US2207932A - Moistening means for duplicating machines - Google Patents

Description

y 1940. R. F. MORRISON 2,207,932

MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1957 4 Shets-Sheet 1 -July.16, 1940- R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1937 July 16, 1940. R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1937 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 y 19400 R. F. MORRISON MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 24, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES MOISTENING. MEANS FOR DUPLICATIN G MACHINES Robert F. Morrison, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application May 24, 1987, Serial No. 144,430

11 Claims.

The invention relates to moistening means for duplicating machines and is particularly adapted to be embodied in a duplicating machine of the type wherein master sheets of paper are mounted upon a printing or duplicating drum and data written or typewritten upon the master sheets is duplicated on copy sheets which are moistened with a solvent for the ink on the master sheet, the moistened surfaces of the copy sheets being 10 brought into contact with the master sheet.

The improved moistening means preferably comprises feed rollers which feed the copy sheets to the duplicating drum. Solvent is supplied to one of the feed rollers and it moistens the copy 15 sheets with the solvent as it co-operates with the other roller to advance the copy sheets to the duplicating drum. The moistening roller is preferably substantially non-absorbent but the cooperating roller is preferably absorbent so that a 20 quantity of solvent will not collect at the bight of the rollers. In the preferred form of the invention, the absorbent roller has an outer covering of felt impregnated with latex, which covering absorbs excess moisture at the bight between 25 the rollers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will presently appear, reference being had to the following description, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical 30 section taken through a duplicating machine provided with moistening means which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

35 Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feeding rollers which embody another form of the invention.

40 Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feeding rollers which embody another form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line l---'! of Fig. 6.

45 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feed rollers which embody another form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

50 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of feed rollers which embody another form of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line ll--I| of Fig. 10.

. Fig-12 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a feed roller which embodies another form of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a feed roller which embodies still another form of the invention, and 5 Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of a feed roller which embodies still another form of the invention.

Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, which embody a preferred form of the 10 invention, the reference character 20 designates the frame of a duplicating machine of a well known type. Journaled on a shaft 2| mounted in the frame 20 is'a duplicating drum 22 provided with means (not shown) whereby a sheet of paper may be clamped to the drum. Disposed beneath and in engagement with the cylindrical surface of the drum 22 is a platen roller 23 mounted on a shaft 24 journaled in ball bearings 25 which are carried by levers 36a pivoted upon pins 37a projecting from the frame 20.

Briefly, the functions of the duplicating drum 22 and the platen roller 23 are this: A master sheet is first obtained by typing or writing upon a sheet of paper with a carbon sheet contacting the back surface thereof. The typing or writing appears in reverse on the back side of the sheet. This sheet, called the master sheet, is then clamped to the duplicating drum which is then rotated. The copies are obtained by advancing copy sheets between the drum'22 and the platen roller 23 so that each copy sheet is brought into contact with the data on the master sheet. The copy sheets are moistened, preferably, on one side with a solvent for the ink or carbon on the master sheet before they are brought into contact with the master sheet. As is well known to those skilled in the art, a relatively large number of copies may be made by practicing this method.

The means for feeding the copy sheets to the 40 duplicating drum 22 and the platen roller 23 preferably comprises co-operating feeding and moistening rollers 30 and 3| disposed in the frame 20 so that when they are rotated in the proper directions they will advance the copy sheets between them to the bight of the duplicating drum 22 and the platen roller 23. The roller 30 is adapted to apply the solvent to the copy sheets, the solvent being supplied preferably to the roller 30 by a strip of felt 34, or the equivalent, which contacts the cylindrical surface of the roller 30. The strip of felt 34 is secured to a container 35 to which solvent is delivered through a tube 36, the solvent being obtained from a reservoir or receptacle 3'1 and fed to the tube 36 by any suitable means (not shown). Projecting from the container is a strip of felt 38 which contacts the strip 34, the construction being such that the solvent in the container 35 passes through the strip 88 into the strip 34 and is appliedby the strip 34 to the roller 38.

The roller 38 is preferably mounted on a shaft 48 journaled in the frame 28 (Fig. 2). The roller 38 is preferably formed of a plastic material comprising resinated rubber and fillers which act as colloidal agents in the rubber. This composition is sold under the trade name of Roulene. However, the details of the material from which the roller 38 is formed do not form a part of this invention. As stated above, the roller 38 preferably comprises non-absorbent material and has a smooth, relatively hard outer surface.

