US3289532A - Variable sheet length electrostatic copier - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPIER Filed July 24, 1964 v '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 NTORS FRITZ BAUM JULES msz/vso/v M g I N V E ATTORNEYS 1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPIER Filed July 24. 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q3 Wm Qmx mhN

MNV

S .1: Ohm Q N: .3 mm N NM NkN ohN m m n u w 9 a 7 o U arm/M1,: s

1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,289,532

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPIER Filed July 24, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR5 FR/Tz BAwWaRTEN Jl/LES N/SE/VSO/V flTTOR/VEYS Dec. 6, 1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,289,532

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPLER Filed July 24, 1964 7 Sheets- Sheet L I 2 I 4 c a, a a 4% 5 a M6 5 5 (96 I f 4 I I98 I r I r 0' l 200 I .0

INVENTORS FR/TZ a uMamrslv auaes N/SENSON in Y ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC CoPIE R Filed July 24, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORs FRITZ BHUMGHRTEN I dl/LES NISENSOA/ AQWXM HTTOR/VYS 6, 1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,289,532

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPIE'R Filed July 24, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS 370 F/rv 7'2 @w/MG r TEN MXM ,gfTOR/VEYS 1966 F. BAUMGARTEN ETAL 3,239,532

VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPIER Filed July 24, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Q m w w AV 0 Q0 0 m k N \n E Q 2 FU JL R \Fr 3; Q; Li v w m (h v 5 s m w V \r N Q Q; INVENTORS n FRITZ BHUMGHRoE/V r \TULES N/SENSON T ORAJEYS United States Patent 3,289,532 VARIABLE SHEET LENGTH ELECTROSTATIC COPIER Fritz Baumgarten, Giessen-Heuchelheim, Germany, and Jules Niseuson, Rye, N.Y., assignors to Savin Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 24, 1964, Ser. No. 384,934 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) Our invention relates to a variable sheet length electrostatic copier and more particularly to an improved copying machine for producing copies of precisely the length of the original over a wide range of original lengths.

Various machines are known in the prior art for producing copies of originals by a number of different processes. In some of these machines, sheets of copy material from a supply outside the machine are fed into the machine together with the original to be copied. If a machine of this type is to make copies of originals of different lengths, there must be provided a number of external supplies of copy material corresponding to the lengths of the originals to be copied or else copy material must be wasted to accommodate originals of different lengths.

In another type machine known in the prior art, the machine itself houses a stack of sheets of copy material and in response to insertion of the original, a sheet of the copy material is moved from the stack to the copying area. It will be appreciated that machines of this type are readily adapted to handle originals of only one length. If originals of different lengths are to be handled, the machine must be opened and the supply of copy material must be replaced with sheets of a length corresponding to the originals to be copied.

In most copying machines of the prior art the machine cycle is controlled in part by an original fed into the machine and in part by copy material passing through the copying area. Owing to the fact that the copying cycle is thus controlled, synchronization of the various steps in the copying process is relatively difficult.

We have invented a copying machine which overcomes defects of copying machines of the prior art pointed out above. Our machine is readily adapted to accept and make copies of originals without regard to the length of the original. Our machine avoids Waste by making a copy which is very nearly precisely the length of the original being copied. Our machine is so arranged that the matter being copied is disposed and oriented on the copy material in the same manner as on the original. In our machine the copying operation is entirely under the control of the original. Our machine is adapted to hold a very large supply of copying material.

One object of our invention is to provide a variable sheet length electrostatic copier for copying originals without regard to the length thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide a variable sheet length electrostatic copier which produces copies of precisely the length of the original fed into the machine.

A further object of our invention is to provide a variable sheet length electrostatic copier in which the copying operation is entirely under the control of the original.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a variable sheet length electrostatic copier in which the material copied has the same orientation on the copy as on the original.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a variable sheet length electrostatic copier which is adapted to hold a large supply of copy material.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

Patented Dec. 6, 1966 In general our invention contemplates the provision of a copying machine in which an original transport system responsive to the passage of an original therethrough, first, in response to the leading edge of the original, energizes a copy material feeding mechanism to advance copy material from a roll past a cutter toward a copying zone and then, in response to the trailing edge of the original concomitantly operates a cutter to cut the copy to the length of the original and stops the feeding of copy material from the :roll past the cutter. I

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of our variable sheet length electrostatic copier.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the copier shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of our copy machine with a side panel removed to show the drive system of the machine.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of our improved copier illustrating the original transport mechanism thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of our copy material feeding and cutting mechanism employed on our copier.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the copy material feeding and cutting mechanism of our copier.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the copy material cutting and feeding mechanism of our copier.

