US2465160A

US2465160A - Duplicating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2465160A
Application number: US524686A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Levenhagen; William J Champion
Original assignee: Ditto Inc
Current assignee: Ditto Inc
Priority date: 1942-04-25
Filing date: 1944-03-02
Publication date: 1949-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1966-03-22

Description

arch 22, 9. A. J. LEVENHAGEN ETAL DUPLICATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1942 NWWLWN March Z2, 1949. A.J'.1 EVENHGEN ETAL. 2,465,160

' DUPLICATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T/QZ uuu'

l I A Mafch 22, 194.9. A. J. LEVENHAGEN ETAL 2,465,160

DUPLICATING APPARATUS 5 She'ets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 25. 1942 March 22, 1949. A. J. LEVENHAGEN ET AL DUPLI CAT ING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 22, 1949. A. J. LEVENHAGEN ET A1. 2,465,160

DUPLICATING APPARATUS Original Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Man1949 DUPLICATIN G APPARATUS Arthur J. Levenhagen, Chicago, and William J. Champion, La Grange, Ill., asslgnors to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of West Virginia Original application April 25, 1942, Serial No. 440,494, now Patent No. 2,351,863, dated June 20, 1944. Divided and this application March 2, 1944, Serial No. 524,686

6 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating by the liquid process method and particularly to the means for applying a illm of solvent to the inked face of. the master sheet. This application is a division of our application Serial No. 440,494 illed April 25, 1942, patented June 20, 1944, No.

2,351,863, for Method of duplicating."

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement of parts by which a thin i'llm of solvent may be applied effectively to the inked face of the master sheet so as to soften the ink very slightly for the production of a copy but so as to prevent the master sheet from being moistened excessively or discolored or smeared. To this end, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide for a thor,- ough cleaning of the roller or other applicator by which the solvent is spread on the face of the master sheet so that the film of solvent is applied at all times to a clean surface portion of the applicator and may be spread evenly and thinly, and the applicator and the master sheet are protected from becoming sloppy. The master sheet and the ink thereon are protected from becoming saturated and soggy at spots as would be likely to result ii' ink were permitted to collect and pile up gradually on the face of the applicator.

It is another object of the invention to provide for the accomplishment of the several objects by the use of a structure which is simple so as to 'be readily produced and so a's to be capable of standing up well during long continued periods of use. It is another object of the invention to provide a structure of this typein connection with a drum by 'which the master sheet is carried around, with the impression taking place at the bottom face portion of the drum on the top face of a copy sheet, and with the arrangement such that none of the solvent or other liquid employed is likely under any circumstances to leak or to be carried by capillary attraction or otherwise abnormally through the liquid handling and shielding parts of the machine so as to come into contact with a copy sheet and to be transferred therefrom to the" face of the master sheet.

In one form of arrangement for carrying out the objects of the invention, a thin and readily' absorbent masking sheet is provided over the inked face of the master sheet so that the film of solvent is applied through the masking sheet.l

IUI-132.5)

For operation in this manner, requiring that there be a liberal supply of solvent, a pick-up roller is employed in lieu of a wick for feeding the solvent to the applicator roller, a third roller also being employed preferably between the pickup roller and the applicator roller.

Itis another object of the invention to improve mechanisms and methods of this type in sundry details hereinafter set forth. The preferred means by which the several objects of the inven- 'tion are attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a duplicating machine comprising the invention, being substantially a section taken at the line i-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially at the line 2--2 Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially at the line 3 3 of Fig. l and with certain parts omitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View showing a portion of the structure of Fig. l but upon an enlarged scale, being taken substantially at the line d-d of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modified construction arranged for a slightly changed operation; and

Fig. 6 is a face view of the drum of Fig. 5 as seen from the left in said gure on a reduced scale, with a portion of the masking sheet broken away.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, l@ and il indicate standards at opposite sides of a liquid process duplicating machine connected by transversely positioned crossbars i2 and I3. Between the standards iii and il, a duplicating drum ld is rotatably supported by means of a heavy shaft i5, such drum being provided with means comprising grippers i6 of any approved type for holding a master sheet il removably in position thereon, the master sheet il being in the formof a sheet of paper provided on its outer face with a design formed in reverse from hectograph ink, as is well understood in connection with machines of this type. Means is provided for rotating the drum it continuously during the 3 operation oi' the machine, comprising a gear I 3 ilxedly mounted on the shaft I5 and meshing with a smaller gear I! rotatably mounted on the standard II so as to be driven by a crank 20, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Below the drum I 4, an impression roller 2| is rotatably mounted in position for pressing a copy sheet fed from the left in Fig. l1 into impression relationship with the master sheet I1, such impression roller 2| being rotatably mounted between two levers 22 pivotally mounted at 23 at opposite sides of the machine. At their lower ends, the levers 22 are provided with pins 24 adjustably mounted thereon in position to engage cams 25 rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 2-5 extending across the machine. The arrangement is such that by rotary movement of the cams through the medium of the shaft the arms 22 are swung about the axis at 23 for moving the impression roller 2| toward and from the drum for controlling the degree of pressure between the drum and the roller. y

