US2492476A - Photocopy machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1949 HARVEY PHOTOCOPY MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April '7, 1947 Inventor A rfhur Harvey and 420/232... #uwy EMU Dec. 27, 1949 A. HARVEY 2,492,476

PHOTOCOPY MACHINE Filed April '7, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

- 20 J Inventor 26 52 50 4 Arfhur Harvey Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOCOPY MACHINE Arthur Harvey, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 7, 1947, Serial No. 739,902

. 1 Claim. 1

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a photocopy machine and more specifically pertains to a photographic apparatus of this character which is adapted for making photo copies with equal facility from originals which may be convexly mounted about a semicylindrical translucent surface as well as those which must necessarily be retained in a fiat condition.

The principal object of this invention is to enhance the efficiency and utility of conventional photocopy machines by modifying such machines to selectively copy curved and flat material without alteration of the machine and with a minimum adjustment and manipulation thereof.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a means for convenientl supporting the customary pliable curtain retaining material in its inoperative position upon the machine.

A further important object of the invention resides in providing a photocop machine which is adapted for use in copying curved or fiat material by merely inverting the machine.

Yet another important purpose of the invention is to provide separate and independent illuminating means for activating selectively translucent ground glass panes upon which the copies are made.

Still another important purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive constructlon, which shall be dependable, of light weight and highly efiicient for the purposes intended.

These, together with various auxiliary objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by Way Of example only, in the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the machine in position for copying material in a convexed position thereon;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the machine in an inverted position for copying flat material, such as the leaves of a book thereon;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View through the machine taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the broken plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views, the apparatus is indicated as an entirety b the reference numeral Ill and is of generally rectangular shape, consisting of a light, preferably sheet metal casing having a bottom, flat wall [2, generally rectangular and vertically extending end walls M which latter are provided with suitable handle members l6 rigidly secured thereto.

The casing is further provided with relatively low front and rear side walls l8 and 2B respectively within which are mounted suitable illuminating switches 22 and 24 respectively.

Depending from the bottom wall l2 of the apparatus adjacent the four corners thereof, are a plurality of short supporting legs 26 for supporting the device in its upright position without marring the supporting surface on which the apparatus rests. In order to enable the device to be employed in its inverted position, shown in Figure 2, the end walls 14 are slightly rounded at their upper corners as shown in 28 to merge into the top edges which are rolled outwardly [as at 3d to provide a reinforcing means and also to form supporting feet for the device in its inverted position. The upper edges of the end walls Mare provided, adjacent the rear side wall 20, with downwardly extending notches 32 for the purpose to be subsequently set forth.

As shown best in Figure 3, the side walls l8 and 20 are provided with inwardly extending longitudinal flanges 34 which support and retain a semicylindrical translucent ground glass member 35 of any suitable material such as plate glass or the like, which constitutes a supporting means for material to be copied during operation of the machine. I'his semi-cylindrical glass member, as shown best in Figure 4 is secured by a semi-circular band 38 which binds and supports the lateral edges of the semi-cylindrical translucent member 36.

A pliable curtain or web 40 of any suitable material such as canvas, leatherette or the like, has one end thereof securely fastened as by a longitudinally extending strip 42 to the rear side Wall 29, and is of such length as to smoothly encircle the translucent glass pane 36, and be secured at its other end tightly thereabout by means of a retaining rod 44 secured in a hem or seam 45 in said curtain, the extremities of said rod being selectively positioned beneath bracket members 46 secured on the front wall l8.

As shown in Figure 1, the pliable web or curtain All is intended to be snugly stretched about the semi-cylindrical translucent pane in the above described manner, and when in its inoperative position is adapted to be conveniently supported by engagement of the extremities of the rod 44 in the above described notches 32 as shown in Figure 3.

Attention is next directed more specifically to Figure 2 for a better understanding of the means for making prints or copies of flat material with this machine. The bottom wall I2 of the casin is provided preferably adjacent one edge such as the rear wall 20, with a generally rectangular vir-angement as shown in r Figure .1.

aperture 48, shown in Figure 4, overlying which is a pane of flat translucently ground glass or other suitable material 50 retained by means of the channeled clamps or brackets 52, detachably secured as by screwstSkor the like. Preferably, the thickness of these brackets 52 is less than the length of the legs 26, whereby the pane 50 and its fastening means is spaced from the surface supporting the legs 26, to avoid contact therewith, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4.