FIGURE '8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 7 taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 7 with parts broken away.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 7 taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view of one form of electrical control circuit which can be used on our improved electrostatic copier.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 3, one specific form of our electrostatic copier indicated generally by the reference character 10 has a base 12, a back 14, a top 16, and removable side panels 18 and 20. Within the machine is the main machine frame including respective bearing support plates 22 and 24 held in spaced relationship by anysuitable means known to the art.

We detachably mount an original transport system indicated generally by the reference character 26 at the front of the machine 10. The top 28 of the unit 26 carries a push button 30 for turning the machine on and ch, as Well as a knob 32 which can be actuated to set the machine to make a plurality of copies. Knob 32 moves a pointer 34 to .a position with relation to a scale 36 at which the pointer indicates the number of copies the machine is set to make.

In a manner to be described hereinafter, as an original material such as copy paper 38 is drawn from a roll 40 carried by a shaft 42 supported in brackets 44 carried by the plates 22 and 24. The copy material being drawn from the roll 40 successively passes through a cutting station indicated generally by the reference character 46. a corona system indicated generally by the reference character '48, a copy paper exposure station 50, a developing station 52 and a fixing system indicated generally by the reference character 54. Ultimately the developed copy passes outwardly through an opening 56 onto the upper surface of the top 16 to a positon at which it is accessible to the operator of the machine.

More specifically, when a copy is being made, a copy paper lower feed roll 58 is clutched to a shaft 60 to cause the paper to be drawn through the nip between the roll 58 and an upper feed roll 62 carried by a shaft 64. After passing through the cutter station 46, the copy material passes through the nip between a pair of feed rolls 66 and 6-8 carried by shafts 70 and 72. A pair of guide rolls 74 and 76 supported on shafts 78 and 80 carry the copy paper from the corona station 48 to the exposure station 50. As is known in the art, the copy material 38 carries a coating of photoconductive material such, for example, as zinc oxide or the like. As the length passes through the station 48, it is subjected to a potential between a corona discharge wire 82 disposed in a housing 84 and a ground roller 86 carried by a bracket 88. Having thus received a charge, the paper passes between a guide 90 on bracket 88 and a window 92 through which an image of the original to be copied is focused on the paper in a manner to be described.

Respective feed rolls 94 and 96 carried by shafts 98 and 100 carry the copy paper from the exposure station 50 to the developer station 52. It will readily be understood by those skilled in the art that as the copy material carrying an electrostatic charge is exposed to the image to be copied, the charge leaks off in the relatively lighter area of the image and is retained over the relatively darker areas of the image. After having passed through the nip between rollers 94 and 96, the copy paper 'rides over a toner roller 102 carried by a shaft 104. As will be described in detail hereinafter, as the copy paper passes by the toner roller 102 it is brushed with particles of toner which are attracted to the changed areas of the material so as to be adhered thereto to develop a latent image on the copy material. As is known in the art, the toner may, for example, be powdered resinous material having a color which contrasts with that of the copy material 38.

As the copy material 38 leaves the developer station 52, it passes through the nip between rollers 106 and 108 carried by shafts 110 and 112. The rolls 106 and 108 feed the copy material to the space between a pair of guides 114 and 116 which lead to a pair of feed rolls 118 and 120 carried by shafts 122 and 124. The copy material 38 then passes through the space between a guide 126 and a heater 128 which applies sufiic-ient heat to the particles of toner carried by the sheet to fuse them to the sheet without at the same time scorching the sheet.

Guide rolls 130 and 132 carried by shafts 134 and 136 feed the copy material to an arcuate guide 138 which directs the leading edges of the sheet up into the nip be tween the roll 132 and a roll 1-40 carried by a shaft 142. The sheet is then fed upwardly between guides 144 and 146 to the nip between the roll 1-20 and a roll 148 carried by a shaft 150. As will be described in detail hereinbe-low, when the original has passed through the original transport system 26, the length of material 38 being fed from the roll 40 has been cut to the length of the original. The cut sheet is fed by rolls 120 and 148 to guides 152 and 154 which direct the sheet to the nip between rolls 156 and 158 carried by shafts 160 and 162. These terminal rollers 156 and 158 direct the sheet through opening 56 onto the upper surface of the top 16 where it is accessible to the operator.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4, an original to be copied is fed to the system 26 by passing it into an opening 164 to the nip between feed rolls 166 and 168 carried by shafts 170 and 172. Guides 174 and 176 direct the original from rolls 166 and 168 to the nip between rolls 178 and 180 carried by shafts 182 and 184. Rolls 178 and 180 guide the original toward an exposure window 186 to the nip between rolls 188 and 190 carried by shafts 192 and 194. As the original passes by the window, light from a source 196 is directed onto its surface to reflect an image from the sheet through an opening 198 in a light reflector 200 along a path indicated by the dot-dash line in FIGURE 4.