At a short distance to the rear of the impression roller 2|, two copy sheet forwarding rollers 21 and 28 are rotatably mounted in position, the roller 21 being secured by means of a shaft 29 mounted in the standards IIJ and II, and the roller 28 being supported by means of a shaft 30 bearing upon arms 3| pivotally mounted on said standards. As is best shown in Fig. 1, the arms 3| extend backwardly toward the left a short distance so as to provide adjustable connections for springs 32 therewith, such springs having their lower ends connected with said standards so as to press the roller 28 yieldingly against the roller 21. The means for driving the rollers 21 and 28 at substantially the same surface speed as that of the drum I4 comprises a pinion 33 xedly connected with the roller 21, such pinion 33 meshing with an idler pinion 34, which in turn meshes with a large gear 35 rotatably mounted on the shaft I5.

Means is provided for driving the gear 35 intermittently from the drum 4 or from the means by which the drum is rotated, such intermittent driving means being of the type shown and described by prior patent to Neal No. 2,275,455, of March 10, 1942. This means comprises a cam 36 ixedly mounted on the shaft I5 and provided with a pawl 31 pivotally mounted on the inner face of the cam in position for engagement with a ratchet wheel 38 iixedly mounted on the outer face of the gear 35. The arrangement is such that when the pawl 31 is in engagement with the ratchet wheel 38 the gear 35 rotates with the drum so as to drive the roller 21 at substantially the same surface speed as that of the drum.

For obtaining an intermittent driving of the roller 21 while the drum I4 is driven continuously, a cam 39 is provided in stationary position on the framework of the machine so as to engage a roller 40 carried by the pawl 31. The arrangement is such that upon each revolution of the drum I4 the roller 40 is moved inwardly so as to disengage the pawl 31 momentarily from one tooth of the ratchet wheel 38 for permitting the gear 35 to be brought to rest while the cam continues to rotate. As soon as the roller 40 passes the cam 39, the pawl 31 is again brought into operative position so as to engage the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel 38 for causing renewed rotation of the gear 35. Means is also provided for stopping the rotation of the gear 35 when the pawl 31 is moved out of operative driving position. This means comprises a series of pins 4I ilxedly mounted on the outer face ot the gear 35 in circumferentially spaced relation to each other thereabout and arranged in such position that one of the pins is engaged by a notched arm or latch 42 so as to hold the gear from rotary movement when such arm 42 is permitted to move inwardly, such arm or latch 42 being pivotally mounted upon a bracket 42a upon which the cam is mounted. As is shown in Fig. 1, the arm 42 is normally held out of operative latching position by means of a roller 43 on the arm engaging the edge of the cam 36, such cam having a low spot at 44 for permitting the arm 42 to move into position for engaging one of the pins 4I for a short period at each revolution of the drum so as to hold the gear 35 and the roller 21 stationary during such period. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that a copy sheet fed into the bite of the forwarding rollers 21 and 28 during the period when the rollers are at rest is moved forwardly by such rollers upon the resumption of their rotary movement so as to have the desired registration with the master sheet on the drum.

For holding a pile 45 of copy sheets in position to be fed one at a time into the bite of the forwarding rollers 21 and 2s and for directing the sheets accurately into position between the rollers, a table 46 of any approved type is provided to the rear of the forwarding rollers, an obliquely disposed guiding member 41 in the form of a plate being provided above the path of the copy sheets for assisting in the feed of the sheets into position. A tray 28 is also mounted in position a short distance ahead of the impression roller ZIV for receiving the copy sheets from the drum after the several impression operations.