The roller 3| is mounted upon a shaft 4| which has its ends journaled in sleeves 43 removably mounted in the free ends of levers 44 which are pivoted to the frame 28 by pins 45. Pivoted to the free ends of the levers 44 are links 41 and 48 which are provided with slots 49 at their lower ends. Pins 58 projecting from the frame 28 ride in the slots 49, the construction being such that the levers 44 may be displaced angularly in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) against the action of a spring 52 which has one end secured to a pin 53 projecting from the frame 28 and has its other end secured to one of a plurality of teeth 55 of a plate 58 secured to the lower end of the link 48. Obviously, the spring 52 urges the roller 3| into engagement with the roller 38. The pressure exerted by the roller 3| upon the roller 38 may be varied by hooking the lower end of the spring 52 to a selected one of the teeth 55. It will be understood that the free ends of the levers 44 may be lowered against the action of the spring 52 so that the roller 3|, the shaft 4| and the sleeves 43 may be lifted from the free ends of the levers if it is desired to clean or replace the roller 3|. Means is provided for lowering the free ends of the levers 44. This means preferably comprises a pin 44a projecting from a shaft 44b journaled in the frame 28. The shaft 441; may be displaced angularly in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to have the pin 44a engage a pin 44c projecting from the link 48. The displacement of the shaft 44b may be continued until the pin 44a has lowered the pin 44c and the link 48 a suflicient distance to permit removal of the roller 3|.

The roller 3| preferably comprises a cylindrical center or roller 68 formed from solid resilient rubber, the center 88 being provided with a covering 6| on its cylindrical surface. The covering 8| preferably comprises felt impregnated with latex, the latex being impregnated with one of the preservatives usually employed for this purpose. The felt is impregnated preferably with the latex by dipping it into the latex and alternately compressing and releasing it while it is in the latex, or the latex may be brushed or sprayed on the felt. The strip of felt is then permitted to dry, whereupon the latex dries in such manner that it has a large number of relatively minute pores or openings in it. The dry felt impregnated with latex is then secured to the center 68. However, in some instances, it may be desirable to impregnate the felt after it has been applied to the center 68 or to apply the impregnated felt to the center 68 before it has dried. In practice, it has been found that the covering 6| will absorb quickly and efficiently any solvent which tends to collect between the rollers 38 and 3|. This prevents relatively large quantities from being deposited from time to time on the leading ends of copy sheets being advanced between the rollers 38 and 3|.

Secured to the drum 22 at one end thereof is a gear I8 which meshes with a pinion l| journaled by a pin 12 projecting from the frame 28. The

pinion 1| meshes with a pinion 13 with which the shaft 48 is constrained to rotate. Obviously. when the drum 22 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1), the roller 38 will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and will cause the roller 3| to rotate in a clockwise direction to advance copy sheets from a table 15 to the duplicating drum 22 and the pressure or platen roller 23. The table 25 is mounted in the'frame 28.

The operation of the above described apparatus is substantially as follows: After a master sheet sure or platen roller 23 to press the copy sheet against the master sheet. As the copy sheets pass between the rollers 38 and 3l, their upper surfaces are provided with a film of solvent, as described above, and when this solvent contacts the data on the master sheet, the ink or carbon willv be dissolved sufliciently to duplicate the data on the copy sheets.

In the preferred form of the invention, the center or core 88 is preferably ground to have a substantially perfect cylindrical surface. Then after the cover 8| has been applied thereto, the roller is ground again so that its outer cylindrical surface will be substantially perfect and concentrio with the axis of rotation of the shaft 4|. It may also be mentioned that the outer cylindrical surface of the roller 38 is also preferably ground so that it is concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 48.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 wherein another embodiment of the invention is illustrated, reference characters 38a and 3|a designate rollers which may be substituted for the rollers 38 and 3|, respectively, described above.