As the leading edge of the original emerges from between rolls 188 and 190, it engages a guide 202 which directs the original to the nip between roll 190 and a roll 204 carried by a shaft 206. The sheet is then directed upwardly as viewed in the figures and is guided by guides 208 and 210 to the nip between roll 178 and a roll 212 carried by shaft 214.

Our original transport system comprises a baflle 216 adapted to be moved in a manner to be described between the full line position shown in FIGURE 4 and the broken line position. In the full line position of the baffle 216, it directs the original out through an opening 218 through which it is returned to the user. In the broken line position of the battle, the leading edge of the original moves upwardly past the baffle to guides 220 and 222 which carry the original upwardly to a nip formed by roll 168 and a roll 224 carried by a shaft 226. When this occurs, a guide 228 on one of the walls of the opening 164 directs the original back to the nip between rolls 166 and 168 to cause the original to be recycled through the system 26. It will readily be apparent from the structure just described that the broken line position of the baffle 216 is that position it occupies when multiple copies of a single original are to be made.

From the structure described thus far, it will be apparent that shafts 60', 64, 70, 72, 78, 80, 98, 100, 104, 122, 134, 184 and 192 are supported on the main frame plates 22 and 24 or on subassembly support plates carried by these members. We mount the shafts 124, 136, 142 and on a backdoor assembly comprising a door 230 which is secured to the back 14 of the machine by hinge pins 232. Any suitable means, such as a releasable catch 234 on the main frame, may engage a pin 236 on the door 230 to retain the door in its closed position. Inwardly extending flanges 238 support the shafts 124, 136, 142 and 150, as well as the guides 126, 144 and 146.

The side walls 240 of the original transport unit 26 carry shafts 170, 172, 182, 184, 192, 194, 206, 214 and 226, as well as the guides of the original transport mechanism. We removably mount the unit 26 on the ma chine in any convenient manner. For example, the hangers 231 on the assembly 26 may engage a bracket 233 on the main machine body. Latches 235 engage pins 237 on the assembly 26 to hold it in position.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 3, the drive system of our machine includes a drive motor 242 supported on the plate 22 for example. Motor 242 is adapted to be energized in a manner to be described to drive a shaft 244 carrying a pair of sprocket wheels 246 and 248. Wheel 246 drives a pitch chain 250 in engagement with a sprocket wheel 252 on the shaft 70. When energized, motor 242 drives shaft 244 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to drive shaft 70 in a counterclockwise direction. Sprocket wheel 248 drives a pitch chain 254 which provides the main drive for the machine. A bracket 256 swingably supported on a pin 258 on plate 18 is normally urged by a spring 260 to swing in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. Bracket 256 carries a sprocket wheel 262 which engages the chain 254 to take up the slack in the chain.

Chain 254 extends from sprocket wheel 262 around a wheel 264 on shaft 266 carried by a bracket on plate 22 and thence upwardly to sprocket wheels 268 and 270 carried by shafts 60 and 78. From wheel 270, chain 254 extends over a sprocket wheel 272 on shaft 98, under a wheel 274 on shaft 104, under a sprocket wheel 276 on shaft 112 and over a wheel 278 on shaft 162. From the wheel 278, chain 254 passes downwardly and into driving engagement with a sprocket wheel 280 on shaft 122 and under a wheel 282 on shaft 134 and back to wheel 248.

From the structure just described, it will be seen that 122, 134 and 266 all are driven in a counterclockwise -are driven in a clockwise direction.

direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. Shafts 104 and 112 Shaft 266 carries for rotation therewith a gear 284 which engages a gear 286 on shaft 192. Gear 286 drives a gear 288 on shaft 194 to drive a sprocket wheel 290. Wheel 290 drives a pitch chain 292 which extends upwardly from the sprocket wheel 290 to a wheel 294 on shaft 172 and then downwardly around an idling, chain-tensioning sprocket wheel 296 on a shaft 298 carried by the unit 26. From wheel 296 the chain 292 extends over and drives a sprocket wheel 300 on shaft 214. It will be appreciated that with the unit 26 assembled on the machine, gear 288 is brought into driving engagement with gear 286. When motor 242 is energized to drive shaft 266 in a counterclockwise direction, shaft 192 is driven in a clockwise direction to driveshaft 172 in a counterclockwise direction and to drive shaft 214 in a clockwise direction through the medium of chain 292.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the main frame of the machine carries a pair of adjustable copy material guides 308 and 310 between which the copy paper passes in its travel toward the feed rolls 58 and 62. The distance between the guides 308 and 310 can be adjusted to accommodate copy material of varying widths.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 4, as has been explained hereinabove, as the original is carried past window 186, light from a source 196 impinges on the surface of the original and an image thereof is reflected back through opening 198 in the reflector 200. The base 12 carries an optical system indicated generally by the reference character 302 comprising a lens 304 through which the reflected image passes to a mirror 306 which directs the image upwardly through the window 92 over which the copy material is passing.

