GB1403761A - Sheet control arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

1403761 Contact printing RICOH KK 20 Oct 1972 [17 Nov 1971 2 Feb 1972] 48377/72 Heading G2A In the automatic contact printing of a predetermined number of copies 8 of a single original 7 held between an internally illuminated continuously rotating cylinder 1 and an endless driving belt 4, operation of a push-button switch 31 causes teeth 9A/B (in the position of Fig. 1) to grip the leading edge of original 7 just before the nip between cylinder 1 and belt 4 and anticlockwise rotation of teeth-carrying rings 18 in synchronism with cylinder 1. Rings 18 are halted temporarily on a complete rotation until the trailing edge of original 7 passes a sensor 32 (allowing copying of an original of greater length than the circumference of cylinder 1) whereafter the cycle is repeated until a pre-set counter (fed with a signal each time the leading edge of original 7 passes sensor 32) causes opening of teeth 9A/B (in the position of Fig. 7) adjacent a suction tank 14 allowing original 7 to be passed by an endless belt 13 to a discharge tray 15. Teeth 9A/B are preferably of thin transparent material. A clockwise biased shaft 23 (to which teeth 9A are rigidly connected and teeth 9B are pivotally connected with an anti-clockwise bias) is rotated anti-clockwise to open teeth 9A/B by the action of a solenoid-operated lever 27 on a roller 26 carried by an arm 25 rigidly connected to shaft 23. Teeth 9A/B are similarly closed by, the reverse action of a solenoid-operated lever 27. Teethcarrying rings 18 are driven by belt 4 through a control connection (22), Fig. 5 (not shown), having an electromagnetic clutch and brake. Photo-sensitive sheet material is fed automatically from a roll 8A and a cutter 17 to the nip between cylinder 1 and belt 4 at the same time as original 7 and, after exposure, is removed from cylinder 1 by means of a suction tank 10 and passed through a development station 11 to a receiving tray 12.