US3266689A

US3266689A - Dispenser for supplying cut lengths of light-sensitive materials

Info

Publication number: US3266689A
Application number: US407110A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hruby Joseph
Original assignee: Multigraphics Inc
Current assignee: AB Dick Co
Priority date: 1964-10-28
Filing date: 1964-10-28
Publication date: 1966-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-16

Description

Aug. 16, 1966 HRUBY DISPENSER FOR SUPPLYING CUT LENGTHS OF LIGHT-SENSITIVE MATERIALS Filed Oct. 28, 1964 i'lilillllli llfllll lllllllf l i 29 2,2 78 (40 lz w jzfor @5905 Zfi u r I s09. 1W

United States Patent 3,266,689 DISPENSER FOR SUPPLYING tCUT LENGTHS OF LiGHT-SENEilTIVE MATERIALS Joseph Hruby, Deerfield, IlL, assignor to Addressograph- Multigraph Corporation, Charles Eruning Division, Mount Prospect, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 407,110 8 Claims. (Cl. 22516) This invention relates to dispensers for light sensitive materials in roll form and more particularly to improved cutting means for dispensing varying length of material therefrom.

The advent of a number of copying processes to the reproduction field has made it very convenient to reproduce a wide variety and sizes of originals necessary for the daily transaction of business. One of the major costs in making a reproduction is that of the copy paper or sensitized material on which the copy is made. In todays ofi'ice or business establishment copies are required of different size originals which vary greatly from standard 8 /2" x 11" size. In order to maintain the convenience aspect of these office copying systems economically, it has been found necessary to supply the user with roll stock of material to meet the need for copying the wide range in size of originals.

One such copying system involves the technique of photoelectrostatic copying. In this art the copying material is usually a thin flexible conductive base, such as paper, plastic or metal upon which is applied a photoconductive coating comprising photoconductor particles dispersed in in an insulating resin binder. The photoconductor particles usually employed are zinc oxide.

In the photoelectrostatic copying process the photoconductive insulating layer is electrostatically charged in the dark. The charged photoconductive layer is then exposed to a light image which causes the zinc oxide to become electrically conducting. The charge is dissipated rapidly from the surface of the photoconductive layer to the conductive base.

After such exposure, the surface of the photoconductive insulating layer is contacted in the dark with electroscopic particles. These particles adhere to the areas where the electrostatic charge is retained, thus forming a powder image corresponding to the electrostatic image.

The photoconductive member is therefore a light sensitive material in the sense that pre-exposure to light of the photoconductive surface increases its conductivity which impairs the ability of the member to accept an electrostatic charge. It therefore becomes essential to protect the roll stock of photoconductive material from light by enclosing it in a light protective housing or dispenser.

The surface of the photoconductive member is sensitive to abrasion being easily marred and scuffed which prevents imaging the surface in that area. Accordingly, the means for dispensing and cutting the roll into varying lengths must permit the withdrawal of a portion of the roll stock with minimal risk of injury to the working surface.

The paper handling and feeding mechanisms of the known copiers require that the individual sheets have uniform smooth edges in order that the paper may move freely through the machine. The condition of the edge of the paper when it is severed from the roll must be sharp and clean, otherwise a ragged or uneven edge will not properly feed through the many rollers and/ or guides that convey the sheet of paper causing it to jam. This is not only a waste of paper but could damage the machine and ultimately defeats the efficiency of the copying process.

The problem of properly storing and dispensing light sensitive material as described above is by no means unique with photoelectrostatic copying processes but is fully applicable to such other light sensitive materials as diazotype papers. It is to be understood that the present invention may be used to advantage with any light sensitive material to be dispensed from a roll where the condition of the lead edge after being severed from the roll is critical.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a light protective dispenser for dispensing varying lengths of light sensitive materials.