The improved means for applying a lm of solvent on the inked face of the master sheet I1 is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Two heavy plates d3 and 50 are pivotally mounted in position opposite to each other at opposite sides of the machine, being pivotally supported by means of pins 5| extending into suitable openings in lugs 52 positioned on the inner faces of the standards It and (see Fig. 3). Between the upper end portions of the plates 49 and 50, a roller 53 is ro tatably mounted so as to engage the face of the master sheet I1 on the drum, as is best shown in Fig. 4. At their lower ends, the plates 49 and 50, have links 54 pivotally connected thereto, such links extending rearwardly through openings in a crossbar 55 carried by the standards, IIJ and I I, such links having nuts 56 secured by means of screw-threads on their rear ends so as to press the roller 53 adjustably toward the drum I4. A gear 51 xedly mounted on the roller 53 meshes with a large gear 58 mounted so as to rotate withthe drum I4, the parts being accul rately proportioned for causing the roller to have the same surface speed as that of the master sheet on the drum in its rotation in clockwise direction in Fig. 4.

Means is provided for applying a film of solvent to the face of the roller 53, comprising an absorbent pad 59 mounted on a plate 50 so as to bear on the top face of said roller 53, said plate 6|! being pivotally mounted in position on the plates 49 and 50 by means of a rock-shaft 5I welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto, as is best shown in Fig. 4. At opposite end portions, the rockshaft 6| is provided with downwardly extending arms 6 Ia in rigid position thereon, the lower ends of said arms being connected through springs 62 with the

plates

49 and 56 so as to press the pad 58 yieldingly against the roller 53. The pad 59 is adjustably pressed against the plate 60 by means of a cross-positioned plate 63 underneath the pad connected with the plate 6I) by means of a series of bolts 64. At its rear end portion; the pad 59 extends downwardly into a supply of solvent 65 in a receptacle 66 positioned on the plates 49 and 50 just to the rear of the' roller 53. At the left in Fig. 3, the receptacle 66 is prolonged beyond the plate 49- and is provided with an upwardly open neck portion 61 into which a nipple 68 opens, the upper end of the nipple being in engagement with the neck of a bottle 69 containing a supply of solvent. the arrangement being such that solvent is fed by gravity into the receptacle to a predetermined level therein as controlled by a liquid seal effect and as is well understood in the art. In the arrangement shown, the bottle 69 is supported in position by a bracket 10 carried by the standard I0, as shown in Fig. 4.

With the nuts 56 adjusted for causing the desired degree of pressure of the roller 53 against the drum I4, and with a supply, of solvent in the receptacle 66, the solvent is Vcarried by capillary attraction through the pad 59 and is applied toV the top face of the roller 53 as said roller and the drum I4 rotate inoperative engagement with each other, the amount of the solvent applied being controlled by the adjustment of the cross plate 63 toward the top plate 60. This lm of solvent is in turn applied to the inked face of the master sheet bythe engagement of the moistened roller 53 directly therewith, the lm of solvent causing a slight softening of the ink on the master sheet so as to bring about the formation of a copy on each of the several successive copy sheets pressed by the impression roller 2l against the master sheet.

For preventing any of the softened ink on the master sheet from building up on the roller 53 so as to cause the roller to become sloppy 0r so as to produce a smudging effect on the master, a lm of ink neutralizing agent is applied to the face of the roller below the point at which the roller engages the master sheet. The means for y`effecting this result comprises an absorbent pad 1I supported by a cross-positioned plate 12 so as to press on the bottom face of the roller 53. the plate 12 being pivotally mounted in position by vmeans of end flanges or arms 13, the upper ends of which are connected through the medium of coiled springsY 14 with the wall of a receptacle 15 so as to press the pad yieldingly against the roller. The springs 14 are connected with the wall of the receptacle-by means of adjustable eye-bolts 16 by which the degree of pressure of the pad against the roller may be controlled. The rear end portion of the pad dips into a supply of ink neutralizing agent in the receptacle so as to cause a film of the ink neutralizing agent to be applied to the face of the roller continuously during the operation of the machine. The pad 1I is preferably pressed into tight engagement with the plate 12 by means of a cross plate 12a positioned above the pad and connected adjustably therewith by means of bolts 12b. i

The invention is not to be limited to the use of any particular type of ink neutralizing agent, except so far as the same may be specifically claimed. Good results have been attained in connection with hectograph ink by the use of a 10% solution of ethylene diamine, or by the use of a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid, or by the use of a 2% solution of sodium hypochlorite. By the use of an ink neutralizing agent on the roller 53 as above described, any tendency for the ink to build up on the roller from the master sheet is effectively prevented, and the solvent is applied continuously lupon a thoroughly cleaned portion of the applicator roller. In this-way, the master. sheet is kept comparatively clean and dry so as to make possible the production of sharp copies. For insuring that the roller 53 may be cleaned thoroughly, a wiper 11 is preferably employed at the upwardly moving face portion of the roller 53, such wiper being mounted on a cross plate 18 so as to press on the roller, the wiper being adjustably mounted on the plate 18 by means of a top pressure plate 18 adjustably secured in position by means of machine screws 80.