The roller 38a is preferably identical in construction with the roller 38. The roller 3|a is mounted upon a shaft Ma and comprises a center or core 68a formed of resilient rubber. The cylindrical surface of the core 68a is provided with a plurality of .annular grooves I88 and is provided'with a covering 6|a which is preferably formed 'by mixing sponge rubber with small pieces of cork, the mixture being rolled into sheets before it is applied to the core 88a. The covering or coating 8|a is sufficiently porous to enable it to absorb solvent collecting between the rollers 38a and 3|a. It is understood, of course, that the rollers 38a and 3|a have the same functions as the rollers 38 and 3|, respectively, and the cylindrical surfaces thereof are also preferably ground so as to have them concentric with the axes of rotation of their respective shafts. The shaft for the roller 38a is shown at 48a.

The grooves I88 assist the covering Gla to prevent the accumulation of solvent between the rollers 38a and 3|a as the covering Gla may become relatively saturated and a portion of the solvent may evaporate into the grooves 88.

The cover Gla is relatively absorbent and will prevent a large accumulation ofsolvent at the bight of the rollers 30a and tla.

In Figs. 6 and '7 another form of the invention is illustrated. Feeding rollers 30b and 3"; may be substituted for the rollers 30 and 3|, respectively, described above and are mounted on shafts 40b and Mb, respectively, which may be utilized instead of the shafts 40 and M, respectively. The roller 30b is preferably identical with the roller 30 described above. The roller 3|b preferably comprises a core 601) formed of ceramic material, the outer cylindrical surface of the core being preferably ground so that it will be concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Mb. The covering Glb is mounted on the cylindrical surface of the core 601) and is preferably made of the same material as the covering 6| described above so that it will absorb solvent collecting between the rollers 30b and 3|b. The outer surface of the covering 6|b is preferably ground so that it will be concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Mb. It will be notedthat the felt covering 6| b is in the form of a. sleeve and that the ends of the covering are brought down over the ends of the core 60b and clamped to the shaft Mb by rings llll. Only one end of the shaft Mb is shown but it will be understood readily that the same construction is employed on both ends for securing the covering 6|b to the shaft.

Still another form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the reference characters 30c and 3|c designate rollers which may be substituted for the rollers 30 and 3|, respectively. The rollers 30c and Mo are mounted on shafts 40c and Mc, respectively, which may replace the shafts 40 and M, respectively. The roller 300 is preferably identical in construction with the roller 30 described above. The roller 3|c comprises a tubular core 600 mounted on the shaft Mc, the core 600 being preferably formed of resilient rubber. The core 600 is provided with a plurality of annular grooves I which have the same function as the annular grooves I00 described above. The outer cylindrical surface of the core 500 is preferably ground to have it concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Me. The core 600 is provided with a covering 6|c which is preferably made from the same material as the covering 6| described in connection with Figures 1 to 3, inclusive. This material is felt treated with latex as described above. The rollers 30c and 3|c will cooperate to advance copy sheets to the duplicating drum 22 and the pressure or platen roller 23.

A further form of the invention is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein the reference characters 30d and 3| d designate rollers which may be substituted for the rollers 30 and 3|, respectively, the roller 30d being preferably identical in construction with the roller 30 described above and being mounted on a shaft 40d which corresponds to the shaft 40 described above. The roller 3| d is mounted on a shaft Md adapted to be substituted for the shaft M. The roller 3|d comprises a tubular core 60d mounted on the shaft Md and preferably formed of resilient rubber. The outer cylindrical surface of thecore 60d is provided with grooves or slots I06 extending longitudinally of the core. The outer cylindrical surface of the core 60d is preferably ground to have it concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Md. Displaced around the core 60d is a covering 6|d of felt impregnated with latex, the covering of the material Gld being preferably the same as that of the covering 6| described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. The function of the grooves or slots I06 is the same as that of the grooves I00.

In Fig. 12, the reference character 3|e designates a roller which may be substituted for the roller 3| described above, the roller 3|e being mounted on a shaft Me corresponding to the shaft M. The roller 3|e comprises a core 60a of resilient rubber mounted upon the shaft Me. The outer cylindrical surface ofthe core Bile is provided with a groove I01 extending helically around the core. The outer surface of the core We is preferably ground to have it concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Me. The core 60c is provided with a covering file which is preferably identical with the covering 6| described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Fig. 13 discloses another form of the invention. A roller 3| is mounted upon a shaft 4 I, and may be substituted for the roller 3| described above. The roller 3|f comprises a core 60f mounted on the shaft M f and preferably formed of resilient rubber. The outer cylindrical surface of the core 60} is provided with a plurality of annular grooves |||I which are filled with absorbent material I09 such as felt or fabric. The outer cylindrical surface of the core SM is preferably ground to have it concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft M). A cover ti disposed around the core 60 is preferably formed of felt treated with latex in the manner described in connection with the covering or sleeve 6| shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. The absorbent material N99 is adapted to absorb solvent from the covering 6.