Is is a specific object of this invention to provide a light protective dispenser for dispensing light sensitive materials without physically injuring or marring the working surface thereof as it is withdrawn from the dispenser.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a light protective dispenser capable of dispensing lengths of light sensitive materials by manually withdrawing and severing a length using a simple cutting means wherein said cut edge is of such uniformity and eveness permitting ready handling and feeding of such sheet into and by the copier apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent by referring to the following detailed discussion and references to the drawings wherein similar parts bear the same identifying numeral, in which FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the dispenser showing in partial section the roll mounting and cutting means.

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the dispenser taken through 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the cutting means in the normal position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of the dispenser similar to FIGURE 2 showing the cutting means in the operative position.

Referring to the figures, the light protective housing identified generally as 2t) is formed of sheet metal or like material being supported on legs 22 and comprising a base portion 24 having a floor 26, a back wall 28 and front wall 29 and left and right hand sidewalls 3t and 31 (FIG. 1). Hingedly mounted to the wall 28 by means of a piano hinge 32 (FIG. 3) is an L shaped cover member 33, with

leg portions

34 and 36, which enclose the top and front face of said base. At each end of the cover are provided right angle shaped flanges 38 and 4-0 depending from inside the cover fitting just inside the

walls

30 and 31 to form a light tight seal between said movable cover 33 and the side walls.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a structural crosspiece or rod 42 is suitably fastened between the

walls

30 and 31 to give the housing rigidity and also serves as a support for the mounting of the roll of light sensitive material 44 (FIG. 2).

The light sensitive material is wound on a tubular core or cylinder as whose ends are received between a pair of

core holders

48 and 50 rotatably mounted on shafts 51 and 52, shown in FIGURE 1. The core holders are pluglike members each having a tapered outside diameter 54 rimmed with a short flange 56 and a wedge 57 extending laterally along the tapered surface to grip said core. The diameter decreases from being slightly greater than the inside core diameter at the rim to slightly less than the core diameter so that the holder is frictionally held inside the core as it is forced into the end thereof onto the wedge 57 until it abuts the rim 56. This manner of mounting the roll stock prevents skewing of the roll and assures its alignment with the cutting means so that the severed sheet will be properly squared off.

The shaft 52 is received through the wall 31 being mounted in a suitable bearing 64. A knob 66 is provided at the end of the shaft which extends outside the housing for manually rotating said roll to advance a length thereof from within the housing. The knob may be suitably fastened to the shaft end by a threaded fastener such as a set screw 68. Since it is desired to provide the maximum flexibility in the width of ma- -front wall 29 of the base.

terial which the dispenser can accommodate, means are provided for adjusting the distance between the core holders. Core holder 48 is rotatably mounted on a laterally adjustable bracket which carries the shaft 51 journaled in a suitable bearing 74 aligning the roll on center with the holder 50. One end of the bracket 70 is secured to a sleeve bearing 76 which is slidably mounted on the rod 42 permitting adjusting the distance between the core holders. The other end of the bracket is equipped with a tab 77 which fits into the series of spaced apart slots or openings 78 punched into the guide plate 80 for selecting and locking the bracket 70 in the selected position to accommodate different widths of roll stock.

Along the rod 42 and situated between the two core holders, a brake 82 is provided as shown in FIGURES l and 2. As the roll is unwound, the element 82 prevents unwinding of the outer laps of the roll and also retains the roll in the position to which it is advanced by the knob 66. The braking element 82 includes a frame 84 which is pivotatbly mounted on the rod 42 (FIG. 1), and is urged upwardly by the action of the tensioning spring 88 coiled about the rod 42, one end of which is secured to the bracket and the other end extending through the floor opening 90. Extending to the rear of the bracket 84 is a stop plate 92 abutting the back wall 28 so as to prevent the element 82 from being snapped against said wall in the circumstance where the roll stock has been removed from between the core holders. At the front end of the bracket 84 there is provided a smooth surfaced roll 94 made of a hard metal or smooth nylon mounted on a shaft 96 as shown in FIGURE 3. It will be noted that the braking element 82 normally takes a generally horizontal position so that it engages the roll at approximately where the free end of the material tangentially departs from the roll thereby maintaining as much of the outside lap in contact with the roll proper as possible.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that the cutting assembly 100 is mounted on the U-shaped support 102 having depending

legs

103 and 104 from the face portion 105, which in turn is secured to the At opposite ends of the bracket 102, through slightly enlarged holes in the face 105, are disposed a pair of upright posts 106. Between the ends of the post is an integrally formed abutment 108 while at the one end extending through the bracket face is threaded a stop nut 110, the combination acting to restrict the movement of the post through the bracket. Surrounding the post along the length between the abutment 108 and the bracket face is a coil spring 112 tending to urge the post into an upright position. Fitting loosely into the bracket face 105 the posts can independently be tilted at different angles.

