US3072909A

US3072909A - Changeable marking apparatus with electromagnetic actuation

Info

Publication number: US3072909A
Application number: US858479A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brandt Hans-Ado
Original assignee: Agfa AG
Current assignee: Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority date: 1958-12-13
Filing date: 1959-12-09
Publication date: 1963-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-08

Description

Jan. 8, 1963 HANS-ADO BRANDT 3,072,909

CHANGEABLE MARKING APPARATUS WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATION Filed Dec. 9. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w" 27 27b 23 25 21 22 ll I. :11

Fig.1 .9 E x 12 19 22b y a is .v 1 9 1 0 s m B n W 270 1 3 I) (KID- 22a F 2 C O INVENTOR.

HANS ADO BRANDT mane f few,

Jan. 8, 1963 HANS-ADO BRANDT 3,072,909

CHANGEABLE MARKING APPARATUS WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATION 4 Sheds-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1959 INVENTOR.

HANS ADO BRANDT numurw,

Jan. 8, 1963 HANS-ADO BRANDT 3,072,909

' CHANGEABLE MARKING APPARATUS WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATION Filed Dec. 9, 19 59 4 Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

HANS ADO BRANDT HANS-ADO BRANDT 3,072,909 A 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

HANS ADO BRANDT Jan. 8, 1963 CHANGEABLE MARKING APPARATUS WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATION Filed Dec. 9, 1959 Inite Free 3,072,969 CHANGEABLE MARKING APPARATUS WITH ELEQTROMAGNETIC ACTUATHUN Hans-Ado Brandt, Munich, Germany, assignor to Agfa Aktiengeseilschait, Leverizusen-Bayerwerk, Germany Filed Dec. 9, 195"), Ser. No. 853,479 Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 13, 1958 Uaims. ill. 346--33) The present invention relates to a marking arrangement.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a marking device for use in photocopying machines.

When making photographic enlargements, copies, or thelike, in photocopying machines, it is customary to apply a serial number or reproduction number to the paper being copied. This number can be applied automatically, such as by equipping the machine with a contact which is closed when the paper to be capied is inserted into the machine, whereupon a suitable marking device is actuated.

In order to facilitate the making of copies after a piece of paper has once been copied, it is important to know what machine settings were used in making the first copy. Thus, in the case of black and white photocopies, the light intensity and the contrast settings in making the first copy should be known, or one should know the exposure time and the paper contrast or contrast setting, and possibly also the position of the item being copied. When color filrn is used, a record should be made of the filter or filters used for each color, as well as of the exposure time, the aperture setting, and the like.

Especially in the case of color films, the first copy is generally not satisfactory even it but one of the various settings is not accurate. Thus, in order to improve the result in the second copy, the particular settings used to make the first or prior copies should be known and recorded. While it is, of course, possible to keep the necessary records by making appropriate hand-written entries in a special notebook, or on the back of the paper being photocopied, this is extremely time-consuming and, for various reasons, is not a practical solution to the problem at hand.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for marking the paper being copied in such a manner as to record the particular adjustment settings of the photocopying machine while the paper was being copied and, with this object in view, the present invention mainly resides in the provision of a marking means which is operatively connected with the controls of a photocopying machine for applying to a paper being photocopied markings which correspond to the particular setting of the machine. According to the present invention, the marking device is an adjustable one and comprises a marking body, means for mounting the marking body for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the paper to be marked, and electrical means for moving the body in this plane.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is longitudinal sectional view of an adjustable marking device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the device shown in FIG. 1, the sectors A, B, C and D being taken along the lines A-A, BB, CC and DD of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing a marking arrangement incorporating a plurality of marking devices of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan View of the marking arrangement shown in FIG. 3, taken along line lV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows the marking applied by a marking device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a photocopying machine having four marking devices of the type shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a marking device incorporating a spherical marking body 1 made of a material of low magnetic remanence, such as soft iron, which is mounted for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the surface of a paper being marked. This path is defined by an outer circular guide in the form of a ring 2 and an inner circular guide in the form of a disk 3, and it is between the guides 2 and 3 that the ball 1 is free to move. The guide ring 2 has a substantially T-shaped cross-section, the web 211 of which is horizontal. The ball 1 abuts against this web 2a. The upper flange 2b of the guide ring 2 encompasses eleven rod-shaped electromagnets 4 which are arranged consecutively along the circular path. The lower flange 2c is formed with eleven marking prongs 5 which have a triangular cross-sectional configuration. These prongs extend as far as the outermost portion of the ball 1, Le, the ends of the prongs are spaced from the undersurface of the web 2a a distance equal to the diameter of the ball 1, so that when the ball is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the marking device will apply a marking which is in the form of a dial, as shown in FIG. 6. With the eleven electromagnets correspond ing to settings of +5 to 0 to -5, the marking shown in FIG. 6 is representative of the value 3, which may repsent the intensity of a particular color.