As has been explained hereinabove, when the push button 30 is actuated to turn the machine on, the chains 254 and 292 drive the various rollers in the manner set forth hereinabove. When the machine is to make a copy, the original is inserted into the opening 164 and is advanced by rolls 166 and 168 through the space between guides 174 and 176 until it engages a feeler 312 adapted to operate a microswitch 314. One of the operations to be performed in response to operation of the switch 314 is the initiation of the copy paper feeding operation. As has been explained, this operation is achieved by clutching roll 58 to the shaft 60. As it continues its travel through the original transport system, the original engages a lower feeler 315 to actuate a switch 486. While we have shown switches 314 and 486 as being mounted on the removable unit 26, they may more conveniently be carried by the main machine body to facilitate the making of the necessary electrical connections.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 to 9, we dispose a bearing 316 between the end of shaft 60 and the end of roller 58 outboard of the plate 2-4. The end of shaft 60 carries for rotation therewith a feed-spring washer 318. Washer 318 receives one end of a clutch spring 320 coiled around a clutch drum 322 secured to roller 58 for rotation therewith. We dispose the other end of the spring 320 in an opening 324 in a clutch brake disc 326 loosely supported on the roller 58. It will thus be seen that normally as shaft 60 turns, washer 318 turns and drives the disc 326 through the medium of the spring 320. Owing to the fact that the disc is loosely mounted on the roller 58, it rotates freely thereon.

We provide our machine with a solenoid 328 adapted to be energized in a manner to be described in response to the actuation of the switch 314 first operated by the leading edge of the original. In response to energization of the solenoid 328, its armature 330 moves to the right as viewed in FIGURE 7. A spring 332 connects the armature 330 to one end of an actuating lever 334 pivotally supported on a shaft 336 carried by plate 24. We mount a brake shoe 342 on the end of lever 334 remote from the spring 332.

When the solenoid 328 is energized to move its armature to the right as viewed in FIGURE 7, shoe 342 is moved into engagement with the disc 326 with a predetermined frictional force. Owing to this frictional force, as shaft 60 continues to rotate, it winds the spring 320 to reduce its diameter to bring the spring coils in engagement with the drum 322. As the shaft 60 rotates, it drives the roller 58. This coupling is maintained so long as solenoid 328 remains energized. When the solenoid is deenergized in a manner tobe described, a spring 344 on the shaft 336 moves the lever back to its initial position to relieve the spring 320 which then unwinds so that the coupling between the shaft 60 and the roller 58 is released.

When lever 334 pivots in response to energization of solenoid 328, its lower end as viewed in FIGURE 7 moves to the right to permit a switch 844 to close. This operation energizes the exposure lamps and the corona and conditions the toner monitoring circuit in a manner to be described.

The cutter assembly 46 of our machine comprises a stationary knife blade 346 carried by a bar 348 supported on a bracket 350 on side plate 24. Bar 348 also supports a pair of paper guides 352 and 354. A pair of stub shafts 356 and 358 in side plates 22 and 24 carry a rotary knife blade support bar 360. An arm 362 is adapted to be oscillated to move the movable blade 360 past the stationary blade 346 to cut the length of copy material being fed through the machine. As has been explained, this cutting operation is to take place concomitantly with the interruption of the paper feed drive when the entire image of the original has been applied to the copy material. When this occurs, solenoid 328 is deenergized.

A short shaft 364 rotatably supported in the plate 24 and a plate 338 spaced from plate 24 by spacer 340 carries a gear 366 adapted to be driven by a gear 368 on the shaft 70 which is continuously driven by sprocket 252 so long as the machine is on. Shaft 364 rotatably supports a cam 370 having respective bosses 372 and 374 at generally diametrically opposite locations thereon. With the cam 370 at rest, one of the projections 372 or 374 is at a location at which it supports a follower roller 376 carried by a pin 378 on a lever 380 pivotally supported by a pin 382 on the plate 338. A spring 384 connected between the end of lever 380 remote from pin 382 and a pin 386 on plate 338 normally urges the lever 380 to move in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7 to urge the follower 376 into engagement with cam 370. An actuating pin 388 on lever 380 engages a slot 390 in crank 362.

