US3163099A - Device for producing copies - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1964 w. LIMBERGER DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COPIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 51, 1960 Dec. 29, 1964 w. LIMBERGER 3,163,099

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COPIES Filed Aug. 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI United States Patent 3,163,099 DEVKIE FOR PRUDUCENG COPIES Walter Lirnherger, llarnhurg-Poppenhuttel, Germany, assignor to Luinoprint Zindler KQ, Hamburg, Germany Filed Aug. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 53,161 Claims priority, application Germany Sept. 9, 1959 '7 Clairns. (til. 9575) The invention relates to a copy-producing device having an exposure stage through which the original is moved together with the copy sheet, e.g. a negative sheet, by a transport device, separate inlet slots for the original and the copy sheet and holding means at the transport device, elg. a separating element for the original or the copy paper, which effects a partial separation during exposure.

When reference is made in this application to an ex posure light source and to an exposure stage,- these expressions will include, in the sense of the invention, any radiation source and any guide plate which is traversed by the rays from the radiation source so long as such radiation sources are used for the production of copies.

In the production of copies it is occasionally desirable to provide indicia concurrently with the production of a copy. These indicia may, for instance, serve as a particular identification and can comprise the trademark of a firm or some organization name. The application of such indicia has previously been completely unknown.

The invention improves on the known constructions in that within the transport device, rotating about an axis at least one movable separating tongue is supported, freely movable in the direction of advance with respect to the transport device, on a swinging segment. The swinging segment effects, in a discharge position, an automatic return of the separating tongue to an abutment defining a receiving or starting position.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the transport device is constructed in the known manner as a roller juxtaposed with an exposureplate serving as the exposure stage, this roller being provided with at least one separating tongue or blade which is freely movable and/ or adjustable with respect to the periphery of the roller. Advantageously, the tongue is movable in the direction of rotation of the roller and is carried by a freely rotatable swinging segment which is formed as, or provided with, acounterweight. The axis of rotation of the swinging segment in this case coincides with the axis of the roller. Preferably, the separating tongue is disposed tangentially to the roller and can project therefrom. For this purpose the separating tongue is advantageously mounted upon a pivotal support whose axis of rotation extends parallel to the axis of the roller. The pivotal support is arranged on the swinging segment at a location remote from the counterweight and the center of gravity thereof. The pivotal support for the separating blade or tongue is advantageously subjected to a force, e.g. that of a spring, which bears upon the tangential separating tongue.

An abutment for the separating tongue, forming a rest therefor in the discharge and receiving position of the tongue, is located, according to one advantageous embodiment, at the inner end of the guide surface which extends between the inlet slots for the negative sheet and the original. Advantageously, the length of the separating tongue and the location of the abutment with reference to the exposure plate are so arranged with respect to each other and to the axis of the transport roller that the separating element, in the discharge position, is pushed into the abutment by the return force of the swinging segment acting along the periphery of the roller and forms an extension of the said guide surface.

Particular features of the invention lie in the compact gdhiifiii Patented Dec. 29, 1964 construction of the apparatus, the table-top housing of which is provided with a forwardly extending front wall section for the inlet-slot arrangement and with a rearwardly and downwardly extending rear wall in whose lower part the outlet slot for the copies is located. Between the upper part of the front wall and the rear wall there is an arch-shaped curved wall section at the upper side of the housing. Concentric with this curved wall section there is supported an adjustment disc for the exposure light source which projects through a slot in the housing.

The operation of a device according to the invention can include the automatic marking of the copy with suitable indicia, for example, by bringing a peripheral element (eg. the separating tongue), carrying the indicia on its surface remote from the original, between the original and the copy paper and/or the negative paper during exposure and moving it in synchronism with the original and the copy paper through the exposure device. After exposure, this marking element is removed and automatically guided back into the discharge position, in which it can extend between a further original and a further copy paper. The marking element bearing the aforedescribed indicia may be movable with the original through the exposure device. The separating tongue according to the invention can serve as such a marking element, which can be replaceable so that slightly differing messages can be provided. There is also the possibility of arranging corresponding indicia on a label, provided at its rear side with an adhesive material and conforming in size to the marking element, which can be easily fixed to the separating tongue or blade. With reference to organization names, the use of several separating tongues near one another is suitable since different messages can then be printed according to the location of the selected marking element. A further purpose of the marking element may be a control function for controlling the production of copies.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be evident from the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in section a side elevation of mapparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line lIll of FIG. 4;

FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modification;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 with the parts in another drive position; and

FIG. 4- is an elevational View of the roller of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

In a housing 1 there is provided at one, forwardly inclined side wall a channel system 2 comprising four channels or slots disposed alongside one another and bounded by guide surfaces. At the rearwardly inclined side of the housing there is arranged an outlet slot 3 through which the negative and positive sheets leave the apparatus after passage through the developer device. The housing contains an exposure device 4 and a developing device 5 which are arranged successively between the inlet and outlet slots, the relative arrangement of the exposure and developing devices 4 and 5 with a drive motor 6 for the rotating parts, a pair of transport rollers 7 for the positive sheet and a pair of transport and squeezing rollers 8 beyond the developing device being such that there is provided a very compact layout. In the preferred embodiment the housing, constructed for a table apparatus, is desk-shaped with a front wall extending forwardly in the upper third and comprising two sections 9 and it the foremost portion of this wall being provided with the slot arrangement 2. To the upper part ll) of the front wall there is joined a downwardly inclined rear wall ll in the lower portion of which lies the slot 3. By this construction there is provided in the upper part of the apparatus an arched wall section 12 curved about an adjustable reflector 31, part of the exposure device 4, whose operation will be further described hereinafter. The inclined rear wall 11 also makes possible observation of the slots 3 from the front side of the apparatus.

To the lower portion of the front wall 9 there is joined the horizontally extending housing base 13 which is pro vided with feet 14, 15. i

The top 10, 11 of the apparatus is, for example, removable or pivotable about the hinge shown at 61 to provide access to the inner parts of the apparatus.

The channel system 2 includes, disposed one above the other, an inlet channel or slot 16 for the negative sheet, an inlet channel or slot 17 for the original, an out let channel or slot 18 for the original and an inlet channel or slot 19 for the positive sheet. These slots are respectively bordered by guide surfaces 20, Zll, 22, 23 and 24. To simplify the feeding in of sheets, the inlet slots are constructed comparatively wide and are staggered with respect to one another while the outlet slot 18 for the original is comparatively narrow and the end of its bordering guide elements 22, 23 extend relatively far forward. Entry into the slot 18 of any of the sheets being fed in is thus prevented with sufficient surety. The slots l6, 17, 155 are associated with the exposure device. The inlet slots 16, 17 extend tangentially to a feed roller 25 which moves under a resiliently pressed exposure plate 26 forming a first arcuate guide surface curved in accordance with the curvature of the roller. The exposure plate 26, made for example of a transparent synthetic resin or of glass, is swingably supported by means of a hinge 27 on a pivot fixed to the housing. The axis of the pivot extends parallel to the axis of the roller 25. The end of the plate 26 opposite the pivoted end is linked by means of a spring 23 to an abutment 2.9 fixed to the housing and is pressed on to the roller 25 by the force of this spring.

The exposure plate 26 is offset, in the direction of rotation of the roller 25, at its front and rear ends with respect to the curved middle section so that the periphery of the roller and the exposure plate extend towards each other in the form of a gradually decreasing slot and away from each other in the form of a gradually increasing slot.

On the side of the plate 26 facing away from the roller 25 there is an exposure light source 3% which is surrounded at its outermost part by the aforementioned reflector 31. The reflector is rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the roller 25 andis provided with an adjustment disc 32 projecting through a slot from the housing. It will be seen that the reflector 31 is substantially coaxial with the section 12 of the upper part of the housing through which the disc 32 partially projects. On the disc there is a mark 33 and counter markings are provided on the housing. Adjustment of the disc 32 causes rotation of the reflector 31, whereby the light falling on the exposure plate 26 is controlled. Adjustment of the intensity of the exposure light is therefore possible in a simple manner.

The assembly 31, 32 is representative of a variety of arrangements for varying the illumination by the adjustment of the disc 32; however, the illustrated use of a single, swingable reflector is preferred since additional parts are thereby avoided and a particularly advantageous use of the housing with the upper curved wall section 12 is obtained.

The roller 25, which forms a part of the exposure device 4 and fulfills particular functions within the scope of the apparatus according to the invention, is more fully described hereinafter. For the present it is merely noted that with the exposure plate 26 there is associated a straight guide surface 34 which leads to the developer device and that a second arcuate guide surface 35 is provided at the roller 25 by which the original is led back to the outlet slot 1-8, the latter surface being coaxial with roller 25 like the first guide 26.

