US3363553A - Copymaking device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 16, 1968 N. N. LAREAU COPYMAKING DEVICE Original Filed June 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l LAREAU INVENTOR fi fl/ala-w ATTORNEYS N. N. LAREAU Jan. 16, 196 8 COPYMAKING DEVI GE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 18, 1963 NORMAN N. LAREAU INVENTOR BY M fi -LMMW ATTORN Y5 I United States Patent 3,363,553 COPYMAKING DEVICE Norman N. Lareau, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N .Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application June 18, 1963, Ser. No. 288,680, new Patent No. 3,227,074, dated Jan. 4, 1966. Divided and this application Dec. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 538,875

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-132) ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLOSURE A copymaking device having a pair of pressure rollers and an electrical control system for automatically moving the rollers into pressure engagement when the machine is turned on, and relieving the pressure between the rollers when the machine is turned off.

This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 288,680 filed by the same inventor on Dec. 23, 1965, now Patent No. 3,227,074.

Thin invention relates generally to copying apparatus, and more specifically to a copymaking device having an electrical control system for automatically moving a pair of presure rollers into pressure engagement when the device is turned on, and relieving such pressure when the device is turned off.

Applicants copymaking device incorporates therein a novel electrical control system for automatically moving the rollers into pressure engagement when the machine is turned on, and automatically relieving the pressure between the rollers when the machine is turned off. This prevents the formation of a flat on the resilient rollers,- which forms following a sustained period of inoperation and which interferes with the proper reproduction of copies.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved copymaking device having means for automatically moving the pressure rollersinto pressure engagement when the device is turned on, and moving the rollers out of pressure engagement when the machine is turned off.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved copymaking device of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copymaking device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with portions thereof broken away and sectioned, and other parts eliminated for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device looking at it from a different angle with a portion thereof in an exploded view, other portions thereof broken away and sectioned, and other parts eliminated for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram for the copymaking device.

As shown in the drawings, the copymaking device of this invention comprises a base 5, FIG. 1, having a compartmented frame 6 secured to its undersurface for holding sheets of matrix and sheets of copy material. A frame member 7 having side plates 8 is secured to the top of base 5, and each plate 8 has a V-shaped notch 9 for receiving a roller bearing 11 Within which one end of a metal roller 12 is journaled. Another bracket 13 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 14 carried by side plates 8, and also has side plates 15 with notches 16 therein for receiving roller bearings 17 in which the ends 17 of a resilient roller 18 are journaled. The bracket 13 and its roller 18 are pivotally moved toward and away from metal roller 12 by means of a pair of axially spaced eccentrics 19 (seen best in FIG. 2) mounted on a shaft 21 carried by side plates 8 of fixed bracket 7. The eccentrics 19 are in peripheral engagement with cam followers 22 mounted on a shaft 23 carried by side plates 15 of pivotal bracket 13. The pivotal bracket 13 is urged by a pair of helical springs 24 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 for urging cam followers 22 into engagement with the periphery of the eccentric cams 19. Each spring 24 has one end encircling a grooved end of a rod 25 carried in a notch 26 in side plates 15, and its opposite end secured to a threaded bolt 27 (seeFIG. 1) extending through a bar 28 carried 'by fixed bracket 7 and secured to the bar by a nut 29. With this arrangement, it is possible to vary the spring tension and hence the force exerted between the pressure rollers 12, 18.

A feed duct comprising upper and lower plates 31, 32 respectively is secured to fixed bracket 7 by any known means, not shown, for guiding a matrix and copy sheet sandwich 30 into the nip of the pressure rollers 12, 18. An upper guide member 33 (seen best in FIG. 1) pivotally secured by pins 30 to side plates 8 of fixed bracket 7 is adapted in its operative position to receive the matrixcopy sheet sandwich from the rollers 12, 18 and direct it out of the device. The guide member 33 has a projection 30' at each end which is adapted to rest on the periphery of bearing 17 when it is in its operative position.