In the preferred form of mechanism, the roller 53 is made of steel or other suitable metal with its surface as smooth as possible so as to prevent solvent from penetrating the face of the roller or from nding lodgement in any indentations in the face of the roller. With the roller 53 highly smooth and with the film of solvent thereon of even thickness over the surface, the-solvent is applied to the ink of the master sheet evenly and without any excess of solvent at any point. The result is that the outer face portions .only of the ink bodies of the master sheet are moistened so as to prevent the solvent from soaking into the bodies of the ink while at the same time softening the outer faces sufficiently for causing the formation of a sharp copy on the copy sheet when pressed rmly against the master sheet by the impression roller.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, which show a modified form of the moistening mechanism, the parts are indicated by the same reference characters as above specied so far as the parts are the same as those making up the form of mechanism as shown in Fig. 1. In the modified construction, an applicator roller, 8l is employed substantially similar in its form and in the mounting 'means therefore except that it is of smaller sizeethan the roller 53. The roller 8| is drivenby means of a pinion 82 meshing with the large gear 58 so as to drive the roller 8|` continuously at the same surface speed as that of the master sheet I1 carried by the drum I4. The arrangement with respect to the master sheet is different in`Figs. 5 and 6 from the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4, in that an absorbent masking sheet 83 is employed in connection with the master sheet I1, the two sheets I1 and 83 being secured in position together by means of the grippers I6, with the absorbent masking sheet 83 on the outside of the master sheet next to the inked face thereof.

. Modied means is provided for applying solvent to the face of the applicator roller 8l so as to provide a slightly heavier lm of solvent thereto. The means forapplying the solvent to the roller 8l comprises a roller 84 rotatably mounted above Ithe roller 8i in pressure relationship thereto, together with a roller 85 engaging the downwardly moving faeeof the roller 84. The roller 84 is mounted so as to be adjustable obliquely downwardly and outwardly for varying its pressure relationship with respect to the rollers 8i and 85. A coiled spring 86 is connected with the roller 84 at eachl end thereof so as to press the roller yieldingly into its pressure relationship with both of the cooperating rollers. The

and even'on its outer face.

means for applying solvent to the three rollers 9i, 94 and 99 comprises a receptacle 91 containing a supply of solvent 99 into which the lower v portion of the roller 99 dips so as to pick up a supply of solvent for application nrst to the roller 94 and for application from that roller to the roller 9i. The thickness of the nlm of solvent thus applied is controlled by the pressure between the rollers 94 and y95 as regulated by the springs 99 which are made adjustable for controlling their eii'ective pressure. Endplates 99 of any approved type are employed at the end's of the rollers 94 and 95 for preventing the solvent from running lengthwise oil the rollers out of 'the trough provided by said two rollers, as is well understood in the art. The receptacle 91 is provided at one end with an upwardly open neck portion 99 into` whichV a nipple extends for! carrying solvent from a bottle 99' to the receptacleill asis above described in connection with the structure of Fig. 3.

The means for applying ink neutralizing agent upon the bottom face portion of the roller 9| is very similar to that above described in connection with the applicator roller 99. 'I'his means bomprises an absorbent pad 9| mounted between plates 92 and 99 which are pressed together by means of bolts 94, the pressure of the pad against y the roller 9| being controlled by means of arms 95 connected with the plate 92 and pressed yieldingly in eounterclockwise direction in Fig. by means of springs 99 connected to themounting plates 49 and 59. The lower end portion of the absorbent pad 9| extends downwardly into a supply 91 of ink neutralizingagent-contained in `a receptacle 99. An absorbent wiper pad 99 is provided in position to engage the upwardly moving face portion of the applicator. 'roller li, such pad being mounted in position by means of plates |99 and I9I secured together at opposite faces of the pad by means of machine screws |92. [y

As is stated above, the applicator roller 9iJ is generally similar to the roller 59, being formed with a metal facing which is made very smooth The roller 94 is preferably made of neoprene `or rubber of about 50 to 55 Shore hardness. The roller 95 is made of comparatively harder material such as Roulene or possibly of metal. Each of the rollers 9i, 94 and 95 has an outer surface impervious to the solvent 99.

By the use of the mechanism as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the nlm of solvent is applied to the linked face of the master sheet I1 through the absorbent masking sheet 99. With the masking sheet 93 in position over the master sheet, the ink of the master sheet is protected from becoming overmoistened so as to become sloppy or smudged or discolored. the ink characters being thus maintained intact with sharp outlines so as to produce clean-cut copies on the copy sheets pressed against the masking sheet by the impression roller 2|.

