US3031942A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1962 J. w. CARLSON 3,031,942

COPYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI FIG. 9 42 INVENTOR: JOHN W. CARLSON J. W. CARLSON COPYING MACHINE May 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1960 INVENTOR: J OHN W CARLSON ATT'YS y 1962 J. w. CARLSON 3,031,942

COPYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. IO

I54 INVENTOR: m JOHNWCARLSON United States Patent 3,031,942 COPYING MACHINE John W. Carlson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Speed-O-Priut Business Machines, a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 420 6 Claims. (Cl. 95--77.5)

This invention relates to copying machines and, more particularly, to copying machines of the type adapted to make so called photocopies of documents, and the like. I It isaprimary object of my invention to provide a novel photocopying machine for making copies of documents, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel photocopying machine of the aforementioned type which is particularly well adapted for general ofiice use. Photocopying machines of the general type to which my invention relates have been heretofore known in the art. However, such machines as have been heretofore known in the art have had several disadvantages such as, for example, requiring separate exposure and developing units; being large and cumbersome in size; being heavy in weight; being difficult and complicated to operate; being ineificient and unreliable in operation; being difiicult to clean and maintain; not being a unitary device wherein all the materials necessary for making the photocopies were embodied in a single compact device; being diflicult to assembly; or being ditficult and expensive to manufacture, or the like. It is an object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel compact copying machine for making photocopies of documents, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel photocopying machine of the aforementioned type wherein all materials necessary for making copies copy paper are exposed to be accurately adjusted in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for holding the proper adjustment of the amount or intensity of the light, after that adjustment has been made.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel photocopying machine of the aforementioned type embodying novel mechanism for feeding documents and paper. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel photocopying machine of the aforementioned type embodying a novel developer tank or tray constituted and arranged therein in a novel and experitious manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel photocopying machine of the aforementioned type embodying such a novel developer tank or tray, and wherein the tank or tray may be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and What I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the apof documents, and the like, are embodied in a single ma- In photocopying machines of the type to which my invention relates, light sensitive paper is used in the making of the copies or reproductions, and it is an object of thepresent invention to afford a novel machine of the aforementioned type wherein a supply of such paper may be stored in the machine in a novel and expeditious manner, whereby it is effectively protected against exposure to light in storage and is readily available to the operator for use in making photocopies with the machine.

' Another object is to afford a novel photocopying 'machine of the aforementioned type wherein such a supply of paper may be quickly and easily replaced in the machine.

In photocopying machines of the general type to which the present invention relates copy paper and the document to be copied are simultaneously exposed to light during the copying operation. The amount of light necessary during such an exposure portion of the copying op.- eration varies with different factors, including the color of the document to be reproduced, the clarity of the original document, and the like. Hence, it is desirable, in the operation of such a machine, that'the amount, or intensity of the light to which such a document and copy paper are exposed maybe carefully adjusted. It is another object of the present invention to enable the amount or intensity of the light to which such a document and pended claims.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a photocopying machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the photocopying machine shown" in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right end elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1; i

FIG., 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the lines 44 in FIG. 3; 1

' FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view' taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG.- 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the lines 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the lines 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 4, with the parts thereof disposed in a difierent position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 19-10 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a plan View of the developing section;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1212 in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a wiring diagram for the machine shown in FIG. 1.

A photocopying machine 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The photocopying machine 1 embodies, in general a housing 2 having a printing or exposure unit 3, a developing unit 4, and a storage unit'S, all embodied in the housing 2 and transportable therewith, to afford a novel, compact photocopying machine which is readily transportable as a unit from-one copying job to another.

The housing 2. embodies a main body portion 6 mounted on a base 7, and-includes a front wall 8, a

7 light.

9 rear wall 9, a top wall it), a bottom wall 11, and two oppositely disposed sidewalls 12 and 13, FIGS. 1, 2, 3,

4 and 5. A carrying handle 14 is mounted on and at-' tached to top wall for carrying the printing machine ll.

The bottom wall 111 of the housing 2 affords the bottom wall of the base '7, and the base 7 also includes a front wall 15, a rear Wall 16, and two side walls 17 and 18, projecting upwardly from respective edge portions of the bottom wall 11. The top of the base 7 is closed by a top wall 19 which is disposed in substantially parallel relation to the bottom wall 10.

The front wall of the base 7 has an elongated opening extending horizontally thereacross, which is normally closed, except for one end portion 21 thereof, by a door 22 which is hingedly mounted at the bottom by hinges 23 to the front edge portion of the bottom wall 10, FIG. 5, for pivotal movement between a normally closed, substantially upright position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, and an opened, outwardly and downwardly projecting position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5.

. Two partition walls '24 and 25 are disposed in upright position between the bottom wall It and the top wall 19 of the base '7 in opposite end portions of the base 7 and in relatively closely adjacent relation to the end walls 17 and 18, respectively, FIG. 4. Two flanges 26 and 27 project inwardly from the partition walls 24 and 25, respectively, substantially midway between the bottom wall 10 and the top wall 19.

Two dispensing units 29 and 30, for storing and dispensing photocopying paper are mounted in the base 7. The dispensing units 29 and 30 are identical in construction and are of the type disclosed in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No.

838,249, filed September 4, 1959.

Each of the dispenser units 2'9 and 30 embodies, in general, a housing 31 within which a supply of stacked sheets of copy paper maybe stored. Each housing 31 has a relatively narrow slot 32 extending across the front face thereof, and sheets of copy paper, or the like, may be fed, one at a time, outwardly through the slot 32 from a stack of such paper disposed in thehousing 31 by pulling forwardly on a handle 33 mounted on the housing 31, to thereby actuate an ejector mechanism 34, as discussed in greater detail in my aforementioned co pending application, Serial No. 838,249.

The dispenser 3th is slidably mounted on the bottom wall 10 of the base 7, and the dispenser 29 is slidably mounted on the flanges 26 and 27 in the base 7, whereby the dispensers 29 and 30 may be readily inserted into and removed from the base 7 through the opening 20 when the door 22., is disposed in open position. When the dispensers 29 and 30 are mounted in normal operable position in the base 7, they are disposed therein,

rearwardly of the opening Zll, with the handles 33 pro jecting outwardlyithrough the portion 21 of the opening 20. In this position, the door 22 may be closed in front of the housing 31 of ,the dispensers 29 and 30,

immediately adjacent to the handles 33. The dispensers 29 and 30 are substantially light proof, the openings 32 being of a width only slightly wider than the thickness of a sheet of paper to be dispensed, and it will be seen that with the dispensers 29 and 30 disposed in the afore- 'mentioned manner in the base 7, and with the door 22 closed, light sensitive paper disposed in the dispensers 291 and 30 is effectively protected against exposure to Even when the door 22 is open, light sensitive paper in the dispensers 29 and 30 is effectively protected against exposure to light under normal operating conditions because the slots 32 are of such narrow width, pref,- erably not being of a width greater than the thickness of three such, sheets to be dispensed.

In making photo copies of adocument with a machine such as, the photocopying. machine 1, a negative print is face thereof, which is exposed to the document to be.

copied to afford the negative copy of thedocument. Each sheet of such positive photocopying paper normally 7 has coating thereon which is somewhat less sensitive to light than the aforementioned negative coating, and the coating on the positive photocopying paper is elfective to receive a-transfer of the image on the negative coating when the two coatings are wet by a suitable developer fluid and pressed into firm contact with each other as disclosed in the aforementioned United States Letters Patent No. 2,352,014. The negative and positive copy paper to be used in the photocopying machine 1. The two different types of copy paper may be stored separately in the dispensers 29 and 30, and preferably, in the interest of easy handling during the operation of the machine 1, the negative photocopy paper is stored in thevupper dispenser 29, and the positive copy paper is disposed in the lower dispenser 30.

The body, portion 6 of the housing 2 includes a bottom wall 35 which is disposed in juxtaposition to the upper face of the top wall 19 of the base 7, and it is preferably secured thereto by suitable means such as screws 36, FIG. 4.

The body portion 6 of the housing 2 also includes a front wall 37, a rear wall 38, and two end walls 39 and 4d, projecting upwardly from. respective edges of the bottom wall 35. The walls 37-40 are so disposed relatively to the bottom wall 35, that when the body portion 6 is mounted in normal operative position of the top wall 19 of the base 7, the walls 37-40 of the body portion 6 afford, in eifect, upper extensions of the wall 1518, respectively, of the base 7, to thereby afford the walls 8, 9, 12 and 1.3,respectively, of the housing 2. The top wall 10 of the housing 2 affords the top wall of the body portion 6 thereof.

A frame 41 is mounted in the body portion 6 of the housing 2 for supporting various portions of the exposure unit 3 and the developing unit 4, as will be discussed in greater detail presently. The frame 41 includes two substantially parallel, upstanding side walls 42 and 43- having flanges 44 and 45, respectively, projecting outwardly from the lower edges thereof, FIG. 4.

The side walls 42 and 43 are disposed in substantially parallel, relatively closely adjacent relation to the end walls 39 and 40, respectively, of the housing body portion 6, and are secured to the bottom wall 35 0f thebody portion 6 of the housing 2 by suitable means such as, for example, screws 46 extending through the flanges 44 and and threadedly engaged in the bottom wall 35,

FIG. 4.

The frame 41 also includes a top wall 47 extending between the end walls 42 and 43. The top'wall 4'7. has two downwardly projecting flanges 48 and 49 on the opposite ends thereof, and the Wall 47 is secured to the side walls 42 and 43 by bolts 50 extending through the Walls 42 and 43, and the flanges. 48 and 49, respectively. When the frame 41 is disposed in the housing 2, the top wall 47 is disposed in closely underlying, parallel relation to the top wall 10 of the housing 2, FIG. 4.

The printing or exposure unit 3 in my novel photocopying machine 1 is the unit .by'which the exposure of the negative copy paper to the docurnent to be copied is 7 bers in the form of sockets 54 and 55 are mounted on and supported by the brackets 51 and 52 in outwardly disposed relation to the end walls 42 and 43, respectively. A straight, elongated fluorescent lamp, in the form of a gaseous conduction tube 56, extends between and is supported by the sockets 54 and 55, in electrical connection therewith. The lamp 56 extends through openings 57 and 58 in the end walls 42 and 43 of the frame 41, and is disposed substantially directly rearwardly of an elongated opening 59 formed in the front wall 8 of the housing 2 and extending horizontally thereacross, for a PUT.

pose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

Three rollers 60, 61 and 62 extend between andare journaled in the side walls 42 and 43 of the frame 41 in substantially parallel relation to each other. Each of the rollers 6162 is identical in construction and includes an elongated body portion 63 having trunnions 64 projecting from. the opposite ends thereof, the trunnions 64 extending through, and being journaled in, the end walls 42 and 43. The trunnions 64 in each of the rollers 6062 are' mounted in plugs made of suitable materials such as, for example, a suitable synthetic resinous material such as, for example, nylon, mounted in the respective ends of the body portions 63 thereof, FIG. 9. The rollers 60-62 are preferably of the type disclosed in'my copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 423, filed January 4, 1960.

The roller 60 is disposed forwardly of, and above the lamp 56 in substantially parallel relation thereto, FIG. 6. The roller 61 is disposed substantially directly rearwardly of the lamp 56 in parallel relation thereto. The roller 62 is disposed forwardly of, and below the lamp 56 in parallel relation thereto.

Each of the rollers 60--62 embodies a plurality of trackways 67 formed in the body portion 63 thereof, in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the body portion 63. Each of the trackways 67 includes a substantially cylindrical shaped central portion 68, with frusto-conical shaped end portions 69 and 70 projecting from the opposite ends of the cylindrical shaped central portion 68 in axial alignment therewith, FIG. 9. The trackways 67 are spaced from each other on the body members 63 by substantially cylindrical shaped portions 71, which are of the same diameter as the smaller ends of the endportions 69 and 7G. The rollers Git-62 are mounted in the frame 41 with each of the trackways 67 of the rollers 60-62 disposed in substantial radial alignment with a respective trackway 67 of the other two of the rollers 6G62.

' A plurality of belts 72 are trained over the rollers Gil-62, and are disposed in spaced'relation to each other therealong. Each ofthe belts 72 is trained over respective radially alignedtrackways 67 on the rollers 6662, the tension on the belts being such that the central body potrion of the belts are held in firm engagement with the outer periphery of the central portions 68 of the respective trackways 67, and the longitudinal edge portions of the belts are pulled downwardly along the outer peripheral portions of the frusto-conical ends 69 and 70 of the respective trackway 67. With this construction, the belts 72 are effectively held against lateral shifting longitudinally of the rollers 6062, as is discussed in greater detail in my aforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 423.

A-substantially cylindrical shaped sleeve is disposed around the lamp 56 in radially spaced relation thereto. The sleeve 73 is shorter in length than the distance be tween the walls 42 and 43 and terminates in spaced relation thereto. :The belts 72 on the rollers 6il62 are trained rearwardly around the sleeve 73 between the roll.- ers 60-62, and the tension on the belts 72 is such that they are effective to hold the sleeve 73 in position to clamp the beltsv72 against the rollers 60 and 62, FIG. 6. Thus, upon rotation of the rollers 6062 and the belts 72, the sleeve 73 is rotated around its longitudinal'axis 6 at a speed whereby the outer periphery of the sleeve 73 moves at the same linear rate as the movement of the belts 72.

A motor 74 is mounted in the housing 72 for driving the rollers 6ii-62. The motor 74 has a reduction gear unit 65 attached thereto and forming an integral unit therewith, and the motor 74 is mounted on the outer face of the end wall 43 of the frame 41 by a mounting bracket 76 attached to the reduction gear unit 75. A gear 77 is mounted on the drive shaft 78 of the reduction gear unit 76 and is disposed between the reduction unit and the end wall 43. The gear 77 is meshed with an idler gear 79 journaled on the outer face of the end wall 43 of the frame 41, and the idler gear 79 is meshed with a gear 80 mounted on the trunnion 64 projecting outwardly from the roller 62 through the end wall 43, FIGS. 7 and 9. Hence, it will be seen that upon energization of the motor 74, the motor 74 is effective through the reduction gear unit 75 and the gear train 7780 to rotate the roller 62.

Rotation of the drive shaft 78 of the reduction gear unit 75 is such that, upon energization of the motor 74, the roller 62 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6. Therefore, it will be seen that the belts 72 are driven by the roller 62 around the sleeve 73 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. It will be noted that the sleeve 73 is disposed directly rearwardly of the opening 5%, the opening 59 having an inwardly projecting ledge or flange 81 along its lower edge portion, FIG. 6, disposed in a horizontally extending plane which is substantially tangential to the upper peripheral surface of the roller 62.

When it is desired to expose a sheet of negative photocopying paper to a document to be copied in the photocopying machine 1, what is herein referred to as a sandwich may be made up. Such a sandwich consists of a sheet of negative photocopying paper as the top sheet, with emulsion side facing downwardly; the document to be copied as the middle sheet, with the information to be copied from the document disposed in upwardly facing position; and a sheet of positive photocopying paper as the bottom sheet, with the coated side facing upwardly. The motor 74 and the lamp 56 may then be energized, and the sandwich may then be fed inwardly along the edge 81 through the opening 79, with negative sheet disposed on top, into engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 73, where it is gripped between the sleeve 73 and the belts 72. The rotation of the sleeve 73 and the belts 72 by the motor 74 is efiective to feed the sandwich around the sleeve 73 and in a clockwise direction and back outwardly back through an opening 59, the ledge 81 acting as a guideway for engaging the leading edge of the sandwich and guiding it outwardly through the slot 59, with the negative sheet now on the bottom. The movement of the sandwich around the sleeve 73 in such a cycle of operations is effective to expose" the negative copy paper to the document to be copied, light emitting from the tube 56 passing through the negative sheet for this purpose. Thereafter, the document to which the negative has been exposed may be removed from between the positive and.-

negative copy papers, and the positive and negative copy papers may then be fed through the developing unit 4, as will be discussed in greater detail presently. 7

As is well known in the art, the amount of light to which it is necessary to subject a document when making a photocopy print thereof depends upon various factors including the legibility of the original document, the color thereof, and the like. In my novel machine 1, I have afforded means for quickly and easily adjusting the amount of light to which a sandwich of the aforementioned type will be subjected in traveling around the sleeve 73 during an exposing operation, as will now be discussed.

In the photocopying machine 1, the tube 56 has an portion 84, FIG. 8.

opaque coating 82, which is preferably black in color,"

and 8.

The semi-cylindrical shaped portion 36 of the elongated shield dfyis of such length that, when the shield 83 is mounted in operative position in the endwalls 42 and 43, the opposite ends of the semi-cylindrical shaped portion 86 terminate inwardly of, but closely adjacent to, the respective walls 4-2 and 53, FIG. 4. A gear 37 is mounted on the end portion 85 of the shield 83, and is meshed with an idler gear 83 rotatably mounted on the outer face of the wall 43, FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. A hand wheel 89 is rotatably mounted on the outer face of the wall 43 forwardly of the idler gear 88, and has a gear 99 secured thereto for rotation therewith. The gear 90 is meshed with the gear 88, whereby rotation of the hand wheel 89 is effective through the gear train 9%}, 33, S7

to rotate the shield 33 around its longitudinal axis.

it will be seen that with both the opaque coating 82 and the shield $3 being semi-cylindrical in cross sectional shape, When the shield 83 is disposed directly above the tube 56, as shown in FIG. 6, the shield 83 and the opaque portion 82 effectively prevent the emission of light from the tube 56 except from the lower rear quarter thereof. From the position shown in PEG. 6 the shield 83 may be rotated through a quarter of a turn, in a counterclockwise direction, into a position wherein the shield 83 and the opaque portion 82 completely block the emission of light from the tube 56. Also, the shield 83 may be rotated through a quarter of a turn in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 6 into position wherein it directly overlies the opaque portion 82, in forwardly spaced relation thereto, to thereby completely open the rear half of the tube for the emission of light therefrom. Thus, it will be seen that by turning the hand wheel 89, the shield 83 may be rotated to any desired position between the aforementioned fully open and fully closed positions thereof, to thereby select the amount of light from the lamp 54 that a document or paper will be exposed to during movement by the belts 72 and the sleeve 73 around the sleeve 73.

Two lugs or cars 91 and 92 are struck outwardly from the wall 43 in position to engage a pin 93 mounted in the gear 87 and projecting radially outwardly therefrom. The ear 91 is disposed on the wall 43 in position to en- 8 opening 99 to thereby releasably latch the spring 98 to the shield 83 for rotation therewith.

The spring 98 is of such strength and is compressed to such an extent between the ear 97 and the wear plate fat that it affords an effective brake for holding the shield 83 stationery in adjusted position between periods of adjustment thereof by the operation. Hence, it will be seen gage the pin 93- when the shield 83 is disposed in the I aforementioned directly overlying relation to the opaque portion 82, herein referred to as the open position of the shield 73. The car 92 is disposedron the wall 43 in position to engage the pin 93 when the shield 83 is so disposed in the aforementioned fully closed position.

The hand wheel 83 projects outwardly through an opening 94- in the front wall 8 of the housing '2 so that it is-readily available to an operator for the purpose of changing the setting of the shield33. The hand wheel 89 may embody indicia such as the indicia 95, FIG.' 1,'

on the outer peripheral surface thereof tothereby afford an indication of the position at which the shield 83 is set relative to the opaque portion 82.

An annular shaped wear plate a d is loosely mounted on the end portion 84- of the shield 83, and an ear 97' is struck radially outwardly from the outer end of the end A compression, coil, spiral spring 93 ismoun-ted on the end portion 84 of the shield'83 between the ear W and the wear plate 96 in position to be compressed therebetween. An opening is formed in the periphery of the end portion 84 of the shield $3 substantially diametrically opposite to the car 97, and the inner free end portion of the spiral spring 98 is disposed in the that when the operator desires to change the setting of the shield 33 relative to the tube 56 this may bereadily accomplished by rotation of the hand wheel 89. After such adjustment of shield 83, the frictional connection of the shield 83 to the wall 42 through the action of the spring 98 on the wear plate 96 is effective to firmly hold the shield 83 in adjusted position against accidential dis placement from the selected position.

The developing unit 4 includes a trough or tray tilt FIGS. 4, 6, 10-12, which may be readily inserted into and removed from the housing '2, and which may be readily assembled and disassembled.

The tray 1% includes a body portion 101 having a front wall 102 and oppositely disposed end walls 163 and 104 projecting downwardly below the other portions of the body portion 101 in position to form the supporting feet for the body portion 101. The body portion 101 also embodies a substantially rectangular-shaped, upwardly openi'ng container 105' having a bottom wall 1316. A false bottom 1107 is removably mounted on the body portion 101 in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom wall 166, and has a plurality of openings 10% disposed in the bottom thereof whereby liquid may flow through the false bottom it)? into and out of the bottom portion of the container 195 for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The false bottom 107 has a front flange 109 and a rear flange 110 which rest on the front wall 102 and the rear wall 1-11 of the body portion 101, respectively. The false bottom 10-7 is substantially arcuate in shape, FIG. 12, and has a plurality of upwardly projecting, parallel spaced ribs 112 extending substantially from the front to the rear thereof.

An elongated, downwardly and rearwardly curved separating plate 113 extends across the front of the tray 100 and projects rearwardly and downwardly across the false bottom 107, in substantially parallel relation therea to, the plate 113 terminating at its rear edge portion 110 in substantially vertical alignment with the bottommost portion of the false bottom 107. The separator plate 113 has 2 spacing blocks 115 and 116 projecting downwardly from the opposite ends of the front edge portion thereof,

FIGS. 6 and 12, the blocks T115 and 116 resting o'n the" upper face of the front flange 10 9 of the false bottom 1d? tosupport the separator plate in inwardly spaced relation to the false bottom 107.

A cover plate 117, which is somewhat similar in shape to the separator plate 113, is mounted on the separator plate 113 in upwardly spaced, substantially parallel relation thereto, and covers the front portion of the false bottom 107 in such position that the rear edge 118 of the cover plate 117 terminates in substantially vertical alignment with the lowermost portion of the false bottom 107. Like the separator plate 113, the cover plate 117 has two spacer blocks 119 and 126 projecting downwardly therefrom, the spacer blocks resting on the upper face 'of the front edge portion of the separator plate 113 to thereby support the cover plate 117 in substantially paral-.

lel, upwardly spaced relation to the spacer plate 113, FIGS. 6 andlZ. I

The plates 113 and 117 have downwardly projecting, substantially parallel ribs 121 and 122, respectively, ex-

tendingsrearwardly thereacross from the front edge por- 9 operation as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The false bottom 107, the separator plate 113, and the cover plate 117, are releasably secured to the body portion 101 of the tray 100 by two bolts or thumb screws 123 and 124, the bolt 123 extending downwardly through the blocks 120 and 116, and the front flange 109 of the false bottom 107 and being threadedly engaged in the front Wall 102 of the body portion 101, and the bolt 124 extending downwardly through the blocks 119 and 1 15 and the front flange 109 of the false bottom 107 into the front wall 102 of the body portion 101.

A valve 125, which may be of any suitable type but which is preferably of the type shown in my co-pending application for'U.S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 827,903, filed July 17, 1959, is mounted in the rear wall 111 of the body portion 101 of the tray 1100 in position to be in communication with the interior of the container 105. The outer end portion of the valve 105 is connected through a suitable conduit 126 to a suitable container, such as a bag 127, mounted on a door 128 forming a part of the rear wall 38 of the body portion 6 of the housing 2. The rear wall 128 is hingedly mounted at its bottom edge portion by suitable hinges 129 for movement between open and closed position, as shown in broken and solid lines, respectively, in FIG. 5, to thereby lower and raise the bag 127, respectively, around the hinges 129.

The bag 127 may be made of any suitable material, such as polyethylene sheeting, and, when the valve 125 is closed, is effective to hold a supply of developer fluid. When it is desired to feed the developer fluid from the bag 127 into the tray 100, the door 128 may be opened, the valve 125 may then be opened by turning the handle 130, and the door 128 may then be closed. With the door 128 in closed position the bag 127 is disposed above the level of the bottom of the tray 100, so that, with the valve 125 opened, the developer fluid may flow from the bag 127 into the body portion 101 of the tray 100. The supply of developer fluid in the bag 127 is suflicient to raise the level of the developer fluid in the tray 100 to a level above the rear end 113 of the cover plate 117, but below the upper edge portion of the false bottom 107, the developer fluid flowing upwardly through the openings 108 in the false bottom 107 for this purpose. When it is desired to drain the fluid from the tray 100, the door 128 may again be opened, thus lowering the bag 127 below the level of the tray 100 so that the fluid may flow from the tray 100 back into the bag 127. Thereafter the valve 125 may be closed by turning the handle 130 to closed position, tothus trap the fluid in the bag 127 for storage purposes.

The tray 100 is of such size and shape, that when it is mounted in the body portion 6' of the housing 2, it is disposed in closely fitting relation 'to an opening 131 in the front wall 8 of the housing 2, with the front wall 102 of the tray 100 forming a portion of the front wall 8, FIGS. 1 and 6. Two horizontally extending, elongated openings 132 and 133 are defined by the cover plate 117 and the dividing plate 113, and by the dividing plate1 13 and the front flange 109 of the false bottom 107, respectively, in the front wall 8 of the housing 2, whereby negative and positive copy paper may be fed inwardly through the openings 132 and 133, respectively, into the housing 2 during a developing operation for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

1 A spring plate 134, having an upwardly projecting rear edge portion 135 is mounted on the bottom wall 135 of the body portion 6 of the housing in such position that when the tray 100 is disposed in normal operative position in the housing 2, the rear edge portion 135 projects rearwardly of the tray .100 into abutting engagement with a projection 136 which projects downwardly from the valve 135. In this position, the rear edge portion 135' of the spring plate 134 is effective to hold the tray 100 against withdrawal thereof, forwardly of the housing 2.

When it is desired to so remove the tray 100, the door 128 may be opened, the valve may be disconnected from the conduit 126, and the rear edge portion of the spring plate 134 may be manually depressed into downwardly spaced position relative to the abutment member 136 to thereby free the tray 100 for withdrawal from the housing 2 forwardly thereof. When the tray 100 is disposed in normal position in the housing 2, the lower end portion of the front Wall 102 engages a flange 35a on the bottom wall 35 of the body portion 6 of the housing 2 to thereby limit rearward movement of the tray 100 into the housing 2, FIG. 12.

Two rollers 137 and v138 extend between and are journaled in the walls 42 and 43 of the frame 41 in closely adjacent parallel relation to each other, FIG. 6. The rollers 137 and 138 have intermeshing gears 139 and 140, mounted thereon, respectively, outwardly of the wall 43 in underlying relation to the motor 74. An idler gear 141 is rotatably mounted on the wall 143 in underlying relation to the motor 74 and is meshed with the gear 77 and the gear 140. Thus it will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 78 of the reduction unit 75, the latter is effective through the gear train 77, 141 and to rotate the roller 138 and, therefore, the roller 137. The operation of the reduction gear unit 75 is such that during normal operation thereof it is effective to rotate the roller 138 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6, and, thereby, is efiective to rotate the roller 137 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6.

The rollers 137 and 138 are disposed above the tray 100 in position within the rollers 137 and 138 engage each other substantially vertically above the rear edge portion of the arcuate portion of the false bottom 107. The positioning of the rollers 137 and 138 relative to the tray 100 is such that when a sheet of paper is fed inwardly through either of the openings 132 or 133 into the tray 100 to an extent whereby the sheet projects upwardly from the false bottom 107 into engagement with the rollers 137 and 138 being rotated by the motor 74, the rollers 137 and 138 are eflective to clamp the sheet therebetween and pull the sheet through the tray 100 along the false bottom 107. During such movement of a sheet, the leading edge thereof is fed by the rollers 137 and 138 upwardly and forwardly toward the front wall 8 of the housing 2.

A shield panel 142 is mounted in substantially horizontally extending position in the body portion of the housing 2 and projects rearwardly from the front Wall 8 thereof between the lamp 56 and the tray 100, FIGS. 4 and 6. The shield panel 142 is of such a size, and is so positioned in the housing 2, that it affords an effective shield against the passage of light from the lamp 54 to the developer unit 4. A plurality of guiding members 143 in the form of elongated wires, FIGS. 4 and 6, are mounted on and project downwardly from the shield panel 142 in parallel spaced relation to each other. The guide members 142 project forwardly from a position substantially directly above the rollers 137 and 138 to the front wall of the housing'Z.

A supporting panel144 is mounted in substantially horizontal extending position, directly forwardly of the roller 138, and terminates at its front edge portion at the lower edge of an opening 145 formed in the front wall 8 of the housing 2 above the openings 132 and 133, FIGS. 1 and 6.

The guide members 143 are so disposed on the shield panel 142 that'as a sheet of copy paper or the like is fed forwardly from the rollers 137 and 138, during rotation thereof by the motor 74, the sheet is guided by the members 143 onto the supporting surface 144 for movement forwardly therealon-g into position to project through the opening 145. The supporting surface 144 has a plurality of upwardly projecting elongated, parallel ribs 145, 146 extending forwardly and rearwardly along the upper surface thereof whereby the supporting panel 144 engages ii. the sheets being fed thereacross on a relatively limited amount of its surface to thereby facilitate movement of the sheets across the supporting panel 144.

A switch 147 is mounted in the front wall 8 of the housing 2 for controlling the energization of the motor project outwardly through the rear Wall of the housing 2, FIG. 7, for connection to a suitable source of electric power, not shown, such as, for example, the usual wall plug or the like to be found in homes, ofiice build- -ings and the like.

The lamp 56 maybe connected in parallel to the motor 74. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, the line 148 may be connected by a line 150 to one side of the socket 55, the other side of the socket 55 being connected by a line 151 to a switch unit 152, and the other side of the switch unit 152 being connected by a line 153 to one side of the socket 56. The other side of the socket S6 is connected through a suitable ballast or choke 154 to a lead line 55, the lead line 155 being connected to the lead line 149.

