (viewgraphs) for overhead projector presentations. A sensitive heat sensitive sheet is placed on top of the original, and passes ThermoFax, producing a black image in clear stock. This app sees general use until the 1980s, and special use thereafter.

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The modern usage

In 2009, Thermofax machines are still widely used by artists. In addition to making copies, the Thermofax machine can be used to create a "spirit master" for a spirit duplicator machine. The tattoo artist uses this spirit master as a tattoo stencil, to quickly and accurately mark out the tattoo lines on the skin of the person to be tattooed using a transfer solution. Textile artists and Graphic Art use these machines to create silk screens within seconds by running a piece of Riso film through with a photocopy of the image.

Riso film is a Japanese silk screen product consisting of a Plastic-type plastic that has been tied to a screen net of various sizes. When Riso's film is exposed to an infrared light bulb inside the machine, the plastic-side emulsion side opens wherever there is ink toner on the photocopy. Paints and other media can then be filtered after the film is mounted on the frame. The barrel imaging inside the Thermofax is 8.5 "wide, but the film can be long.This modern use has maintained the demand for most of the Thermofax engine models.

The 45EGA model is made with an electrical defect that requires a conversion kit to be installed for safe use of the machine. The unconverted 45EGA model is still considered a fire hazard.

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Disadvantages

The Thermofax process is temperamental. The coated paper tends to curl, and becomes heat sensitive, the copy not the archive. Darkness settings are difficult to adjust, and drift when the engine heats up. Darkness often varies, some parts of the text are too bright and others are too dark. Since the absorption of ink heat does not necessarily correlate with its visible appearance, there is sometimes idiosyncrasies; some ink that looks almost black to the eye may not copy at all, and lighting arrangements that work well for some original documents may require changes to make copies that can be used with others.

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Cost comparison

Copies of termofax are not expensive. One business book confirms that the research done by Xerox before introducing their photocopier came to the conclusion that "no one will pay 5Ã, Â ¢ for regular paper copies when they can get a copy of Thermofax for one and a half cents." Fortunately, "Xerox ignored the research."

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Terminology of the US Army

In some segments of the US Army, contemporary terminology for Thermofax copier is "combustion engine," so named because of the heat involved in the process and the warmth of the resulting copy. The resulting terminology includes "burn copy" and "burn copy." Perhaps apocryphal, a senior officer is said to have ordered, in connection with important secret documents, "Burn this for me." In response, a junior officer did just that.

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Contemporary reference

Contemporary references to the Thermofax process are not free:

They have - what they call it chocolate? Thermofax, right. It was the first copy machine and they did not look like anything. The color is brown and they are faded.

Marjorie Spock has invested in one of the earliest models of thermofax machines he kept in his basement. It was a rough affair that continued to overheat, belching smoke and smelling smoke from strange sprockets and sending charred brown paper, sometimes completely burned and barely legible at best.

The only thing we have at the moment, is what they call the thermofax machine, which is very strange. It's on very bad tissue paper and a very obscure picture. But we are desperate and that is the only way to make a copy.

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Cultural reference

• Thermofax is the name of the dragon in the Wishbringer text adventure by Infocom.
• The Thermo-fax machine is used to copy the bank's destructive thefts theft plan in the British film Payroll (1961)

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See also

• List of duplicates
• Duplication engine
• Print

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia