4379. Delpy, G. Nov. 7, 1905, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Copying documents.-Relates to a rotary duplicator with various improvements, chiefly in the inking and paper - feeding devices. The drum is formed of a wire or textile fabric 11, Figs. 3 and 4, stretched over two segmental side pieces 8, 9, which are supported on wheels 1, 2 freely revolving on a shaft 4, and are coupled together by flat bars 3 parallel to the shaft. The segments 8, 9 carry tightening- screws 13, the heads of which engage with curved bars passing through loops at each side of the fabric 11, which is thus stretched transversely, while hooks 15, attached to the bars 3, hold the fabric at its ends. This fabric acts as a stencil support and ink pad, and receives ink from a roller 43, which is mounted in a support 42 carried adjustably by the shaft 4 and engages with a second roller 45 carried in a bracket 44 pivotally mounted on the shaft of the roller 43, the bracket being normally hold by a spring catch 46. The shaft 4 has at one end a handle 48, which may be locked in one of two positions. When it is desired to supply the rollers 43, 45 with ink, the shaft 4 is turned so that rollers 43, 45 are in exactly the opposite position to that shown in Fig. 4, and they are then reached through the gap in the drum. The bracket 44 is then released from the catch 46 and reciprocated while ink is applied to the rollers. A pawl and ratchet are employed to revolve the roller 43 by reciprocating the frame 44, and thus the ink is quickly and efficiently distributed. The pawl is automatically held out of engagement with the ratchet when the frame 44 is held by the catch 46. A cup 60 and perforated spraying-tube 62 are also attached to the shaft 4, and are used to facilitate the pouring of cleaning-fluid over the pad 11 &c. The table 39 from which the papers are fed has a side fence, and is adjustable laterally to determine the size of the margin ; a back stop is also provided to register the sheets if a very narrow heading is required, otherwise they are pushed past a guide against an adjustable forked stop 35. At a suitable time the pressure roller 31 is caused, through a cam 22. on the driving-shaft 20, to press the paper, the stencil, and the pad 11 against the inking-roller 43 to commence the printing. The pressure of the roller 31 is adjustable by adjusting the screw 28 on the jointed lever 25, 26. At the same time as the roller 31 is lifted, a slotted plate 32, through which the forks of the stop 35 project, and which rests on rubber or other pads 33 on the arms 30 supporting the roller 31, is raised and thereby lifts the front edge of the paper above the stops 35, to allow of its forward movement to the delivery . box. A counter 59 may be actuated by an extension 58 of one of the arms 30. A spring-controlled cam 57, frictionally engaging with a grooved wheel attached to the hub of the wheel 1, prevents the machine from being turned backwards accidentally.