In the operation of my novel photocopying machine 1, the operator may first turn on the switch 147 to thereby energize the motor 74 and the lamp 56. The operator may then turn the hand wheel 89 to adjust the shield 83 to the proper position for exposure of the particular type of document which it is desired to copy.

The operator may then open the door 22 in the front wall of the housing 2 and pull forwardly on the handles 33 of both of the dispensers 29 and 30, to thereby feed a sheet of negative copy paper and a sheet of positive copy paper from the magazines 29 and 3%, respectively. The positive and negative copy paper sheets are fed from the dispensers and 29, respectively, in such position that the coated surfaces thereof are automatically disposed in facing relation to each other. The operator may then place the document to be copied between the sheets .of negative and positive photocopy paper, with the face of the document to be copied facing upwardly toward the negative copy paper to afford the previously mentioned sandwich.

After making the sandwich, it maybe inserted endwise, with the negative paper on top, through the opening 59 along the ledge 81. The leading edge of the sandwich is fed inwardly along the ledge 81 into engagement between the belts 72 and the transparent tube 73. It will be remembered that the motor 74 has been previously energized by closing of the switchl47, so that the belts 72 and the tube 73 are rotating in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, whereby the belt 72 and the tube 73 are effective to feed the sandwich around the tube 73 and eject it outwardly through the opening 59 in up-side-down position. During the passage of the sandwich around the tube 73, light emitted from the tube 56 passes through the negative copy paper and impinges on the document to be copied to thereby expose the negative to the material to be copied from the document and cause a negative image of this material to be picked up by the coating on the negative copy paper.

After this exposure of the sandwich, and after the same has been fed outwardly by the belt 72 and the tube 73 from the housing 2, theoperator may remove the document to be copied from between the negative and positive sheets of photocopy paper. Thereafter, the two sheets of photocopy paper may be inserted inwardly through the openings 132 and 133, with the negative sheet being fed inwardly through the lower opening 133, and the positive sheet being fed inwardly through the upper opening 132. The operator may then push the two sheets of photocopy paper simultaneously inwardly through the openings 132 and 133 and they are guided downwardly by the plates 117 and 113 into the developer fluid lying above the false bottom 1&7. During the initial movement of the two sheets of photocopy paper into the tray 1%, the separator plate 113 is effective to maintain the sheets separated so that both of them are thoroughly wet on both sides by the developer fluid. At substantially the bottom of the developer tray N7 the two sheets move past the rear end of the separator plate 113 and from there move upwardly along the false bottom 107 in juxtaposition to each other into the bite between the rollers 137 and 138. It will be remembered that the roller 137 and 138 are being rotated by the motor 74. Therefore, they are effective to feed the two sheets of paper forwardly and outwardly therebetween, the rollers 137 and 138 pressing the two sheets into firm contact with each other and squeezing or wringing the excess moisture therefrom.

. From the rollers 137 and 138 the two sheets of paper move outwardly between the guide members 143 and the supporting panel 144 through the opening 145 into such position that they may bemanually withdrawn by the operator. The operator may then permit two sheets of photocopy paper to remain together for a suitable length of time such as, for example, 15 or 20 seconds, to permit the completion of the transfer of the image from the negative onto the positive sheet. Thereafter, the operator may peel the two sheets of copy paper apart and throw away or otherwise dispose of the negative sheet. The positive sheet, after such operation, has an accurate reproduction of the document which was to be copied, the reproduction appearing on the face of the positive sheet which faced toward the negative sheet. The positive sheet of photocopy paper, with the reproduction a thereon, when it is peeled from the negative sheet is sub stantially dry, it being sufiiciently dry that, normally, it will become completely dry upon air drying thereof for only a few minutes at normal room temperatures. A

From the foregoing it Will be seen that I have afforded a novel photocopying machine which is practical, simple and eificient in operation. 7

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel photocopying machine which is compact in sizeand may be manufactured in such a manner that it is relatively light in weight and readily transportable.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel photocopying machine wherein all the materials and equipment necessary for making a photocopy of a document may be embodied in, and transported from place to place in a single machine, and are constituted and arranged in the machine in a novel and expeditious manner.

In addition, it will be seen that I have alforded a novel photocopying machine which may be quickly and easily serviced, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims. a

Iclairn:

1. A photocopying machine for making a reproduction of a document on copy paper and comprising a housing,

a supporting panel mounted in said housing, a lamp mounted in said housing, a tank for holding a supply of developing fluid mountedin said housing in vertically spaced relation to said lamp, said tank being mounted on said panel and supported thereby in such position. that a portion of said tank defines a portion of anouter Wall of saidhousing, said tank being movable into and out of said position in said housing through said outer wall, latching means on said panel in position to abuttingly engage another portion of said tank in position to hold said tank against said movement from said position, said latching means being movable out of said engagement with said other portion to thereby free said tank for said movement from said position, means, including rotatable belt means mounted in said housing, for simultaneously feeding such a document and such copy paper into said housing, around said lamp and out of said housing upon rotation of said belt means to thereby expose said document to the light from said lamp, means, including two rollers mounted in said housing, for feeding said copy paper into said housing, through said tank and out of said housing upon rotation of said rollers, a motor mo-unted in said housing'and operatively connected to said belt means and said rollers'for simultaneously rotating said belt means and said rollers, and means mounted in said housing between said belt means and said rollers in position to shield said copy paper from the light rays from said lamp during said second mentioned feeding of said copy paper.