Also secured to base 5 are a plurality of upright plates 34, 35, 36, and 37 forming a partial enclosure of brackets 7, 13 and rollers 12, 18. An L-shaped cover member 38 partially shown in FIG. 2 is releasably secured to the plates 34, 35 and 36 to complete the enclosure, which has one notch 39 therein through which plates 31, 32 extend, and a slot 41 in upper plate 38 through which guide member 33 extends. Slot 41 is in register with opening 40 of a housing 40 within which the device is enclosed. A reflector, not shown, is secured to base 5 within the enclosure, and a resistive heating element 42 is secured to base 5 above the reflector for heating the enclosure. To minimize the dissipation of heat from the enclosure, insulating material 43 in blanket form of any known type is secured to the periphery of the enclosure by clips, not shown.

The temperature of the atmosphere within the enclosure and of the rollers 12, 18 is controlled by a thermostat 44' connected to a thermostat probe 44 of known type mounted within the enclosure adjacent the lower plate 32 of the duct (see FIG. 2). The thermostat probe 44 in this position is responsive to the temperature of the lower plate 32, and the temperature of the lower plate is affected by the cooler matrix-copy sheet sandwich 30 as it is introduced into the device. Consequently, as the matrix-copy sheet sandwich 30 is moved over lower plate 32 by the operator, the temperature of the lower plate is reduced and actuates the thermostat probe 44 to call for more heat before the matrix-copy sheet sandwich 30 reaches pressure rollers 12, 18. Therefore, the normal tendency for the temperature of the pressure rollers to be reduced by the cooler matrix-copy sheet sandwich 30 is counteracted by the heat generated by heater 42 before the temperature of rollers 12, 18 begins to drop. The responsiveness of thermostat probe 44 to the temperature of lower plate 32 may be controlled by the insertion of a sheet of insulating material 45 between the probe 44 and lower plate 32. The insulating material 45 is releasably held to lower plate 32 by a spring clip 46 secured to lower plate 32. By varying the type of insulating material 45, or its thickness,vit is possibleto vary the amount of pie-anticipation of the drop in roller temperature. By properly selecting the insulating material, it is possible to maintain the temperature range of the rollers 12, 18 while in use between plus or minus 10 F.

The drive mechanism for rotatably driving roller 12 of the copy making device and thereby transporting between rollers 12, 18 when in pressure engagement a copy sheetmatrix sandwich introduced therebetween, comprises a second drive means such as a motor 47 secured to a bracket, not shown, mounted on base for driving a shaft 48 through a speed reducer, not shown. Shaft 48 extends through an opening, not shown, in plate 36, and is driving- 1y connected by a coupling 4-9 to shaft of roller 12 for driving the roller at a predetermined rotational speed. The mechanism for moving rollers 12, 18 between a normal disengaged position and an engaged position comprises a first drive means such as motor 51, similar to motor 47, secured to the bracket, for driving a shaft 52 through a speed reducer, not shown. Shaft 52 extends through an opening in plate 36, and is drivingly connected by a coupling 53 similar to coupling 49 to one end of cam shaft 21 for driving same. A switch actuating means comprises a cam 54 secured to cam shaft 21 and having a projection 55 thereon for moving a micro-switch 56 of a switch control means between two positions in the power circuit. The switch control means also comprises an operating switch S movable between off and on positions into engagement with off and on contacts respectively by means of buttons 57, 58 for connecting an electrical power source to the device. The off and on contacts are electrically connected to contacts 61, 59 respectively 'as seen in FIG. 3.