The guide path for the exposed negative sheet to the developer device 5 is completed by a guide surface 36 which at its inlet forms, with the guide surface 34, a guide channel for the negative sheet and at its lower portion 37 extends through a bath container for the developer fluid. The guide surface 36, 37 is, at least at its lower part 37, perforated or provided with slit-shaped openings.

The bottom of the bath container is formed by a guide surface 38 whose front part 39 extends to the transport rollers 7 and receives the positive sheet led thereto. The rear part 40 terminates at a pair of transport and squeezing rollers 53. On this part the negative and the positive sheets delivered from the developer bath run to the transport and squeezing rollers 8.

t can be seen that the parts 37, 3% of the guide surfaces lying in the region of the liquid bath are substantially concentric with a drum-shaped replenishment container 41 for developer fluid. This replenishment container lies above the bath container so that only comparatively small liquid layers are free at the inlet and outlet sides for the sheets. The replenishment container 41 is also constructed as a so called chicken feeder and has an opening 42 which determines the liquid level in the bath container. An outlet opening 4-3 at the lowest part of the replenishment container ensures a constant developer-fluid supply.

The replenishment container 41 can be removable and can be provided with a tightly closable -filling vent (not shown).

The illustrated construction of the replenishment container 41 with circular cross-section and the two openings 43, 4-2 enables a rotatable arrangement of this container in supports on side walls of the housing, the particular position shown in FIG. 1 being fixed by abutments. The rotatable support avoids the need for a special filling vent, since the container can be rotated for filling so that the openings lie at the top.

The arrangement is such that, suitably, the path of the negative sheet through the slot 16 about the roller 25 to the developer-fluid bath is of the same length as the path of the positive sheet through the slot 19 and the transport rollers '7 to the developer bath.

It can also be seen that all movable parts are driven from an electric motor 6 by pulleys and belts 44, 45, 46 of suitable dimensions.

' The drive motor is located at a side wall of the housing and can be closed by a cover. Between this side wall and the cover there is expediently also arranged an electric junction device 66 from which lead the conductors for the electric motor and exposure lights. This junction device can also contain an exposure clock. Furthermore, the power terminals can be provided in the junction device.

The drive motor is suitable provided with a reduction gearing.

Reference is now made to the transport roller 25. This roller comprises a shaft 47, driven by the belt drive 46, on which roller bodies 48, 4-9 (FIG. 4) are keyed. These roller bodies 48, 49 are portions of roller 25 axially spaced apart by a clearance St) in which a swinging element 51 is supported. This swinging element, in the illustrated embodiment, is formed asymmetrical (FIGS. 2 and 3) so as to create a counterweight effect about the shaft 47 by which a projecting portion 52 of the segmentshaped element Sll is moved into a predetermined starting position and is held in this position when no other forces are acting. While the roller bodies 48, 49 are driven by the shaft 47, the swinging element 51 rotates only under the action of other influences (such as entrainment by an inserted sheet) or under the effect of its weight. The eccentrically loaded swinging element may also be formed as a circular disc 51A, FIG. 2A, composed for example of two materials of different weights. This construction has the advantage that the slot 50 is completely closed by an insert 51B so that marked discontinuities along roller body 28, 49 are avoided.

In the projecting portion 52 of the eccentrically loaded segment 51, thus at the side thereof opposite its weighted side, an erectile separating blade or tongue 53 is fixed in a cylindrical pivotal support 5 This pivotal support is subjected to the effect of an eccentrically acting spring 55 of which the end facing the pivotal support is, for example, supported in a slot. Under the effect of this spring the pivotal support 54 is biased for rotation in a direction such as to lift the separating tongue 53 from the periphery of the transport roller 25. There is also the possibility of arranging a torsion spring between the pivotal support 54 and the separating tongue 53.

The separating tongue 53 is made of, for example, steel or synthetic resin. It is advantageously formed small and slender and can, for example, be transparent or provided at its upper side with white coloring. According to particular requirements, the separating tongue may carry on its upper side specific indicia 52 whose image is to be applied to the copies. I

The roller bodies 43, 49 are of synthetic resin and provided with a fabric covering. Preferably, the roller bodies have a certain elasticity whereby the distortion effected by the thickness of the separating tongue is taken up. Generally, however, the swinging segment 51, at least in the region of the separating tongue 53, has a smaller diameter than the roller bodies 43, 49, the difference in radii corresponding to the thickness of the separating tongue. A corres onding smaller diameter of the Whole swinging segment is furthermore of advantage in ensuring a free rotation of the swinging element when papers are running over the roller bodies 48, 45. A corresponding difference in dimensions is shown in the drawings, the difference being indicated in FIG. 3 at 56. It will thus be apparent that tongue 53, in rotating about the shaft 47, orbits along a closed path substantially conforming to the circumference of feed roller 25.

Further details of the device associated with the separating blade will be evident from the following description of the operation of the apparatus.

Normally, the separating tongue or blade 53 is in the starting position shown in FIG. 1, the end of this tongue engaging in a bifurcated rest or abutment 5'7 at the inner edge of the guide surface 21, which forms a partition between the inlet channels for the original and for the negative copy sheet so that this guide surface in practice is extended by the tongue 53. In this position the separating tongue is maintained by the action of the weight formed on the swinging segment 51, the radial displacement of the separating tongue being limited by location of the pivotal support 54 under the curved part of the exposure plate 26. In this way, rotation of the pivotal support by the spring 55 is opposed so that separating tongue is held oriented adjusted in such a direction that it forms the bisector of the angle included between the periphery of the roller 25 and the straight inlet section 63 of the exposure plate 26.

In the sheet-receiving position shown in FIG. 1, a negative sheet with the film underneath is inserted into the slot 16 and an original with the image to be reproduced is inserted into the slot 17. These sheets pass along opposite sides of the guide surface 21 and continue respectively above and below the trailing free end of separating tongue 53. When the sheets are so far advanced that they are guided between the roller 25 and the curved part of the exposure plate 26, further transport by the drive of the roller 25 through rotation of the shaft 47 is initiated, the swinging segment 51 at the same time being carried around since the original, maintained in contact with the roller 8 and 49, has been pushed beneath the separating tongue 53 up to the pivoted front end thereof engaged by support 54 so as to entrain the insert 51-55.

6 The thickness of the original is taken up automatically by the spring-biased mounting of the exposure plate 26. With this device it is therefore possible to use a relatively heavy material such as, for example, cardboard as the original.

On passage beneath the exposure plate 26, exposure takes place with a luminous intensity controlled by adjustment of the disc 32 and thus of the reflector 31. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the gap 64 peripherally separating the second guide means 35 from the first guide means constituted by the exposure plate 26, the free end of tongue 53 is lifted as shown in FIG. 2 under the straight end 58 of that plate from the cylindrical periphery of the roller 25, whereby the negative sheet lying on the separating tongue outwardly thereof 53 is deflected past the section 35 and is advanced in the guide channel between the guide surfaces 34 and 36. This partial erecting of the separating tongue 53 is effected by the biasing of the pivotal support 54, by the spring 55.

The lifting, however, can only occur to a limited extent since the front end of the separating tongue fixed to the pivotal support 54 is already overlain by the guide surface 35, spaced from the roller 25, before the end of the separating tongue 53 becomes free of the end 58 of the exposure plate. It is thus safely ensured that the original cannot be detached from the separating tongue. The original runs beneath the separating tongue into the gap between the guide surface 35 and the roller 25. This guide surface has a rounded front edge which is convex in the middle towards the roller and which ensures that edges of the original lifting from the roller surface at the sides of the separating tongue move under the guide surface 35.

The guide surface 35 ends at the guide surface 23 which defines the lower side of the outlet slot 18 for the original. It is possible to form the guide surfaces 35 and 23 in one piece. The original is transported by the rotation of the roller 25 under the exposure plate 26 until its leading edge projects from the guide channel defined by the slot 15, so that it is again available.

The inwardly positioned original is released in the region of the slot 18 from the separating tongue 53 since the guide surface 22, which is sector-shaped at its inner end, has a recess 59 into which the separating tongue 53 can move according to FIG. 3 under the action of the spring 55.

The separating tongue is then drawn, independently of the roller rotation, under the effect of the swinging element 51 past the abutment 57 of the guide surface 21 under the exposure plate 26, the end of the sheet-separating member 53 arriving in front of its bifurcated rest 57 reason of its momentum and the gravitation of segment 51. Upon the return of the swinging element 51 into the stable position, the end of the separating tongue 53 is pushed, owing to the above-described positioning, into the rest 57, whereby the ready position for a new feeding in of an original is reached.