2. A photocopying machine as defined in claim 1, and in which said other portion of said tank comprises a valve member, and said latching means comprises a resilient arm mounted on said panel and having one end portion normally disposed in elevated relation to said panel in position to abuttingly engage said valve member when said tank is disposed in said position on said panel, said end portion of said arm being movable to a lowered position, out of said abutting engagement with said valve member, to thereby free said tank for said movement thereof.

3. A photocopying machine for making a reproduction of a document on copy paper and comprising a housing having an upstanding wall, a lamp mounted in said housing, a tank for holding a supply of developing fluid mounted in said housing in vertically spaced relation to said lamp, said tank being normally mounted in said housing in position wherein a portion of said tank comprises a portion of said upstanding wall, said tank being removable from said housing through said wall, means for simultaneously feeding such a document and such copy paper through said wall into said housing, around said lamp and out'of said housing through said wall to thereby expose said document to light from said lamp, means for feeding said copy paper through said wall into said housing, through said tank and out of said housing through said wall, means mounted in said housing between said two last mentioned means in position to shield said copy paper from the light rays from said lamp during said second mentioned feeding of said copy paper, and a motor mounted in said housing and operatively connected to both of said feeding means for simultaneously driving the latter.

4. A photocopying machine for making a reproduction of a document on copy paper and comprising a housing, a lamp mounted in said housing, a tank for holding a supply of developing fluid mounted in said housing in vertically spaced relation to said lamp, means including rotatable belt means mounted in said housing, for simultaneously feeding such a document and such copy paper into said housing, around said lamp and out of said housing upon rotation of said belt means to thereby expose said document to the light from said lamp, means for controlling the amount of light emanating from said lamp to thereby control said exposure of said document, means, including two rollers mounted in said housing, for feeding said copy paper into said housing, through said tank and out of said housing upon rotation of said rollers, a

motor mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said belt means and said rollers for simultaneously rotating said belt means and said rollers, means mounted in said housing between said belt means and said rollers in position to shield said copy paper from the light rays from saidlamp during said second mentioned feeding of said copy paper, said means for controlling the light emanating from said lamp including a shield member disposed around said lamp and rotatable relative thereto,

stationary abutment means, and a spring disposed around said shield member and compressed between said abutment means and a portion of said shield member in position to yieldingly hold said shield member against rotation relative to said lamp.

5. A photocopying machine for making a reproduction of a document on copy paper and comprising a housing, a lamp mounted in said housing, a tank for holding a supply of developing fluid mounted in said housing in vertically spaced relation to said lamp, means including rotatable belt means mounted in said housing, for simultaneously feeding such a document and such copy paper into said housing, around said lamp and out of said housing upon rotation of said belt means to thereby expose said document to the light from said lamp, means for controlling the amount of light emanating from said lamp to thereby control said exposure of said document, means, including two rollers mounted in said housing, for feeding said copy paper into said housing, through said tank and out of said housing upon rotation of said rollers, a motor mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said belt means and said rollers for simultaneously rotating said belt means and said rollers, means mounted in said housingbetween said belt means and said rollers in position to shield said copy paper from the light rays from said lamp during said second mentioned feeding of said copy paper, a partition wall in said housing, said means for controlling the light emanating from said lamp including an opaque shield member disposed around said lamp and rotatably mounted in said wall for rotation around said lamp, and a coil spring mounted around said shield member and compressed between one end portion of said shield member and said wall for frictionally holding said shield member against said rotation.

6. A photocopying machine for making a reproduction of a document on copy paper and comprising a housing, a lamp mounted in said housing, a tank for holding a supply of developing fluid mounted in said housing in vertically spaced relation to said lamp, means including rotatable belt means mounted in said housing, for simultaneously feeding such a document and such copy paper into said housing, around said lamp and out of said housing upon rotation of said belt means to thereby expose said document to the light from said lamp, means for controlling the amount of light emanating from said lamp to thereby control said exposure of said document, means, including two rollers mounted in said housing, for feeding said copy paper into said housing, through said tank and out of said housing upon rotation of said rollers, a motor mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said belt means and said rollers for simultaneously rotating said belt means and said rollers, means mounted in said housing between said belt means and said rollers in position to shield said'copy paper from the light rays from said lamp during said second mentioned feeding of said copy paper, a partition wall in said housing, said means for controlling the light emanating from said lamp including a shield member disposed around said lamp and rotatably mounted in said wall for rotation around said lamp, and a spiral coil spring mounted on and extending around said shield member, said spring having one end portion attached to an end portion of said shield member, said spring having another end portion abuttingly engaged with said wall in position to compress said spring between said wall and said end portion of said shield member to thereby yieldingly hold said shield member against said rotation relative to said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No; 3,031,942 May 1, 19 62 John Y1. Carlson T It is here ertified that error appears in the numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Pate t"sKbu1d read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 20 and 21, strike out "The negative and positive copy paper to be used in the photocopying machine 1.".

Signed and sealed this 11th day of September 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. swmsn DAVID L D Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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