US2986987A - Device for making copies - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1961 Filed March 18, 1959 W. LIMBERGER DEVICE FOR MAKING COPIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent TO 2,986,987 DEVICE FOR MAKING COPIES Walter Limberger, Hamburg, Germany, assignor to Lumoprint Zindler K.G., Hamburg, Germany Filed Mar. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 800,295 Claims priority, application Germany Mar. 22, 1958 13 Claims. (Cl. 95-775) The invention relates to a device for making copies including an exposure device and a developing device.

Known devices of this kind require relatively large apparatuses because normal exposure and developing devices which in known apparatuses are designed as developing devices of the diffusion type are arranged side-byside or on top of each other. With these known devices, it is in addition necessary to introduce the original and the negative paper separately from the positive paper at different places, because only the original and the negative paper are passing the exposure device. It has also been proposed to arrange feeding-slots for the negative paper and the original on the one hand and the positive paper on the other hand side-by-side. These known embodiments require that the negative paper and the positive paper have to be fed into the developing device with their layers facing each other, so that the original is lying between the negative paper and the positive paper. In known devices of this kind the original is either deposited in a special storage room inside the device or carried back between the negative paper and the positive paper to an exit slot between the feeding slots. But also in this case, a storage room is generally provided, in which the original is stored at least for a certain time. The exit of the original between the feeding slots is inhibited by the drawback that it possibly interferes with the feeding of copying paper for another copy. In this case it will be necessary to remove the original from the feeding slots for the papers to be copies.

Another disadvantage of the known apparatuses resides in the fact that the positive paper is issued in a rather moist condition after it has been developed, so that a more or less extended subsequent drying will still be necessary. This drawback is considerably aggravating if developing devices are used in which the papers are passing a liquid bath and perhaps remain in this bath for a certain period. If in the known devices this drawback is to be eliminated, voluminuous drying devices are required additional through which the issued positive paper would have to be passed.

A further drawback of the known apparatuses having their insert slots spacedly arranged from the exit slots resides in the fact that the operation of such apparatuses is rather inconvenient. If the insert slots are provided at the side of the apparatus facing the operator, the exit slots are generally situated at the opposite side of the apparatus, so that the operator-will have to bow over the apparatus in order to get hold of the issuing papers.

It is the object of the invention to provide a copyingdevice which eliminates the drawbacks of the known apparatuses, and which at the same time requires very little space only being easy to operate, and from which the copies are issued in a dryer state than is the case with the known apparatuses.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing the exposure device between the guides for the positive paper and the guides for the negative paper with the original leading to the development device. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, an issuing guide is provided for the copy and the negative paper leading from the pair of pressing rollers of the exposure device to the exit slot at the rear side of the I 2,986,987. Patented June 6, 1961 exposure device. Preferably, the exposure device is arranged at the bottom of the housing, and the pair of pressing rollers lying in the middle of the device which the exit guide is arranged approximately in the middle of the device leading vertically upwards to the exit slot for the copy and the negative paper.

In a preferred embodiment an insert slot for the positive paper is provided on one side of the exit slot for the copy and the negative paper which insert slots for the negative paper and the original are provided on the other side, the insert slot for the negative paper lying immediately beside the exit slot.

In its preferred embodiment the apparatus shows a substantially symmetrical construction with relation to the exit guide, two symmetrical guides leading from the insert slots to the entry of the developing device. The guides are formed by guide walls and transporting means, preferably driven belts. In this construction the guiding surfaces are facing the middle of the device and are preferably arcuately curved towards the outside. The guiding surface for the negative paper and the original is transparent and simultaneously serves as an image support for the exposure device.

The transport belt for the original and the negative paper which preferably consists of one or several strands lying side-by-side comprises for instance holding devices for the original which after the original has been inserted will automatically close while passing the device and automatically open within the exit slot for the original preferably provided below on one side of the housing. By arranging the exit slot in such a way, the original is deposited on the table besides the device and remote from the insert slots and exit slot, respectively, for the copy and the negative paper, so that the operator does not have to pay any particular attention to this end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a storage container for the developing liquid is arranged between the guide wall for the positive paper and the exit guide. This room of the housing may also serve to accommodate, for instance, electric switch gear and/or driving means. It is, however, pointed out that these driving means may as well be arranged in the space between the housing wall and the guiding walls.