Attention is next directed to Figures 3'and 4 for a better understanding of the interior construction of the casin of the apparatus and the illuminating mechanism housed therein. Asource of illuminant, such as a lumiline or fluorescent tube-0r the'like 56 :is-supported upon suitable brackets '58 fromeither-theend wall [4 or the base [2 o'ft'he casing,=in a position-substantially coinciding with the-central axisof the semi-cylin- 'drical translucent'pane 36. Asshown, the lumiline or fluorescent-tube 56 extends throughout substantially the-length of-the-casing, to thereby provide-aneven-source or illumination over the entire area of the semi-cylindrical translucent pane. These 'brackets 58 are suitably mounted as by-fastening-screws-or rivets'GD or-the like "tothe inner sides o'f-theend wallsld or from the 'bottomwall I2 for'rigidly supporting the tube 'therein.

A'similar lumiline 'or fluorescent tube 62 is supported by'endbrackets 64 resting'upon the '.:base l2 of the icasinggin'a position to extend longitudinally and centrally and over the fiat translucent pane "'50. 'Suitable fastening means inthe form .of..rivets or screws '66 detachably supportthebracket"6'4ffromthe bottom wall l2 .in the casing.

As indicated .inFigure '4, electric. current from a suitable source such as .a cable'58 enters an .end wall ['4 of the. casing andbyappropriate wir- ..ing paperare themplaced uponthe semi-cylinydrical. translucentpane -36, and-theretainingcuritain or .web 4.0.is.then drawn tightly thereabout -.and.secured.as at-4' 6. Actuation of the lumiline tube 56 .bythe proper control-switch in the well known .manner now produces .the desired exlposureso as.to.copy thepriginal subject upon .the sensitized vpaperiorming a-negative of the sensitized paper. The latter lis then processed in a well known -.manner forming in itself no ,part of-thisinvention. fIheznegative can then be: usedto make copies in. the-usual contact manner upon the same surface of the machine. In this 1 position, the .machine. is in its 'upright ar- -rcomes desirable to use the vmachine to take a ;print of aiflatesubj-ect such asa page of a book or "the like, theimachin'ezisinverted by meansof *the handle 'LG the 'roundedrshoul'ders 2 8 assisting in rolling the machine into the reverse posi- When it be- ,a

use to another as when makin copies of material which may be curved or from flat material as desired. The above mentioned notches 32, provide aconvenient means for retaining the curtain 40 in its inoperative position in order to facilitate the application or removal of subject material, negatives and/or sensitized paper from the curved translucentgground pane 36 during operation of the machine.

lFromthe foregoing it will be readily understood that there haswbeen provided an extremely simple, inexpensivebut highly utilitarianphotocopy-machine'which is ideally adapted for quick change from:making printsfrom originals'that can-beeither' curved or flat. It-Willbe noted that if desired both sources of illumination may be employed when the fiat translucent ground-pane is'utilized, .to increasethe illumination thereof as desired.

Since various modifications 'will readily occur to those skilled inv the art-after a tconsideration of the foregoing specification in connection with the accompanyin drawings, it is not-intended to limit the invention to the exact construction shownand described,'but all suitable modifications may be resortedto following the scope of the appended claim.

A' photocopy machine comprising a reversible casing having a pair of 'end walls, front an'd'rear side walls, and aflatsubstantially horizontal wall I secured between said end walls and said side walls, the upper-corners ofsai'd'end walls being rounded at their'uppercorners,-theupper edges ofsaid-endwalls bein rolled outwardly to provide supporting means for said casing, longi- 'tudinal supporting flanges-carried by said side walls, asemi-cylindricaltranslucentmember disposed'between said sidewalls-opposite said horizontal-wall, the longitudinal edges of said semicylindrical member 'being supported by said flanges and a first printing surface, said horizontal wall havin an opening therein adjacent said rear side wall, a'flat translucent pane supported upon said 'flat horizontal wall and overlying sai'd-opening and forming a second printing surface, and illuminating means supported 'insaid casing spaced from said printing surfaces and providing illumination forsaidprinting surfaces.

ARTHUR I HARVEY.

.REFERENCES CITED "The following'references are of recordin'the file of this patent:

iU'NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 910,832 De'Lukacsevics Jan. 26, 1909 1,086,487 Vermillion Feb. 10, 1914 l,871;4'84 'Nyttenbroek Aug. 16, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 180,080 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1936 823,707 France Oct. '25, 1937 "506,288 GreatBritain May 25, 1939

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