The blade 114, with its cutting edge 115, extending past the wall 36, is received through openings therein onto the free upper ends 116 of the posts coming to rest on the abutment 108. Alignment of the blade 114 in relation to the face 105 is readily accomplished by adjusting the stop nuts which raise or lower the post in the bracket 102. A U-shaped highly resilient member 118 affixed to the bracket leg 104 and extending fully between the upright posts 106 provides a fiat platen 119 upon which the width of material is supported when being severed.

The platen 119 extends underneath the cutting edge providing an opening 122 therebetween through which the paper passes freely without being marred or abraded. As shown in FIGURE 2, the cross section of the blade 114 is sufiiciently wide so that the cutting edge 115 thereof extends just beyond the front face of the cover 36 and in contact therewith. As the blade 114 is moved into its cutting position it engages the platen 119 which yields somewhat under the pressure thus making full contact with the cutting edge. A sponge like plastic material 121 fills the space between the bracket face 105 and the underside of the platen in order to substantially eliminate light from the housing as the cutting means is moved into and out of its cutting position.

The roll of light-sensitive material 44 is charged into the dispenser by inserting the core holder 50 into one end of the core so that the free end unwinds from the bottom of the roll. The bracket 70 is laterally adjusted until the core holder 48 is fully inserted into the other end of the core and locked into place by engaging the tab 77 with the appropriate slot in the guide plate 80. The brake 82 is in continual contact with the outer surface of the roll. Initially a length is unwound and guided into the opening 122, thereafter the paper is advanced by turning the knob 66. To sever the length of material withdrawn, the cover 33 is pressed down gripping the material along its width dimension between the cutting blade 114 and platen surface 119. By pulling the material against the cutting edge 115 the length is evenly out leaving a smooth, sharp, non-ragged edge.

It will be appreciated that the cutting assembly and the dispenser described provide a free floating movably mounted cutting blade that has the capability of gripping the material everywhere along its width so as to guarantee an even uniform out.

What is claimed is:

1. A light-protective dispenser for storing light-sensitive materials in roll form to be manually cut in varying lengths therefrom comprising a housing having a base portion and hingedly mounted cover member thereon, means for rotatably receiving said roll within said housing, cutting means mounted on said base movable between a normal position and cutting position comprisin g a blade portion and a yieldably mounted platen member in spaced apart relation with one another, said platen being urged toward said blade forming a limited access opening therebetween permitting the free passage of said length of material when said cutting means is in the normal position while restricting light from entering through said opening, said cover disposed in cooperative association with said blade adapted to clamp a narrow transverse segment of the material between the blade and platen by the action of pressing down on said cover and severing said length by manually pulling the length of material against said cutting means.

2. A light-sensitive dispenser for supplying varying lengths of light-sensitive materials from a roll comprising a housing having a base portion and a cover member hingedly mounted thereon, roll mounting means comprising a pair of end roll inserts adapted to receive frictionally therebetween the ends of said roll, one of said inserts being laterally adjustable to accommodate different roll Widths, a cutting blade movably mounted on said base portion operable between a normal position and a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath said blade and biasing means for maintaining said blade in spaced relation to said platen forming an opening for dispensing said lengths from within said housing and severing said length by tearing against said blade.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said roll mounting means includes a spring biased braking element which frictionally engages the roll surface preventing the material from becoming unwound.

4. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of light sensitive materials from a roll comprising a housing having a base portion and a cover member hingedly mounted thereon, a cutting blade movably mounted on said base portion operable between a normal position and a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath said blade, biasing means for urging said blade into said normal position in spaced relation to said platen providing clearance there-between for freely dispensing said length of material therethrough, a pair of end roll inserts rotatably mounted within said housing for frictionally receiving said roll therebetween, knob means \on the outside of said housing for manually turning the roll to advance a length thereof through said opening, said blade being moved to its cutting position by pressing down on said cover, clamping a portion of the roll therebetween and severing said length by pulling it against said blade.

5. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of light sensitive materials from a roll wound on a tubular core comprising a housing having a base portion, a cover member hingedly mounted thereon, a cutting blade supported on a pair of upright posts tiltably mounted on said base portion, said blade being operable between a normal position and a cutting position, a resilient cutting platen disposed beneath said blade, spring 9 means associated with said posts maintaining said blade in spaced relation to said platen providing an opening between said platen and said blade to allow for the free passage of the material therethrough, moving said blade into its cutting position by pressing down on said cover clamping said material along its width against said platen and severing said length by pulling against said blade.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said cover member is provided with light shielding means depending from the underside thereof and adapted to be received just inside the side Walls of said base portion.

7. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of light sensitive materials from a roll wound on a tubular core comprising a housing having a base portion, a. cover member hingedly mounted thereon, a cutting blade mounted on said base portion operable between a normal position and a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath said blade, spring means for supporting said blade in spaced relation to said platen providing an opening therebetween to allow for the free passage of the material therethrongh, a pair of core holders rotatably mounted within said housing adapted to be frictionally received in the ends of said core, one of said core holders being laterally adjustable to accommodate different roll widths, and means operable from outside the housing for manually advancing a length of material from said roll operable through said opening, moving said blade to its cutting position by pressing down on said cover clamping said material against said platen evenly along its width and severing said length by pulling up against said blade.

8. A light protective dispenser for supplying varying lengths of light sensitive materials from a roll wound on a tubular core comprising a housing having a base portion, a cover member hingedly mounted thereon, a cutting blade mounted on said base portion operable between a normal position and a cutting position, a cutting platen disposed beneath said blade, spring means fior supporting said blade in spaced relation to said platen providing an opening therebetween to allow for the free passage of the material therethrough, a pair of core holders rotatably mounted within said housing adapted to be frictionally received in the ends of said core, means operable from outside said housing for advancing a length of material from said roll through said opening and brake means acting on the outer surface of said roll preventing unwinding thereof within said housing, moving said blade to its cutting position by pressing down on said cover clamping said material against said platen evenly along its width and severing said length by pulling up against said blade.

References Cited by the Examiner WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

J. M. MEISTER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LIGHT-PROTECTIVE DISPENSER FOR STORING LIGHT-SENSITIVE MATERIALS IN ROLL FORM TO BE MANUALLY CUT IN VARYING LENGTHS THEREFROM COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A BASE PORTION AND HINGEDLY MOUNTED COVER MEMBR THEREON, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID ROLL WITHIN SAID HOUSING, CUTTING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MOVABLE BETWEEN A NORMAL POSITION AND CUTTING POSITION COMPRISING A BLADE PORTION AND A YIELDABLY MOUNTED PLATEN MEMBER IN SPACED APART RELATION WITH ONE ANOTHER, SAID PLATEN BEING URGED TOWARD SAID BLADE FORMING A LIMITED ACCESS OPENING THEREBETWEEN PERMITTING THE FREE PASSAGE OF SAID LENGTH OF MATERIAL WHEN SAID CUTTING MEANS IS IN THE NORMAL POSITION WHILE RESTRICTING LINGT FROM ENTERING THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID COVER DISPOSED IN COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH SAID BLADE ADAPTED TO CLAMP A NARROW TRANSVERSE SEGMENT OF THE MATERIAL BETWEEN THE BLADE AND PLANTEN BY THE ACTION OF PRESSING DOWN ON SAID COVER AND SEVERING SAID LENGTH BY MANUALLY PULLING THE LENGTH OF MATERIAL AGAINST SAID CUTTING MEANS.