According to the invention, the developing device is designed as a surface wetting device in which only those sides of the negative and positive paper are wetted which carry the layer. For this purpose, for instance, known wetting rollers may be provided. According to a preferred embodiment, however, guiding elements for the positive and negative paper are arranged in a flat liquid container, extending on the level of the liquid and converging to meet at the pressure roller pair. The arrangement of the guiding elements is such that only the side facing the liquid is wetted.

Owing to the arrangement of the pressure roller pair at the center of the device near the bottom, length or" the exit guide between the pressure roller pair and the exit slot substantially corresponds to the height of the device. This guide extends, as already mentioned, behind the exposure device, so that the heat emitted from the latter serves to dry the developed papers. According to a preferred embodiment, additional heating means are provided in the wall of the exit guide, especially at that side, along which the copy, i.e. the developed positive paper is moved. The invention also allows transport elements to be provided within the exit guide above the heating means, e.g. in form of rollers contacting each other thus securing that the positive paper and the negative paper after they have passed the developing device and the zone of additional heating are transported out of the device in order to prevent a possible exposure of the papers to the developed heat for too long a time. It will be noted that drying of the papers when sticking together is possible, if the socalled Agfa drying papers are used.

The assembly according to the invention provides a device, the housing of which substantially forms a semicircle above its base "plate, or may have the form of a ridge of a roof, the operating slots being situated on the crest and thus easily accessible. The interior of this device is divided by its guide walls into marginal zones and a center space, the guide walls extending substantially parallel to the housing walls. Owing to' the'sy'mmetrical arrangement to the exit guide it is possible to widely use identical construction elements on both sides of the device, which means a considerable reduction in manufacturing costs.

In order to adapt the device according to the invention not only for paper sheets but also as an automatically working device for continuous processing, a detachable structure is provided carrying supply rolls for the positive paper and negative paper, and storage rolls for the copies and the negative paper leaving the device. The supply roll for the negative paper is encased, and preferably a hinged cover is provided for the negative paper feeding channel. The storage rolls are driven, for instance, via friction clutches, or belts. This drive may be connected to the other drive members in such a way that, when the drive for the storage rolls is started, the drive for the transport belts is switched oif. Suitably, an additional heating device for the copy paper guide may be provided on the frame. This heating device preferably consists of a rollshaped drying element, the inside of which is heated with the back of the copy paper guide passing over it under pressure.

Further advantages and features of the invention may be seen from the following description in connection with the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a section of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1 to more clearly illustrate the inserting slots and the holding device for the original of the transport belt,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1 illustrating more clearly the separation of the copy from the negative papers,

FIG. 4 shows the device according to FIG. 1 with structure added to use the device for continuous automatic operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the device consists of a base plate 1, which is placed on a table by means of feet 2, 3. In a direction vertically to the plane of the drawing, this plate 1 has a width that substantially corresponds to the width of the copy paper to be used. The front walls of the device are extending vertically in planes parallel to the drawing plane. The longitudinal walls 4, 5 are curved and have an approximately semi-circular cross section or if preferred a cross section in form of a roof, and are extending to an apex platform 6 above the center portion of the base plate 1. In this apex platform, the operating slots are arranged. The'issue slot 7 for the negative paper and the positive paper carrying the image is disposed in the middle. The defining walls of the issue slot extend upwardly and are curved at their upper ends towards the middle of the slot, in order to prevent that paper is inadvertently inserted through this slot. Referring to the drawing, the insert slot 8 for the positive paper is disposed to the left of the issue slot, and the insert slot 9 for the negative paper is disposed to the right of the issue slot 7, while the insert slot 10 for the original is arranged besides the insert slot 9. It will be seen (see also FIG. 2) that a rib 11 is arranged between the insert slots 1i and 9, this rib extending to a height between that of the defining walls of the issue slot 7 and the outer edge '12 of the insert slot for the original. This measure prevents an inadvertent feeding of the original into the insert slot 9for the negative paper.

On that side of the device on which the insert slots for the original and the positive paper are situated, the issue slot 13 for the original is arranged, slightly above the bottom plate 1. Thus when copying, the original leaves the side out of the device and drops on the table without requiring any special measures. Suitably, the device is assembled in such a way that the side on which the issue slot 13 is disposed, forms the operating side of the device. Such an arrangement also corresponds to the steplike arrangement of the rib and the outer edge in relation to one another and to the defining walls of the issuing slot 7. For facilitating the sliding-out movement of th: original, an obliquely extending sliding way 14 is provi ed.