From the structure just described, it will be apparent that if cam 370 were permitted to move a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7, theprojection or boss 372 would move out from under the follower 376 and spring 384 would move lever 380 downwardly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7. This action moves the blade 360 past the blade 346 to out the length of paper. When this happens, an offset 392 on lever 380 engages a shock-absorbing block 394 on plate 338. Our machine is arranged to cause the operation of lever 380 concomitantly with the interruption of the paper feed drive.

Shaft 364 loosely carries a ratchet wheel 396 provided with a pair of teeth 398 and 400 at locations corresponding generally to the locations of the cam projections 372 and 374. A coil spring 402 surrounding a clutch drum 404 on shaft 364 normally tends to coil itself into engagetrnent with the drum 404. We connect the ends of spring 402 respectively to the ratchet 39-6 and to the cam 370. If both of these members are free to move, the spring 402 coils around the drum 404 to provide a friction coupling between shaft 364, ratchet 396 and cam 370.

A shaft 406 on the plate 338 pivotally supports a lever 408. A spring 410 on shaft 406 normally urges the lever 408 to a position at which a detent 412 is in engagement with the surface of the ratchet wheel 396. Assuming the detent 412 is out of engagement with one of the teeth 398 and 400, then a friction coupling exists between shaft 364, the wheel 396 and the cam 370. Ultimately, one of the teeth 398 or 400 engages the detent 412 to stop the ratchet wheel. When his occurs, the direction of rotation of shaft 364 is such as causes spring 402 to unwind to relieve the driving connection between the shaft and the cam 370.

A pin 414 on the lever 408 pivotally supports a trigger 416 which is normally urged by -a spring 418 connected between the trigger and level 408 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7 until a stop 420 on the trigger engages the lever.

When as has been described solenoid 328 is energized to initiate a copy paper feeding operation, lever 334 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to engage the shoe 342 with the disc 326. In the course of this movement of the lever, a finger 422 on lever 334 engages a projection 424 on the upper end of trigger 416. Owing to the direction of action of spring 418, finger 422 merely rides by the projection. On the return trip, however when solenoid 3 28 is deenergized, finger 422 engages projection 424 to pivot lever 408 in a counterclockwise direction to move detent 4112 out of engagement with ratchet wheel teeth 398 or 400 to free the ratchet wheel to permit spring 402 to engage drum 404 to cause wheel 396 and cam 370 to rotate with shaft 364. When this occurs a boss, such as boss 3'72, moves out from under follower 376. Spring 384 actuates lever 380 and pin 388 actuates crank 362 to drive the movable cutter bar 360 to cut the length of copy material. Shaft 36 4 continues to rotate until detent 412 engages tooth 398 to uncouple the shaft. At this time the movable cutter has been reset by the other boss 374.

In one form of our machine the copying apparatus at the station 52 may be a dry developer systemof the type shown and described in the copending application of Charlap et al., Serial No. 379,232, filed June 30, 1964, In this system a collector bar 534 collects stray particles of magnetic material in the manner described in the copending application. Alternatively, our machine may employ the wet developer system described in the copending application.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, we have shown a simplified form of electrical control circuit which can be used to control the operation of our copier. Since the particular developer system which is used with our machine per se forms no part of our invention, we have not shown the electrical elements thereof in FIGURE Respective fuses 426 and 428 connect our circuit to the terminals 430 and 432 of .a suitable source of electrical power such, for example, as the usual 110 volt 60 cycle A.C. Respective rear interlock switches 434 gauged by a connection 436 and lid interlock switches 438 ganged by :a connection 440 connect fuses 426 and 428 to on/ofl. power switches 422 ganged by a connection 444. Thus, the fuses 426 and 428 together with switches 434, 438 and 422 connect terminals 430 and 432 to rnain control circuit conductors 446 and 448. It will readily be appreciated that in the normal condition of our circuit before the machine is set into operation, the rear door and the lid are closed so that switches 434 and 438 are closed but the power switches 442 are open.

In order to prepare our machine for operation, we close switches 442 to apply power to conductors 446 and 448. Thermostats 450 connect the heater 128 across the lines 446 and 448. Drive motor 242 and a blower motor 452 also are connected across lines 426 and 428 so that with switches 442 closed, heater 128 is energized and motors 242 and 452 are energized.

A switch 454 normally is held in engagement with a contact 456 by the knife arm 380. We connect the solenoid winding 328 between contact 456 and the arm 314 of the upper switch responsive to the feeler 312 first engaged by the leading edge of an original inserted in the machine. Before the original is inserted, arm 314 cugages a contact 458. A glow lamp 459 connected between contact 458 and a contact 460 engaged by an arm 462 of the repeat copy mechanism (not shown) normally is energized to indicate that the machine is ready to accept copies. From the structure just described, it will be clear that with the power switches 442 closed, the circuit of lamp 459 normally is complete from conductor 446 through arm 454 and contact 456, through winding 328, through anm 3-14 and contact 458, through the lamp and through contact 460 and arm 462 to conductor 448. While the lamp is energized to indicate insert insufficient current flows through winding 328 to energize that winding.