In either form of the invention, the solvent and neutralizing agent will be prevented from engagement with either the sheets being fed from the stack 49 to the impression roller 2| or the feed roller 21 due to the shielding action of the walls of the receptacle 15, the upper guide member 41, and the guard plate located between the feed roller 21 and the drum I4.

While the form and arrangement as shown and described are preferred, the invention is not to be limited thereto except as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes in the tion oi' a drum having means for securing a muter sheet removably thereon., means for rotating said drum, a roller rotatably mounted in position for pressing a copy sheet into impression relationship with a master, sheet on the drum as the drum rotates, means comprising an applicator moving at the same surface speedas that of the master sheet, and engaging said sheet. means for supplying a solvent to the surface of said applicator before moving into engagement with said sheet for applying a film of solvent directly to the inked face of the master sheet in spaced relation to the point of engagement of the copy sheet with the master sheet, an absorbent member engaging1 the-face pfldpplicator for applying a nlm of ink neutralizing agent thereto after moving out of engagement with said sheet for preventing the ink from building up on the applicator from the master sheet, and means for feeding a supply of such ink neutralizing agent to said absorbent member.

2. In a duplicating mechanism, the combination of a drum having means for securing a master sheet removably thereon. means for rotating said drum, a roller rotatably mounted in position for pressing a copy sheet into impression relationship with a. master sheet on the drum as the drum rotates, means comprising an applicator moving at the same surface speed as that ofthe master sheet for applying a nlm of solvent directly to the inked face of the master sheet in spaced relation to the point of engagement of the copy sheet with the master sheet. an absorbent member engaging the face of said applicator for applying a nlm of ink neutralizing agent thereto for preventing the ink from building up on the applicator from the master sheet, means for feeding a supply of ink neutralizing agent to said absorbent member for application to said applicator, and means for wiping the' ink neutralizing agent from the face of the applicator for preventing it from mixing with vthe solvent thereon.

3. In a duplicating mechanism, the combination of a drum having means for securing a master sheet removably thereon, means for rotating said drum. a roller rotatably mounted in position for pressing a copy sheet into impression relationship with the master sheet at the lower portion of the drum as the drum rotates, a roller .rotatably mounted in position to engage the inked face of the master sheet at the downwardly moving face portion of the drum, means for driving said second roller positively at the same surface speed as that of the drum," an absorbent member engaging said second roller at its top face portion, a receptacle for solvent into which said absorbentmember extends for feeding a film of solvent to said second roller for transfer to tion of a drum having means for securing a master sheet and an absorbent masking sheet together thereon with the masking sheet on the outside, means for rotating said drum, a roller rotatably mounted in position for pressing a copy sheet into impression relationship with said firstnamed sheets as the drum rotates, a smooth, hard surfaced roller rotatably mounted in position to engage said masking sheet, means for driving said second roller, a third roller rotatably mounted above said second roller in constant engagement therewith, a fourth roller rotatably mounted in constant engagement with a side face portion of said third roller, said third and fourth rollers having their axes substantially horizontally alignedand a receptacle adapted to hold a supply of solvent into which said fourth roller extends for causing a continuous film of solvent to be applied to said last-named three rollers in turn for transfer to the inked face of the master sheet through said absorbent masking sheet as the drum rotates.

5. In a duplicating mechanism, the combination of a drum having means for securing a master sheet removably thereon, means for rotating said drum, and means for applying a solvent directly to the surface of said sheet comprising an applicator moving at the same surface speed as said master sheet and engaging the same, a member engaging the face of said applicator for applying solvent to said applicator, a member en gaging the face of said applicator for applying a film of ink neutralizing agent thereto, and means for wiping the ink neutralizing agent from the face of the applicator for preventing it from mixing with the solvent thereon.

6. In a duplicating mechanism, the combination of a drum and means for securing a master sheet removably thereon, means for rotating said drum, and means for applying a solvent directly to the surface of said sheet comprising a roller moving at the same surface speed yas said master sheet and engaging the same, a member engaging the top portion of said roller for applying solvent thereto, a second member engaging the lower portion of said roller for feeding ink neutralizing agent to said roller, and wiping means engaging the surface of said roller between said members after engagement thereof with said ink Vneutralizing agent feeding member.

ARTHUR J. LEVENHAGEN. WILLIAM J. CHAMPIoN. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Neal Dec. 7, 1943