On the bottom plate 1 of the device, there is a preferably removable liquid basin 15 for the developing liquid. The liquid level of this basin is kept at an accurately fixed height. For this purpose, a container 16 which is closed at its upper side is disposed above the basin 15. From the bottom of the container 16, for instance, two tubes 17, 18 are leading into the basin 15. The end of tube 18 defines the height of the liquid level while the tube 17 ends slightly above the bottom of the basin 15. If by any chance the liquid level of the basin 15 sinks, air is admitted to enter the container 16 through the tube 18, so that liquid flows out of the tube 17, until the lower orifice of the tube 18 is closed again by the resin liquid level. This arrangement works like a known chicken watering trough.

The container 16 is fastened to the rim of the basin 15 by means of a wall portion 19 and may be taken out of the housing together with the basin 15. The container 16 may be refilled through the filling opening 20 which is closed by a plug.

Guide elements 21, 22 are arranged in the basin 15, at the height of the predetermined liquid level. These guide elements are extending parallel, or substantially parallel to the front walls of the housing. At the center of the basin 15, they are converging to form'an apex 23 which is drawn upwardly above the liquid level and extends into the gap between the pressure roller pair 24, 25,'the flanks of the apex being shaped according to the form of this gap. The other ends 26, 27 of the guiding elements extend upwardly curved out of the basin 15 and under the feed guide for the positive paper and the negative paper, respectively. Guide rollers 28, 29 by which the fed-in papers are guided on to the guiding elements, are disposed over the curved portions of the 'endsof the guiding elements 26, 27. The guiding rollers are preferably not driven, although it is possible to provide a drive for these parts.

The exit guide receiving the positive and negative paper after having been developed, begins above the pressure rollers 24, 25. This guide is defined by the walls 30, 31, which with their upper edges form the defining walls for the issue slot 7. The guide designated 32, in the illustrated preferred embodiment extends vertically upwards and is disposed exactly in the middle of the device. The walls 30, 31 are suitably fastened to the front walls of the device. The wall 30, for instance, merges at its lower end into a horizontally extending wall 33 which extends above the basin 15. Adjacent the wall 31, a corresponding wall portion is subdivided into the parts 34, 35,'between which the container 16 is arranged.

Furthermore the section of the wall is formed by the arrangement of the heating device 36 in the side wall 31 of the exit guide 32. The heating device 36 may consist, for instance, of several rod-shaped heating elements or heating coils extending over the total width of the exit guide. These elements are covered towards the exit guide 32 preferably only by a grid, while on the other side they are closed towards the remaining parts of the device by means of a screen. At its side facing the heating elements, this screen "is preferably provided with refiectors, so as to prevent the infrared rays from getting into the adjacent chamber of the device.

At the ends of the horizontal wall portions 33, 34 facing the side walls 4, 5, upwardly extending guide walls 37, 38 are supported. These guide walls preferably extend circularly outwardly curved with respect to the walls 30, 31 of the exit guide, so that on both sides of the exit guide sector like chambers are formed. In the chamber below the guide wall 38 the above described container 16 and the heating device 36 are disposed. In addition, electric drive equipment, regulating and switch gear may be accommodated in this chamber.

The exposure device is provided below the guide wall 37. This for instance shows three rod-shaped light sources 39, extending over the whole width of the device. The guide 37 serves as an image support for the exposure device, being transparent for this purpose. To simplify the manufacturing, the guide wall 38 consists of the same material, although it might as well be of another, non-transparent material, for instance plastics.

The heat-emitted from the light sources 39 serves to heat the exit guide 32. Within the range of the exposure device the wall 30 of the exit guide may suitably be provided with apertures extending in a vertical direction, in order to improve the heat transfer.

Transport belts 40, 41 are arranged on the outside of the guide walls 37, 30 effecting the transport of the positive paper and the negative paper and the original, respectively, past the pertaining guide wall. The transport belt 40 is guided over the rolls 42, 43. Owing to the curved form of the guide wall 38 between the rolls 42, 43 a close pressure contact is achieved without using any additional means eliminating slipping of the paper during its transport. The transport belt 40 may for instance be resilient. It is also possible to displaceably support one of the rolls 42 or 43 in such a way that the action will cause a tension of the transport belt 40.

The transport belt 41 is guided on rolls 44, 45 which are arranged symmetrically to the rolls 42, 43. In one of the embodiments, this transport belt consists of a series of strands lying side-by-side, as hereby the uniformity of the pressure over the total width of the papers is improved. At least one of these strands is provided with holding devices, which after the original has been inserted will automatically close when moving into the device and automatically open within the range of the issue orifice for the original. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding devices are formed as flaps 46, one of them being clearly visible within the range of the insert slot shown in FIG. 2. The flap 46 arranged on the transport belt 41 or one of its strands may be formed either by a little plate which may for instance be woven or clamped into, or fastened in any suitable way to the belt material, or-by an oblique incision into the surface of the transport belt 41 or one of its strands. The material forming the flap is selected and arranged on the belt in such a way that the flap 46 will move in a tangentially extending position when the belt 41 is guided over a roll 45 or 44. Such a position is shown in FIG. 2. It will be seen in particular that, in accordance with the form of the flaps 46 the rib 11 is extending into the housing so that the outer edge of the flap 46 at the starting position will contact the lower edge of the rib. To insure in any event that the original is not inadvertently guide towards the outside of the flap 46, the rib 11 is equipped with a surface portion 47 starting extending slantedly from the rib downwards into the slot and overlapping the edge of the flap 46 contacting the rib 11.

Also the outer border '12 of the slot 10 is elongated by a border strip 48 extending into the housing. This border strip extends closely over the transport belt 41 and prevents the original from sliding along that peripheral surface of the roll 45 which faces the outside of the device.

The operation of the holding device formed by the flap 46 is such, that the original is pushed underneath the flap 46, whereupon when the transport belt 41 starts moving the flap is pressed against the transport belt 41 by means of corresponding guiding means or, in front of the exposure device, by means of the guide wall. Hereby the original is kept close to the transport belt until the flap is able to open again. Adjacent the insert slots 9, 10 a formed sheet 49 is arranged serving as a guide, along which the transport belt 41 moves in a sliding fashion, thus pressing the flap in a closed position. It is also possible to give the formed sheet 49 a certain elasticity.

A corresponding formed sheet 50 is arranged below the insert slot 8 for the positive paper, beside the roll 43. This formed sheet together with a downwardly extending border rib 51 insures that the positive paper is pressed onto the transport belt after having been inserted into the slot and being taken along by the transport belt before the transport belt moves onto the guide wall 38.

In order to issue the original through the issue slot 13, the flap 46 must open within the range of said issue slot. For this purpose the pressure guide for the flap is intermpted over a length exceeding that of the flap 46 proper. This interruption additionally lies within a curved section of the transport belt 41. Therefore, the flap 46 will open so that the original may drop down. This section is provided on the roll 44 at 52. It is pointed out, that the free space 53 between the transparent guide wall 37 serving as a pressure guide and the profilated sheet 54 merely serves the purpose of guiding the negative paper taken along together with the original by the transport belt towards the end 27 of the guiding elements 22. The space 53 is so short that the flap 46 cannot open, and special consideration should be paid to the fact that the space 53 is disposed in a portion of the guide in which the transport belt 41 extends substantially linear. Opening of the flap is possible only behind the formed sheet 54, after in a curved zone of the guide said formed sheet forms a step extending away from the transport belt.

In case the transport belt '41 is provided with holding flaps 46 the device is preferably working in step-like fashion in such a way that it comes to a standstill after a copy has been made and one of the flaps 46 is in a position as shown in FIG. 1. A drive of such a type may for instance be achieved by arranging scanning projections lateral of the transport belt, or by providing corresponding projections on the front face of one of the rollers 45 or 44, said projections actuating switches in the driving circuit. The start of the driving means may preferably be controlled in connection with the start of the exposure device. The intensity is suitably regulated by electric switch means in the circuit of the exposure lamps 39. According to the invention, however, provision has also been made for a shutter-not shown-for instance formed of a metal foil preferably being telescopically guide along the inside of the transparent guide wall 37. By adjusting this shutter, for instance by means of a serrated wheel engaging the perforated edge of the shutter it will be possible to adjust the free space of the guide wall 37 available for exposure.

The moving driven parts are preferably driven by a central driving motor which may be arranged either beside the container 16 or for instance below the transport roller 42. Gear trains or chain drives are provided for the driven parts, the ratio of which with regard to the diameters of the driving rolls or wheels being selected so as to achieve a uniform feed speed. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transport roller pairs 42, 43 and 44, 45 are driven. The drive of always one transport roller in a pair being sufiicient. Likewise the pressure roller pair 24, 25 andif arranged at alla pair of transport rollers within the exit guide 32 above the heating" device B6 are driven.

If the device is in the shown starting position, the positive paper is introduced through the slot 8, the negative paper through the slot 9, and the original through the slot 10. The negative and positive papers are joined to the pertaining transport belts 40, 41 at about the same height by means of the formed sheets 49, 50, the arrangement being such that also the flap 46 reaches joining spot. Then the device is switchedfon, the drive starts working, the negative and positive papers are pressed to the pertaining transport belts by means of the formed sheets 49, 50 and taken along. Simultaneously, the flap 46 is closed by the pressure and the original moves along, too.

Either simultaneously with the start of the drive or delayed by a certain period of time corresponding to the time of travel of the papers from the inserting slots to the guide walls 37, 38', the exposure lamps 39 are switched on. After the papers have passed along the guide wall 37, 38, the negative paper designated with 55 in FIG. 3, spreads apart after it has left the guide wall 37. This spreading on the one hand results from the tendency of the paper to continue its vertically downward motion and, on the other hand, from the fact that the pressure influence between the transport belt 41 and the guide wall 37 though small, but still effective decreases. The negative paper 54 which has been exposed, runs up to the end 27 of the guide element 22 and is correspondingly guided by the roll 29.

For reasons stated above the flap 46 does not yet open at this moment, but only after having passed the formed sheet 54. After this, the flap as a result of its inherent elasticity and the curvature of the transport belt 41, snaps into the free space formed by the step between the profilated sheet 54 and the slide 14, whereby the original drops on the slide 14 in this region and, as the transport belt travels on is issued through the slot 13 and deposited in front of the device.

The positive paper travels onto the guiding elements 21 in the basin 15 in the same way as the negative paper. The advancing edge of the positive paper iscorrespondingly guided by the ends 26 of the guiding elements and the roll 28.

The motion of the transport belts 40, 41 continues so as to guide the papers on the guiding elements to the pressure roller pair 24, 25. The arrangement is such that the papers are released by the transport belts 40, 41 at the earliest at that moment when the advancing edges are already between the pressure rollers 24, 25. In the pressure rollers, the wetted layered sides of the papers are pressed together, whereupon the papers are guided upwards to the issue slot 7 by means of the guide 32 and at the same time are dried on the one hand by the heat emitted from the exposure device and on the other hand by the heating device 36.

It is pointed out that the guidance of the original on the transport belt 41 may also be effected in another manner, in which case differently designed separating devices may likewise be provided for the original and the negative paper within the range of the lower transport roller 44.

An essential advantage of the arrangement according to the invention resides in the fact that the positive and the negative papers are always inserted with the layer placed towards the outside by which the layer is spared during operation, because there is no relative movement between the layer and the transport means. It is furthermore possible to introduce the original at one outerside of the positive and negative paper, i.e. not between them, by which the explained advantages are obtained. It is pointed out that transport means other than the belts 40, 41 and especially other holding devices for the original may be used. It is furthermore possible to use another type of developing device, in which case however it is advisable to use only a surface developing device which wets only the sides of the papers covered with the layer. This may be effected either by wetting rolls or also by spraying nozzles and the like.

FIG. 4 shows the same device as FIG. 1, which is generally designated with 56. A frame 57 is detachably fitted to this device. This frame substantially consists of a a e 5 o be c n e ed to he a e at 1 o th device, and an arm 59 extending for instance along the side wall 4 in such a way that it ends substantially above the insert slot 9 for the negative paper. The arm 59 carriestwo supply rolls, one 60 of them at the end of the arm carrying negative paper and the other one 61 carrying positive paper. The roll 60 is encased in a lighttight case 62, in order to prevent light effects. Provision is furthermore made according to the invention for a detachable or hinged shutter to be arranged between the issue slot 63 of the housing and the insert slot 9 for the negative paper. In service, this shutter is usually not necessary, because short influences of light do not impair the process of making a copy.

On the arm 59, between the rolls 60, 61 two storage rolls 64, are provided on which the paper ribbons coming from the issue slot 7 are rolled up. The storage roll 64 servies toaccumulate the negative paper, while the storage roll 65 accumulates the paper ribbon showing the image. Both rolls 64 and 65 are driven, preferably by means of a motor 66 arranged on the arm 59. Drive is accomplished by means of friction clutches or slipping belts 67, 68, in order to compensate for the increasing diameter of the rolls so that a substantially uniform tension of the paper ribbons is maintained.

Preferably the rolls 60, 61 are decoiling under a slight brake action. In this embodiment, only the transport belts 40, 41 are driven for feeding the paper ribbons. The same eventually applies to the pressure roller pair 24, 25. After the paper ribbons have been placed on the rolls 64, 65, the passage of the paper ribbons through the device may be effected solely by driving the rolls 64, 65, which is advisable in order to avoid the formation of loops owing to irregularities. Those parts of the device which are driven when working single sheet material are running idle. In a special embodiment, provision has been made that those parts are automatically switched off when the driving motor 66 is started, which for instance may be done by means of a solenoid clutch.

The frame 57 makes it possible that the device illustrated in FIG. 1 is used as a continuously working automatic apparatus. The function is the same as described with reference to FIG. 1. The originals are inserted into the slot 10 in the direction of the arrow 69, and issued in the direction of the arrow 73. If the device is used as a continuously working automatic apparatus, no special holding means are necessary on the transport belt 41 because the original is always inserted into the gap between the negative paper ribbon and the transport belt 41. Working this way, however, the formed sheet 54 is extended to the negative paper ribbon entering the basin 15, so that the original is lifted-off from this negative paper ribbon and held by the transport belt 41. For this purpose the end extending to the guide wall 37 is laminated.

When the device is used as a continuously working automatic apparatus, the accurate adjustment of the deviating rolls 29, 28 is of particular importance, because the negative and positive paper ribbons are drawn past these rolls. Therefore, the rolls must be adjusted accurately above the guiding elements in the liquid level.

The paper ribbons are dried in the exit guide 32 in the described manner. If paper ribbons are used that do not allow drying when contacting each other, a further drying device is provided on the arm 59 for the ribbon showing the image. If using such normal paper, the heating device 36 is not switched on. The drying device arranged on the arm 59 may for instance consist of a drying cylinder 70 which is fastened to the arm 59 by means of a supporting arm 71. The cylinder 70 may for instance be rotatable about its own axis. Suitably, a heating element 72 is arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The cylinder 70 is arranged in such a way that the positive paper ribbon which now carries the image passes the cylinder 70 contacting it with its back side prior to the winding up on the roll 65. To

secure the pressure affording a good heat transfer, the cylinder 70 is arranged in such a manner that the positive paper ribbon is deviated around it. Thus, at the same time a certain looping angle is provided, which may be changed by adjusting the cylinder 70 at the arm 59, so

that in this way a regulation of the posterior drying is possible.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for making copies comprising a housing having a bottom plate and longitudinal walls, first inlet means in said housing for introducing an original to be copied, second inlet means for introducing a negative layer carrier, said second inlet means being arranged adjacent said first inlet means, third inlet means for introducing a positive layer carrier, said third inlet means being arranged adjacent said second inlet means, a developing device within the housing upon the bottom plate thereof for developing the negative layer carrier and the positive layer carrier, said developing device having one inlet for the negative layer carrier and one inlet for the positive layer carrier disposed adjacent opposed housing walls and a common outlet for the positive and negative layer carriers located in the center of the housing, first transport means adjacent the first and second inlet means for feeding the negative layer carrier and the original to one inlet of the developing device, second transport means transporting the positive layer carrier to the other inlet of the developing device, an exposure device arranged at the first transport means and between the first and second transport means, separation means within the range of the one inlet into the developing device, said separation means separating the negative layer carrier from the original, adjacent outlet means defined in the housing adjacent the separation means, a pair of transport pressure rollers disposed at a common outlet of the developing device, an issue channel for the positive and negative layer carriers extending upwardly from said developing device communicating with said common outlet, an issue outlet in said housing at the end of the issue channel disposed between said second and third inlet means, and drive means operatively associated with said transport means and transport pressure rollers.

2. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 1, wherein the outlet means is arranged at one side of the housing immediately above the bottom plate.

3. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 1, wherein said developing device comprises a surface wetting device for the negative and positive layer carriers, respectively, the device comprising a fiat bath container with the developing liquid contained therein, and guide elements being provided, said guide elements extending between each inlet of the developing device and the common outlet of the developing device, at the level of the liquid.

4. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 1, Wherein the first and second transport means consist of guide walls and at least one transport belt respectively cooperating with each of the guide walls, said belts being in the form of endless belts and respectively guided over rollers arranged at the beginning and at the end of the first and second transport means, the guide wall for the original and the negative layer carrier being transparent and serving as a film support for the exposure device.

5. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 4, wherein apertures are disposed within the wall of the issue channel, said apertures communicating with the exposure device.

6. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 4, wherein the guide walls are disposed symmetrically to the issue channel and are arcs of cylinders convex towards the respective adjacent longitudinal housing wall.

7. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 4, wherein horizontal partitions extend between those ends of the guide walls nearest the developing device and the inlet end of the issue channel, whereby a pair of sector-shaped spaces are defined between said guide walls, said horizontal partitions and said issue channel, one of said spaces containing the exposure device and the other of said spaces containing the drive means.

8. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 4, wherein at least one transport belt for the original and the negative layer carrier is equipped with holding devices which are in the form of flaps, curved guiding sheets below the second and third inlet means, said guiding sheets adapting themselves to the moving path of the transport belts under said inlet means and respectively guiding the negative and positive layer carriers towards the outside of the associated transport belt and effecting adherence between the negative and positive layer carriers and the associated transport belts during movement of the transport belts.

9. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 4, wherein the exit of the developing device lies substantially in the center of the housing, said issue channel having vertically extending spaced walls extending upwardly toward the upper portion of the housing, one of said spaced walls defining the backside of the exposure device, and a drying device arranged in the other wall of the channel.

10. Apparatus for making copies comprising a housing having a bottom plate and vertically extending end walls and arcuate convex longitudinal side walls extending upwardly from said bottom plate, first inlet means in said housing for introducing an original to be copied, second inlet means for introducing a negative layer carrier, said second inlet means being arranged adjacent said first inlet means, third inlet means for introducing a positive layer carrier, said third inlet means being arranged adjacent said second inlet means, a developing device within the housing for developing the negative layer carrier and the positive layer carrier, said developing device having one inlet for the negative layer carrier and one inlet for the positive layer carrier and a common outlet for the positive and negative layer carriers, first transport means adjacent the first and second inlet means for feeding the negative layer carrier and the original to one inlet of the developing device, second transport means transporting the positive layer carrier to the other inlet of the developing device, an exposure device arranged at the first transport means and between the first and second transport means, separation means within the range of the one inlet into the developing device, said separation means separating the negative layer carrier from the original, adjacent outlet means defined in the housing adjacent the separation means, a pair of transport pressure rollers disposed at a common outlet of the developing device, an issue channel for the positive and negative layer carriers communicating with said common outlet, an issue outlet in said housing at the end of the issue channel, and drive means operatively associated with said transport means and transport pressure rollers, said first, second and third inlet means and said issue outlet being located adjacent the apex of said arcuate longitudinal side walls.

11. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 10 wherein a frame is associated with the housing, a supply roller for the positive layer carrier and a supply roller for the negative layer carrier mounted on said frame, said rollers being pivotally supported on said frame, a light-tight capsule mounted on said frame, said capsule encasing the supply roller for the negative layer carrier and having an exit slot for the negative layer carrier, storage rollers mounted on said frame between the supply rollers for the positive and negative layer carriers on which the developed negative layer carrier and the positive layer carrier are coiled, a driving motor mounted on said frame, said driving motor driving the storage rollers for the exposed negative layer carrier and the positive layer carrier bearing the copies, a strip-like negative layer carrier coiled upon the storage roller for the negative layer carrier, said negative layer carrier extending into the second inlet means, and a strip-like positive layer carrier coiled on the storage roller for the positive layer carrier, said positive layer carrier being fed into the third inlet means, the strip-like negative layer carriers and positive layer carriers issuing from the second issuing means being guided each to their storage roller.

12. Apparatus for making copies as in claim 11, wherein the frame has a portion extending over the housing and wherein the supply roller for the negative layer carrier Which is disposed in a light-tight capsule, is mounted on said portion directly above the second inlet means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,574,215 Kunstadter Nov. 6, 1951 2,732,778 Limburger Jan. 31, 1956 2,810,331 Grinten Oct. 22, 1956

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