The individual electromagnets 4 comprise a winding 8 and a rod-shaped core 9, these parts being separated from each other by an insulating sleeve 10. Also,

insulating rings

11 and 12 are provided at the ends of the winding 8. The lower end of the core 9 is formed with an annular flange portion 13 and a head portion 14 which is in direct contact with the guide ring 2. At least this guide ring, and if desired the guide disk 3 as well, are made of a material of low magnetic remanence. The two guides are insulated from each other by a flanged ring 15 of insulating material.

The upper end 16 of each core 9 passes through an opening of a Z-shaped connecting member 17 and projects upwardly into an opening of a flanged end plate or bushing 18. The connecting members 17 are made of magnetically conductive material and are pressed against the guide disk 3 by a threaded bushing 19. This bushing 19 is screwed to a countersunk screw 20 whose head passes through a central opening of the guide disk 3. A nut 21 which is likewise threaded to the screw 20 presses against the bushing 18 so as to urge this bushing 18, the upper ends of the connecting members 17, the cores 9, the web 2a of the guide ring 2, and the insulating ring 15 against the guide disk 3. These parts then form a unitary structure below which the ball 1 and the prongs 5 project.

It will be seen from the above that the connecting members 17 connect the upper poles of the cores 9 to the guide disk 3, so that the magnetic polarity of these upper poles is transmitted to the disk 3. The guide ring 2 isin magnetic contact with the opposite, i.e., the lower, poles of the cores 9, so that the polarity of these last-mentioned poles will be transmitted to the ring 2. Thus, when a particular electromagnet 4 is energized, the guide ring 2 and the guide disk 3 will be magnetized with opposite polarities. The maximum difference of magnetic poten- 9 tial will occur below the particular electromagnet 4 which is energized, and decreases in both directions to a point of minimum potential difference that is diametrically opposite the energized electromagnet. As a result, the ball 1, which is free to move along the circular path, will assume a position directly beneath the electromagnet being energized. Here it will be noted that the lines of magnetic flux of the magnetic field being generated by the electromagnet is transverse to the circular path along which the ball 1 is free to move. The entire structure is then depressed, in a manner described below, to produce the marking depicted in FIG. 6.

The threaded shank of the screw extends above the nut 21 and passes through two insulating disks 22, 23 which are separated from each other by an insulating spacer 24. Above the disk 23 there is a contact plate 25 which is formed with eleven pairs of cutouts 26, one pair for each electromagnet. A U-shaped contact member 27 passes through the two openings 26 of each pair, and an additional nut 28 is provided for clamping the parts together, the contact members 27 thus being held between the disk 23 and the contact plate 25. The upper end 27a of each contact member is connected to a distributor, as will be described below, whereas the outer end 2711 is connected to the corresponding electromagnet. This may be effected by running a suitable connecting lead (not shown) through the aligned cutouts 22a at the edge of the disk 22 and connecting it to the upper terminal of the winding 8 of the corresponding electromagnet 4. The lower ends of the windings are grounded.

Thus, the screw 20 serves to hold the entire structure together; additionally, the screw can be used for fastening the device to a carrier plate, and such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which four marking devices are attached to a carrier plate 30 of a stamping magnet 56. The screws 20 are therefore somewhat longer than those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and pass through bores of the plate 30 to which they are secured by yet another nut 29. Suitable spacer sleeves 57 are provided for positioning the marking devices the unitary structures of which are indicated at 40.

The carrier plate 30 has a central boss portion 31 which is formed with a bore 32 within which there is arranged a spherical calotte-shaped pressure disk 33, the lower edge of this disk resting on the bottom of the bore 32.

The lower end portion 34 of the cylindrical tube 35 of the magnet 56 projects into the bore 32, thereby mounting the carrier plate for up and down sliding movement on the end portion 34. The carrier plate is normally maintained in its uppermost position, shown in FIG. 3, by a plurality of springs 36 one end of each of which is attached to the magnet 56 and the other end of each of which springs is attached to a fastening pin 37 secured to the carrier plate.

The magnet 56 incorporates a cylindrical aramature 38 which has a rounded lower end 39 adapted to engage the disk 33. When the magnet is energized, the armature 38 acts as a striker pin for depressing the carrier plate and with it the marking devices 40. The downward force is then transmitted to the ball 1 and prongs 5 by way of the screw 20, the nut 21, the bushing 18, the cores 9 and the guide ring 2. Thus, the marking is applied to the paper 58 being photocopied through the intermediary of an inking ribbon 42.

When none of the electromagnets is energized, the ball 1 will, thanks to the low remanence of the guide ring 2, remain suspended from the web 2a, so as to remain out of contact with the inking ribbon 42.

The drawings show the marking arrangement on a somewhat enlarged scale. In practice, each of the devices 40 can be made so as to have a diameter or" 20 mm., so that four such marking devices can easily be accommodated in a common carrier plate in an area of 5X5 cm., so that even the smallest of papers currently being photocopied, namely papers which are 6x6 cm., or 7X7 cm.

including the margin, can have four sets of markings imprinted thereon. Furthermore, there is still ample room for a serial number to be applied to these very small papers. The means for applying the serial number are not shown, but can be arranged immediately adjacent the carrier plate 30. If desired, these means can even be carried directly on the plate.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the mounting of a serial number stamping device directly on the carrier plate for the marking devices 40 is facilitated. This is achieved by fashioning the carrier plate 41 as a fixed or stationary plate, and by arranging the movable plate 30 of the magnet 56 on the opposite side of the paper 58 and inking ribbon 42. In this embodiment it is especially simple to mount whatever marking devices one wishes onto the stationary plate 41; if nece-sary, both this plate and the movable plate 30 can easily be made sufiiciently wide to accommodate any number of marking devices, including four or more marking devices 49 plus a marking device for applying the serial number to the paper.

FiG. 7 is a schematic representation of a photocopying machine incorporating a marking arrangement accoding to the present invention. Heze the lower terminals of the electromagnet windings 9 are connected to one side of the power line while the upper terminals of the windings of each marking device 40 are connected to contact segments 59 of a distributor 6t by way of leads 44. Each distributor 60 has a contact arm 43 which, when the switch 45 is closed, is electrically connected to the other side of the power line and is mechanically ganged to one of the controls 47 by a suitable coupling 46. If desired, the coupling may be constituted by a rotatable axle or shaft to which the arm is connected, which axle is itself the control shat for the particular adjustment involved.

One of the controls may be for the lighting adjustment, another may be associated with the light inte ity adjustment, another with the contrast adjustment, ZJlOtQCi with the color component adjustment, yet another the exposure time adjustment, another with the color component or filter adjustment, and so on. The specific details of the various adjustments for the pho copying machine do not form any part of the present invcn are therefore not shown.

Upon closing of the switch 45, the position of distributor arm 43 will determine which one of the tromagnets 4 of the marking devices 4- will be energ. so that the ball 1 is positioned accordingly. The closing of the switch 45 also energizes all of the controls 47 by way of line 48, as well as the changing mechanism for the machine, or the advancing mechanism if the machine is of the continuous feed type.

The actual photocopying process is initiated by closing the switch 49 which energizes a relay 5-3. The latter has a holding circuit which bridges the switch 43 and 0.. s the light or lights 53 of the machine by way of a role: 2. If desired, the single relay 552 can be rcpiaced by a pla rality of relays for controlling the other adjustments w."

the machine. After the exposure time has e a'gsed, the changer or transport motor 55 is energized b ay of contact 52a and relay 5e, so that the next i to be photocopied is moved into place, ready for pl" toccpying and marking. After the new item has been moved iito proper position, the relay S4 is moved to its other posi tion, this being effected either by direct contact between the paper and the relay 54 or by an appropriate limit switch. The magnet 56 of the mar-kin arrangement is thus energized so as to impress upon the "n the mar-kin corresponding to the various control settings.