With the machine thus readied for use, the original is inserted into the original transport mechanism and its leading edge first engages feeler 312 to move arm 314 out of engagement with contact 458 and into engagement with contact 464. When this occurs sufiicient current flows through winding 328 to energize the winding to pull lever 334 to the right as viewed in'FIGURE 7 to permit a switch 466 to close on contact 468. When this occurs a relay winding 470 connected in series with switch 466 between conductor 446 and conductor 448 is energized to close a pair of normally open switches 472 and 474 associated with winding 470. In response to this operation, secondary control conductors 476 and 478 receive power to energize an exposure lamp 480 and at the same time to apply voltage to the high power supply 482 to energize the corona wire 82.

As the original travels through the original transport mechanism, its leading edge engages a second feeler 315 to operate a switch 484 having an arm 486 to move the arm out of engagement with a contact 488 and into engagement with a contact 490. This action provides a holding circuit for winding 470 in bypassing the switch 466. Ultimately the trailing edge of the original leaves the feeler 312 and arm 314 moves from contact 464 back to contact 458. This action interrupts the circuit of solenoid 328 and arm 380 is permitted to operate the cutter mechanism. In response to movement of the arm 380, switch arm 454 moves out of engagement with contact 456 and into engagement with contact 492 to step the repeat copy mechanism in a manner to be described when the latter has been set to make repeat copies. At last the trailing edge of the original leaves the feeler 315 and arm 486 returns to contact 488 to deenergize relay winding 470 and the machine is set for the next copying operation.

As is described in detail in the Charlap et a1. application, our machine may be provided with a repeat copy mechanism. One form of such a repeat copy mechanism includes a plurality of conductive segments 494 separated by nonconductive intersegmental spaces 496 and connected to a common conductive ring 498. A brush 500 is adapted to engage the segments 494 and a brush 502 is adapted to engage the ring 498. As is described in the copending application, ring 498 and contacts 494 are carried by a member mounted on a shaft 505 for movement therewith. We connect a repeat copy stepping motor 506 between contact 494 and a contact 508 adapted to be engaged by arm 462. When repeat copies are made, shaft 504 is moved to position brush 500 in one of the intersegmental spaces 496. At the same time arm 462 is permitted to engage contact 508. Under these conditions, when the cutter arm 380 operates to permit arm 454 to engage contact 492, motor 506 receives a pulse which drives the motor through a suflicient distance to bring brush 500 into engagement with a segment 494 in the direction of a decreasing number of copies. The engaged contact provides a holding circuit for the motor to permit it to rotate through a sufficient distance to move brush 500 into engagement with the next intersegmental space in the direction of a decreasing number of copies.

Q Ultimately the repeat copy mechanism is reset and arm 462 moves out of engagement with contact 508 and into engagement with contact 460 to disable the repeat mechanism.

When arm 462 moves out of engagement with contact 460 and into engagement with contact 508 it extinguishes the insert copy lamp 459 and illuminates a lamp 510 through a transformer 512 to project the number of copies for which the machine is set onto a screen in the manner described in the copending application.

The operation of our machine will readily be apparent from the description given hereinabove. When an original is inserted into the original transport system 26, its leading edge first engages a feeler 312 to move arm 314 into engagement with contact 464 to energize solenoid 328. This operation pivots arm 334 in a counterclockwise direction to engage the shoe 362 with the disk 326 to clutch roller 58 into the driving train. The copy material is fed from roll 40 through the cutting station 48 through the exposure zone 50, through the developer system 52 and ultimately through the fixing and return transport system 54 to the user.

Before the trailing edge of the original leaves arm 312 the leading edge engages feeler 315 to cause arm 486 to move into engagement with contact 490. Engagement of arm 486 with contact 490 bypasses switch 466 to provide a holding circuit for winding 470. When the trailing edge of the original leaves feeler 312, contact arm 314 moves out of engagement with the contact 464 and back into engagement with contact 458. When this occurs winding 328 is deenergized and lever 334 returns to its initial position. This action opens switch 444 but winding 470 remains energized owing to the engagement of arm 486 with contact 490. As lever 334- returns to its initial position, finger 422 actuates trigger 424 to permit spring 402 to clutch ratchet 396 and cam 370 to shaft 364. When this happens spring 384 actuates the cutter to cut the copy material.