In the operation of this device, particularly with reference to FIG. 3, when the operating switch S is turned to the on position, the power is immediately connected to the roller drive motor 47 and the cam shaft drive motor 51 through micro-switch 56 which is in its normal position electrically connected to a contact 59. At this instant, the cam 19 and cam follower 22 relationship is such that roilers 12, 18 are out of pressure engagement. As soon as cam shaft 21 and cams 19, 54 have rotated through a predetermined portion of a revolution, projection 55 actuates micro-switch 56 moving it out of its normal positioninto engagement with contact 61, disconnecting the power to cam shaft drive motor 51. In this position, the pressure rollers 12, 18 are in pressure engagement. The copying device is then in position for use, and the operator may feed matrix and copy sheet sandwiches therethrough for producing copies. When the operator no longer desires to make further copies, the device is turned ofi by moving the operating switch S to its off position. This action disconnects the power supply from roller drive motor 47, and connects it to cam shaft drive motor 51 through micro-switch 56 which is still in connection with contact 61. Consequently, cam shaft drive motor 51 drives the cam shaft 21 and earns 19, 54 through the remainder of its revolution, during which roller 18 is moved out of pressure engagement with roller 12, and projection releases micro-switch 56 which returns to its normal position in engagement with contact 59, breaking the electrical circuit to cam shaft drive motor 51.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a copymaking device for making a copy from an exposed matrix by placing a copy sheet in superimposed relation with said matrix to form a copy sheet-matrix sandwich .and feeding the sandwich through the device where it is subjected to heat and pressure, the combination comprising:

a pair of opposed pressure rollers;

means including a first drive means for moving said rollers between a normally disengaged position and an engaged position;

second drive means for rotatably driving one of said rollers for transporting between said rollers a copy sheet-matrix sandwich which has been manually introduced into the nip of said rollers while in their engaged position;

switch actuating means operated by said first drive means; and

switch control means for connecting said first and second drive means to a power source, and including,

(1) first and second electrical contacts,

(2) a first switch responsive to said switch actuating means for movement between a normal first position in which it is in engagement with said first contact and a second position in which it is in engagement with said second contact,

(3) on and 01f electrical contacts connected to said first .and second contacts respectively, and

(4) a second switch movable between a normal off position in which it is in engagement wtih said off contact, and an on position in which it is in engagement with said on contact,

said switch control means adapted upon movement of said second switch to said on position to connect said power source to said first and second drive means whereby said switch actuating means is operated by said first drive means to move said first switch to said second position disconnecting said power source from said first drive means when said rollers are in their engaged position,

and upon movement of said second switch to said off position to disconnect said power source from said second drive means and reconnect said power supply to said first drive means through said first switch in its second position whereby said switch actuating means moves said first switch to its normal first position disconnecting said power supply from said first drive means.

2. In a copymaking device for making a copy from an exposed matrix by placing a copy sheet in superimposed relation with said matrix to form a copy sheet-matrix sandwich and feeding the sandwich through the device where it is subjected to heat and pressure, the combination comprising:

a pair of opposed pressure rollers;

means including a first drive means for moving said rollers between a normally disengaged position and an engaged position;

second drive means for rotatably driving one ofsaid rollers for transporting between said rollers a copy sheet-matrix sandwich which has been manually introduced into the nip of said rollers while in their engaged position;

switch actuating means operated by said first drive means;

first and second electrical contacts;

a first switch responsive to said switch actuating means for movement between a normal first position in which it is in engagement with said first contact, and a second position in which it is in engagement with said second contact;

on and off electrical contacts connected to said first and second contacts respectively; and

a second switch movable between (1) an on position in which it is in engagement with said on contact for connecting said first and second drive means to a power source for operation, said first drive means upon operation moving said rollers to their engaged position and operating said switch actuating means for moving said first switch to its second position disconnecting said power source from said first drive means, and

(2) an off position in which it is in engagement References Cited with said off contact for disconnecting said UNITED STATES PATENTS power source from said second drive means, and connecting said power source to said first drive 3,180,999 4/1965 Kuykendan 307*41 means which, upon operation, drives said mov- 5 3,260,197 7/1966 Vreeland et ing means to move said rollers to their disen- I gaged position and operates said switch actuat- ROBERT PULFREY lma'y Examuer' ing means to move said first switch to its normal H. DINITZ, Assistant Examiner. first position.

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