The magnet 56 can be so connected as to shut itself automatically after the markings have been ied: alternatively, the magnet 56 can be so connected to the relay as to open it upon completion of the mar step.

The

relays

52, 54 can, if desired, be common switching apparatus, such as a for continuously advancing the operation of the machine. Alternatively, this can be done by hand, or the stepping action can be effected by a magnet which is energized at the end of each previous cycle. The time interval can be controlled by a suitable time switch; if desired, the machine can be additionally equipped with time switches for controlling the Various steps, particularly the exposure time.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of machines diifering from the types described above.

Thus, while the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a photocopying machine, it can be used in other apparatus in which a record is to be made of control settings that are in effect at the time certain operations were carried out. This is especially useful where the machines are being operated by inexperienced personnel who cannot be relied on to maintain accurate handwritten records of various control settings.

Nor is it intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable marking device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing body made of a material having a low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means mounting said body for movement along a path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of successive electromag-nets for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and at least one guide of magnetically conductive material which forms a boundary of said path and which is magnetically connected to one pole of each of said electromagnets.

2. An adjustable marking device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing body made of a material having a low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of successive electromagnets for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along said path and between which said body moves, one of said guides being in direct contact with one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the other of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member.

3. In an adjustable marking device for marking photo annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of each of said electromagnets and the other of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of each of said electromagnets.

4. In an adjustable marking device for marking photographic paper, the combination which comprises: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along acircular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, one of said guides being in direct contact with one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the other of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member.

5. In an adjustable marking device for marking photographic paper, the combination which comprises: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, the outer one of said guides being in direct contact with one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the inner one of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electro- Lnagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting memer.

6. An adjustable device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing graphic paper, the combination which comprises: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, the outer one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the inner one of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member, said means being integrated into a unitary structure by an end plate engaging said electromagnets in the regions of said opposite poles of said cores thereof and by a centrally positioned retainmg member joining said end plate and inner guide bar together.

7. A marking device, comprising, in combination: a carrier; and a plurality of unitary structures each as defined in claim 6 mounted on said carrier, each of said structures having its own printing body, whereby a plurality of different markings may be applied simultaneously.

8. A marking device, comprising, in combination: a carrier; a plurality of unitary structures each as defined in claim 6 mounted on said carrier, each of said structures having its own printing body; and an actuating magnet for moving said carrier and with it all of said unitary structures, whereby a plurality of different markings may be applied simultaneously.

9. An adjustable marking device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing body made of a material having a low magnetic remanance; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, the space beneath said electrical adjusting means and said spherical printing body being free and unobstructed so that the photographic paper which is to be marked can be located in said space, said spherical body being located at the underside of said electrical adjusting means in communication with said space, said means comprising a plurality of successive electromagnets for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along said path and between which said body moves, one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of each of said electromagnet and the other of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of each of said electromagnets, at least one of said guides having a low magnetic remanence so that upon deenergization of said electromagnets said body is suspended from said one guide.

10. An adjustable marking device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: aspherical printing body made of a material having a low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, the space beneath said electrical adjusting means being free and unobstructed so that the paper to be marked may be located in said space and said body being located at the underside of said electrical adjusting means in communication with said space, said means comprising a plurality of successive electromagnets for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transvers to said path and two guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along said path and between which said body moves, one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of each of aid electromagnets and the other of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of each of said electromagnets, said guide bars maintaining said marking body in a position wherein it projects into said space beyond the printing device so as to engage an ink ing ribbon associated with said marking device.

11. An adjustable device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence;

and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body r for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two an nular guides of magnetically conductive material whic are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, the outer one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the inner one of said guides being magneticaily connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member, said means being integrated into a unitary structure by an end plate engaging said electromagnets in the regions of said opposite poles of said cores thereof and by a centrally positioned retaining member joining said end plate and inner guide bar together, said guide bars maintaining said printing body in a position wherein it projects beyond said unitary structure so as to engage an inking ribbon associated with said marking device.