Simultaneous with the insertion of the original and the negative sheet, a positive sheet with the film upwards is led in through the slot 19. As mentioned hereinbefore, the paths for the negative sheet and for the positive sheet are so dimensioned that these sheets run together into the developer bath.

In FIG. 4 there is shown only one separating tongue 53, It is, however, evident that the roller bodies 48, 49 and the swinging segment 51 can be repeated a number of times along a roller 25.

Particular advantages of the illustrated embodiment, in comparison with previously proposed devices, lie in an extraordinarily compact arrangement with a simple construction of the elements. In this respect, the combination according to the invention of the transport roller 25 with the swingably pivoted, spring-biased and curved exposure plate 26 is of particular importance.

It is particularly emphasized that the exposure device according to the invention, with the transport roller 25 and at least one swinging element 51, is not limited to use with the described developer device but is usable in association with other processes for the production of a copy. For instance, this exposure device can be used in combination with the production of a copy which is developed by the heat process.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated details of construction, inasmuch as various alterations and modifications apparent to persons skilled in the art lie within the field and scope of this invention as specified by the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a photocopying device provided with a pair of adjoining inlet channels for a pair of juxtaposed sheets including an original and a copy sheet, exposure means including a source of light for producing an image of said original on said copy sheet, and separate guide channels for the original and the copy sheet beyond said exposure means, the combination therewith of a rotatable feed member with a periphery moving in a closed path past said light source, said feed member being divided into two transversely spaced portions; drive means for rotating said feed member; a sheet-separating element disposed between said portions and provided with movable supporting means independent of said feed member for orbital movement along said path, said element comprising an erectile tongue with a trailing free end and with another end pivoted to said supporting means for swinging motion in the plane of rotation; biasing means coupled with said element for urging said free end into a partially erected position; loading means on said supporting means tending to maintain said tongue in a starting position adjacent said inlet channels for interposition of the partially erected tongue between said original and said copy sheet upon an advance of said sheets toward said feed member; stationary first guide means of light-transmissive material disposed adjacent said path in a region extending from said starting position to said light source for holding said tongue depressed while maintaining said sheets in contact with said feed member for movement of said sheets past said exposure means, such movement causing entrainment of said tongue by a sheet bearing upon the pivoted end thereof; and stationary second guide means disposed adjacent said path beyond said first guide means and spaced therefrom by a peripheral gap for limiting the erection of said tongue in its motion past said gap whereby a sheet positioned outwardly of said tongue is ejected through said gap while a sheet positioned inwardly of said tongue is advanced between said feed member and said second guide means, one of said guide channels starting at said gap for receiving the ejected sheet, the other guide channel starting beyond said second guide means for receiving said inwardly positioned sheet upon further erection of said tongue.

2. In a photocopying device provided with a pair of adjoining inlet channels for a pair of juxtaposed sheets including an original and a copy sheet, exposure means including a source of light for producing an image of said original on said copy sheet, and separate guide channels for the original and the copy sheet beyond said exposure means, the combination therewith of a rotatable feed roller with a generally cylindrical periphery close to said light source, said roller being divided into two axially spaced portions; drive means for rotating said roller; a sheet-separating element disposed between said portions and provided with movable supporting means independent of said roller for orbital movement along the circumference of said roller, said element comprising an erectile tongue with a trailing free end and with another end pivoted to said supporting means for swinging motion in the plane of rotation; biasing means coupled with said element for urging said free end into a partially erected position; loading means on said supporting means tending to maintain said tongue in a starting position adjacent said inlet channels for interposition of the partially erected tongue between sad original and said copy sheet upon an advance of said sheets toward said feed member; stationary first guide means of light-transmissive material arcuately disposed adjacent said roller coaxially therewith in a region extending from said starting position to said light source for holding said tongue depressed while maintaining said sheets in contact with said roller for movement of said sheets past said exposure means, such movement causing entrainment of said tongue by a sheet bearing upon the pivoted end thereof; and stationary second guide means arcuately disposed adjacent said roller co-axially therewith beyond said first guide means and spaced therefrom by a peripheral gap for limiting the erection of said tongue in its motion past said gap whereby a sheet positioned outwardly of said tongue is ejected through said gap while a sheet positioned inwardly of said tongue is advanced between said roller and said second guide means, one of said guide channels starting at said gap for receiving the ejected sheet, the other guide channel starting beyond said second guide means for receiving said inwardly positioned sheet upon further erection of said tongue.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said loading means comprises an eccentrically weighted insert between said portions, said supporting means being carried by said insert.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said roller is provided with a shaft having said portions spacedly mounted thereon, said insert being freely swingable on said shaft between said portions.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said inlet channels are so juxtaposed in peripheral direction that the original comes to rest between said tongue and the surface of said roller, said tongue being provided with indicia coverable by said copy sheet for producing thereon an image of said indicia upon movement of the sheets past said exposure means.