It will be appreciated also that the feed roll 58 is unclutched when lever 334 returns to its initial position. Both the original and the cut copy material move along their respective paths to complete the exposure operation. When the trailing edge of the original has passed window 186 it releases feeler 315 to permit switch contact arm 486 to move back into engagement with contact 488. At this time relay winding 470 is deenergized and the exposure lamp 480 and high voltage supply 482 are disconnected from the source of power. We so arrange our system that the distance between the feelers 312 and 315 corresponds to the distance between the cutter bar 360 and the far edge of the exposure window. In this way we not only cut the copy material to the precise length of the original but we ensure that exposure is complete.

The above operations having taken place, the copy material passes through the developer system 52 and the fixing system 54 and out through opening 56 to be delivered to the user. Where only a single copy is being made, the original is then returned by bafiie 216 through opening 218 to the user. If bafl le 216 has been set to make multiple copies then the original is recycled for a number of times corresponding to the number of copies to be made until ultimately the repeat copy mechanism is reset.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a copying machine which makes copies which are precisely the same length as the original being copied. Our machine is readily adapted to handle a wide range of sizes of copies. It holds a very large supply of copy material. Moreover it avoids wasting copy material.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made 19 in details within the scope of our claims Without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original a transport system for carrying an original along a path through said apparatus, a sensor disposed along said path, a supply of sensitive material, a cutter, means mounting said cutter for movement between a cocked position and an actuated position, biased means normally urging said cutter to said actuated position, means comprising a follower and a cam adapted to hold said cutter in cocked position, said cam being adapted to be driven first to release said biased means and then to return said biased means to a position corresponding to the cocked position of said cutter, means comprising a feed roller for moving sensitive material from said supply past said cutter, a drive system comprising first and second shafts, a normally disengaged clutch disposed between said feed roller and said first shaft, a normally engaged clutch disposed between said cam and said second shaft, means for holding said normally engaged clutch disengaged, means responsive to actuation of said sensor by the leading edge of an original passing through said system for engaging said normally disengaged clutch, means responsive to 'deactuation of said sensor by the trailing edge of an original passing through said transport system for releasing said normally engaged clutch and for releasing said clutch holding means, and means responsive to movement of said cam for resetting said clutch holding means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said means responsive to actuation of said sensor comprises a lever, means moving said lever between a first position at which said normally disengaged clutch is engaged and a second position, and a solenoid for moving said lever between said positions.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said means responsive to actuation of said sensor comprises a lever, means mounting said lever for movement between a first position at which said normally disengaged clutch is engaged and a second position, said clutch holding means comprising a ratchet wheel mounted for movement with said cam and a detent for engaging said ratchet wheel to hold said normally engaged clutch against engagement and means responsive to movement of said lever to said second position for moving said detent out of engagement with said ratchet wheel.

4. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original, a transport system for carrying an original through said apparatus, a supply of copy material, a cutter, means mounting said cutter for movement between a cocked position and an actuated position, (means normally urging said cutter to said actuated position, movable means adapted to hold said cutter in said cocked position, said movable means adapted to be actuated first to release said cutter and then to return said cutter to its cocked position, means comprising a feed roller for moving material from said supply past said cutter, a drive system comprising a first shaft and a second shaft, a normally disengaged clutch disposed between said first shaft and said feed roller, a normally engaged cl-ut-chdisposed between said second shaft and said movable means, means for holding said normally engaged clutch disengaged, means responsive to the leading edge of an original passing through said transport system for engaging said norimally disengaged clutch, means responsive to the trailing edge of an original passing through said transport system for disengaging said normally disengaged clutch and for releasing said clutch, and means responsive to said movable means for resetting said clutch.

5. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original, a transport system for carrying an original through said apparatus, a supply of copy material, a cutter, means mounting said cutter for movement between a cocked position and an actuated position, means normally urging said cutter to said actuated position, movable means adapted to hold said cutter in said cocked position, said. movable means adapted to be actuated first to releasesaid cutter and then to returnsaid cutter to its cocked position, means comprising a feed roller for moving ma-- terial from said supply past said cutter, a drive system, a normally disengaged clutch between said feed rollerand said drive system, a normally engaged clutch between said movable means and said drive system, means. for holding said normally engaged clutch disengaged, means responsive to the leading edge of an original passing through said transport system for engaging said normally disengaged clutch, means responsive to the trailing edge of an original passing through said transport system for disengaging said normally engaged clutch and for releasing said normally engaged clutch holding means. and means responsive to said movable mean-s for reengaging said clutch holding means.

6. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original, a transport system for carrying an original through said apparatus, a supply of copy material, a cutter, means. mounting said cutter for movement between a cocked. position and an actuated position, means normally urging said cutter to said actuated position, movable means adapted to hold said cutter in said cocked position, said movable means adapted to be actuated first to release said cutter and then to return said cutter to its cocked position, means comprising a feed roller for moving material from said supply past said cutter, a drive system, means responsive to the leading edge of an original passing through said transport system for clutching said feed roller to said drive system, means responsive to the trailing edge of an original passing through said transport system for unclutching said feed roller and for clutching said cutter holding means to said drive system and means responsive to said movable means for unclutching said movable means,

7. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original, a transport system for carrying an original through said apparatus, a supply of copy material, normally-cocked cutting means adapted to be released to move to cut material passing thereby, means comprising a feed roller adapted to move copy material from said supply past said cutting means, a drive system, means adapted to cock said cutting means after release thereof, means responsive to the leading edge of an original passing through said transport system for coupling said feed roller to said drive system to feed material past said cutter, means responsive to the trailing edge of an original passing through said transport system for uncoupling said feed roller and for releasing said cutting mean and for coupling said resetting means to said drive system and means responsive to cocking of said cutting means for uncoupling said resetting means.

8. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original on sensitive material, mean forming a first exposure window past which an original is to be moved, means forming a second exposure window past which sensitive material is to be moved, energizable means comprising an illuminable element for projecting an image from said first Window through said second window, an original transport system for moving an original to be copied along a path past said first window, a supply of sensitive material, means adapted to be actuated to cut material adjacent thereto, means adapted to be actuated to feed sensitive material from said supply successively past said cutting means and said second window, a first sensor disposed along said original transport path ahead of said first window, means responsive to actuation of said first sensor by said original moving into said transport system for operating said ensitive material feeding means, means responsive to deactuation of said first sensor by said original passing through said system for stopping the operation of said feeding means and for actuating said cutting means, a second sensor disposed along said path past said first window and means responsive to said second sensor for deenergizing said energizable means.

9. In apparatus for producing a copy of an original, means forming a first exposure window past which an original is to be moved, means forming a second window past which copy material is to be moved, an original transport system for moving an original along a path past said first window, a supply of copy material, means adapted to be actuated to cut material passing thereby, means adapted to be actuated to feed material from. said supply successively past said cutting means and said second window, a sensor disposed along said original transport path ahead of said first window, means mounting said first and second window forming means in spaced relationship at locations at which the distance between said sensor and said first window corresponds to the distance between said cutter and said second window, means responsive to actuation of said sensor by an original moving into said transport system for actuating said copy material feeding means and means responsive to release of said sensor by an original passing through said transport system for deactivating said feeding means and for activating said cutting means.

10. Copying apparatus for producing a copy of an original including in combination an exposure window, an original transport system for carrying an original along a predetermined path past said exposure window, cutting means adapted to be actuated to cut material fed thereby, a second exposure window, a supply of copy material, means adapted to be actuated sequentially to feed said copy material from, said supply past said cutting means and past said exposure window, means comprising an exposure lamp for translating an image of said original from said first exposure window .to said second exposure window, means responsive to the leading edge of an original moving along said path for energizing said feeding means and for energizing said lamp, means comprising said leading edge responsive means responsive to the trailing edge of said original moving along said path for energizing said cutting means and for deenergizing said feeding means and second means spaced along said path from said first means and responsive to the trailing edge of said original for deenergizing said lamp.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1963 Linrberger -75 8/1964 Limberger 9575

Claims (1)

1. 9. IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COPY OF AN ORIGINAL, MEANS FORMING A FIXED EXPOSURE WINDOW PAST WHICH AN ORIGINAL IS TO BE MOVED, MEANS FORMING A SECOND WINDOW PAST WHICH COPY MATERIAL IS TO BE MOVED, AN ORIGINAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MOVING AN ORIGINAL ALONG A PATH PAST SAID FIRST WINDOW, A SUPPLY OF COPY MATERIAL, MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED TO CUT MATERIAL PASSING THEREBY, MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED TO FEED MATERIAL FROM SAID SUPPLY SUCCESSIVELY PAST SAID CUTTING MEANS AND SAID SECOND WINDOW, A SENSOR DISPOSED ALONG SAID ORIGINAL TRANSPORT PATH AHEAD OF SAID WINDOW, MEANS MOUNTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND WINDOW FORMING MEANS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP AT LOCATIONS AT WHICH THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID SENSOR AND SAID FIRST WINDOW CORRESPOND TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID CUTTER AND SAID SECOND WINDOW, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ACTUATION OF SAID SENSOR BY AN ORIGINAL MOVING INTO SAID TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR ACTUATING SAID COPY MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO RELEASE

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