12. An adjustable device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving sai-i body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, the outer one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the inner one of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member, said means being integrated into a unitary structure by an end plate engaging said electromagnets in the regions of said opposite poles of said cores thereof and by a centrally positioned retaining member joining said end plate and inner guide bar together, said guide bars maintaining said printing body in a position wherein it projects beyond said unitary structure so as to engage an inking ribbon associated with said marking device, said unitary structure also having a plurality of marking prongs which project beyond said unitary structure a distance equal to that which said printing body projects therefrom.

13. An adjustable device for marking photographic paper, comprising, in combination: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of forces which are transverse to said path and two annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between which said body moves, the outer one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the inner one of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member, said means being integrated into a unitary structure by an end plate engaging said electromagnets in the regions of said opposite poles of said cores thereof and by a centrally positioned retaining member joining said end plate and inner guide bar together, said guide bars maintaining said printing body in a position wherein it projects beyond said unitary structure so as to engage an inking ribbon associated with said marking device, said unitary structure also having a plurality of marking prongs which project beyond said unitary structure a distance equal to that which said printing body projects therefrom and which are arranged in the form of a dial.

14. An adjustable marking arrangement for a copying machine having a change mechanism, comprising, in combination: a carrier; a marking device arranged on said carrier and incorporating a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence, and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a circular path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of electromagnets arranged along said circular path for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path and two annular guides of magnetically conductive material which are arranged along the inside and the outside of said path and between 9 which said body moves, the outer one of said guides being magnetically connected to one pole of the core of each of said electromagnets and the inner one of said guides being magnetically connected to the opposite pole of the core of each of said electromagnets by a magnetically conductive connecting member, said means being integrated into a unitary structure by an end plate engaging said electromagnets in the regions of said opposite poles of said cores thereof and by a centrally positioned retaining member joining said end plate and inner guide bar together; and electrical moving means for moving said carrier and with it said marking device, said moving means being operatively connected with said change mechanism so as to be actuated thereby.

15. For use in a photocopying machine having a lighting adjustment, an adjustable marking device for marking the surface of photographic paper used in said machine and incorporating: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked .and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of successive electromagnets for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path, said electromagnets being electrically connected to said lighting adjustment of the machine so that said printing body is moved in said path to a position which corresponds to the particular setting of the lighting adjustment of the machine.

16. The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein said light adjustment for the machine incorporates a distributor having a plurality of contacts which are connected to said electromagnets, respectively.

17. For use in a photocopying machine having an adjustment, an adjustable marking device for marking the surface of photographic paper used in said machine and incorporating: a spherical printing body made of a material of low magnetic remanence; and electrical adjusting means for mounting said body for movement along a path that lies in a plane parallel to the paper to be marked and for moving said body along said path in said plane, said means comprising a plurality of successive electromagnets for generating magnetic fields having lines of force which are transverse to said path, said electromagnets being electrically connected to said adjust ment of the machine so that said printing body is moved in said path to a position which corresponds to the particular setting of the adjustment of the machine.

18. The arrangement defined in claim 17 wherein said adjustment of the machine is an adjustment for light intensity.

19. The arrangement defined in claim 17 wherein said adjustment of the machine is an adjustment for contrast.

20. The arrangement defined in claim 17 wherein said adjustment of the machine is an adjustment for color component.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 518,534 Olan Apr. 17, 1894 685,590 Faltermayer et a1. Oct. 29, 1901 1,805,021 Somersgale et a1. May 12, 1931 2,048,052 Barnes July 21, 1936 2,470,291 Collins May 17, 1949 2,567,942 Kass et a1. Sept. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,346 Great Britain 1901 672,033 Germany Feb. 20, 1939

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE MARKING DEVICE FOR MARKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A SPHERICAL PRINTING BODY MADE OF A MATERIAL HAVING A LOW MAGNETIC REMANENCE; AND ELECTRICAL ADJUSTING MEANS MOUNTING SAID BODY FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH THAT LIES IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE PAPER TO BE MARKED AND FOR MOVING SAID BODY ALONG SAID PATH IN SAID PLANE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE ELECTROMAGNETS FOR GENERATING MAGNETIC FIELDS HAVING LINES OF FORCE WHICH ARE TRANSVERSE TO SAID PATH AND AT LEAST ONE GUIDE OF MAGNETICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL WHICH FORMS A BOUNDARY OF SAID PATH AND WHICH IS MAGNETICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE POLE OF EACH OF SAID ELECTROMAGNETS.