Fig. 14 shows a roller tlg which may be substituted for the roller 3|, described above, and is mounted on a shaft My corresponding to the shaft M. The roller my comprises collars secured to the shaft filly by set screws H2. As only one end of the shaft Mg is shown, only one of the collars iii appears in the drawings. Interposed between the collars ill and disposed around the shaft M g are a plurality of discs it which are preferably formed from resilient rubber, the discs I I3 being spaced from each other by intermediate discs BM of some material such as felt or fabric that will absorb the solvent. It will be noted that the end surfaces of the discs H3 and I are not at right angles to the axis of rotation of the shaft Mg. Disposed around the discs 3 and i it and the collars H2 is a tubular covering Big which is preferably identical with the covering 6| described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. The collars iii and the discs 3 and l M co-operate to form a core 60g which corresponds to the core 60 of the roller 3|. Preferably, the outer cylindrical surface of the core My is ground to have it concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Mg and the covering 6|o is also preferably ground to have its outer surface concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft Mg. As indicated, it is preferable, in each instance, to have the absorbent covers of the rollers 3|, 3 la, 3 lb, 3 lo, 3|d, 3|e, 3|! and 3| g ground to have them concentric with their respective shafts.

It may be mentioned that in practice it has been found that the above described rollers comprising outer coverings of felt impregnated with latex are exceedingly advantageous as there appears to be a relatively high co-eflicient of friction between latex and paper so that the copy sheets are fed accurately in each instance and perfect registry is obtained with the impression carried by the master sheet. Also, as indicated above, the latex is porous when dried and this characteristic causes it to aid in removing excess solvent from the solvent applying roller.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, and a facing of fibrous material on said shaft impregnated with latex and having its outer surface in the form of a cylinder in concentric position on the shaft.

2. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, and a facing of felt on said shaft impregnated with latex and dried into porous form with its outer surface normally cylindrical in concentric position on the shaft.

3. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, and a facing of fibrous material on said shaft impregnated with an aqueous dispersion of rubber adapted upon drying to cause the facing to remain porous and absorbent and having its outer surface in the form of a cylinder in concentric position on the shaft.

4. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, a core of rubber in the form of a cylinder on said shaft, and a facing of felt on said core impregnated with a rubber dispersion adapted upon drying to cause the felt to remain porous and absorbent and having its outer surface in the form of a cylinder in concentric position on the shaft.

5. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, and an absorbent facing on said shaft of felted fibrous material impregnated with an aqueous rubber dispersion and having its outer surface ground into the form of a cylinder in concentric position on the shaft.

6. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, and a facing of absorbent material on said shaft and impregnated with latex for making its outer surface porous.

7. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a core member in the form of a cylinder having depressions in its cylindrical surface, and a comparatively thin facing of felt impregnated with latex secured on said core about said depressions.

8. In a roller for-pressing a copy sheet against a. cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, 'the combination of a core member in the form of a cylinder having depressions in its cylindrical surface, absorbent means in said depressions, and a facing of felt impregnated with latex secured on said core about said depressions.

9. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a core member in the form of a cylinder, the surface of said cylinder comprising alternate portions of rubber and of moisture absorbent material, and a facing of felt impregnated with latex secured on said core overlying said surface.

10. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a supporting shaft, a core of ceramic material in the form of a cylinder on said shaft, and a facing of felt on said core impregnated with latex.

11. In a roller for pressing a copy sheet against a cooperating driven roller to which solvent is delivered for application to a copy sheet passing between the rollers, the combination of a core member in the form of a cylinder having depressions in its cylindrical surface, and a comparatively thin facing of felt impregnated with latex secured on said core about said depressions, said depressions being in the form of grooves disposed substantially circumferentially of said cylinder.

ROBERT F. MORRISON.

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