6. The combination defined in claim 2, further comprising abutment means adjacent said roller forming a rest for said free end of said tongue in the starting position of the latter, said rest being located between the exits of said inlet channels.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said abutment comprises a partition between said inlet channels, said rest being constituted by a bifurcated edge of said partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,375,814 Bethke Apr. 26, 1921 1,958,791 Kalbileisch May 15, 1934 2,371,925 Schade Mar. 20, 1945 2,574,215 Kunstadter Nov. 6, 1951 2,903,954 Schwienbacher Sept. 15, 1959 2,993,427 Lovercheck July 25, 1961 3,024,716 Limberger Mar. 13, 1962 3,100,432 Limberger Aug. 13, 1963

Claims (1)

1. IN A PHOTOCOPYING DEVICE PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF ADJOINING INLET CHANNELS FOR A PAIR OF JUXTAPOSED SHEETS INCLUDING AN ORIGINAL AND A COPY SHEET, EXPOSURE MEANS INCLUDING A SOURCE OF LIGHT FOR PRODUCING AN IMAGE OF SAID ORIGINAL ON SAID COPY SHEET, AND SEPARATE GUIDE CHANNELS FOR THE ORIGINAL AND THE COPY SHEET BEYOND SAID EXPOSURE MEANS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A ROTATABLE FEED MEMBER WITH A PERIPHERY MOVING IN A CLOSED PATH PAST SAID LIGHT SOURCE, SAID FEED MEMBER BEING DIVIDED INTO TWO TRANSVERSELY SPACED PORTIONS; DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FEED MEMBER; A SHEET-SEPARATING ELEMENT DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PORTIONS AND PROVIDED WITH MOVABLE SUPPORTING MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAID FEED MEMBER FOR ORBITAL MOVEMENT ALONG SAID PATH, SAID ELEMENT COMPRISING AN ERECTILE TONGUE WITH A TRAILING FREE END AND WITH ANOTHER END PIVOTED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SWINGING MOTION IN THE PLANE OF ROTATION; BIASING MEANS COUPLED WITH SAID ELEMENT FOR URGING SAID FREE END INTO A PARTIALLY ERECTED POSITION; LOADING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS TENDING TO MAINTAIN SAID TONGUE IN A STARTING POSITION ADJACENT SAID INLET CHANNELS FOR INTERPOSITION OF THE PARTIALLY ERECTED TONGUE BETWEEN SAID ORIGINAL AND SAID COPY SHEET UPON AN ADVANCE OF SAID SHEETS TOWARD SAID FEED MEMBER; STATIONARY FIRST GUIDE MEANS OF LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE MATERIAL DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID PATH IN A REGION EXTENDING FROM SAID STARTING POSITION TO SAID LIGHT SOURCE FOR HOLDING SAID TONGUE DEPRESSED WHILE MAINTAINING SAID SHEETS IN CONTACT WITH SAID FEED MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEETS PAST SAID EXPOSURE MEANS, SUCH MOVEMENT CAUSING ENTRAINMENT OF SAID TONGUE BY A SHEET BEARING UPON THE PIVOTED END THEREOF; AND STATIONARY SECOND GUIDE MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID PATH BEYOND SAID FIRST GUIDE MEANS AND SPACED THEREFROM BY A PERIPHERAL GAP FOR LIMITING THE ERECTION OF SAID TONGUE IN ITS MOTION PAST SAID GAP WHEREBY A SHEET POSITIONED OUTWARDLY OF SAID TONGUE IS EJECTED THROUGH SAID GAP WHILE A SHEET POSITIONED INWARDLY OF SAID TONGUE IS ADVANCED BETWEEN SAID FEED MEMBER AND SAID SECOND GUIDE MEANS, ONE OF SAID GUIDE CHANNELS STARTING AT SAID GAP FOR RECEIVING THE EJECTED SHEET, THE OTHER GUIDE CHANNEL STARTING BEYOND SAID SECOND GUIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID INWARDLY POSITIONED SHEET UPON FURTHER ERECTION OF SAID TONGUE.

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