US3409357A - Apparatus for an electrostatic machine - Google Patents

Description

1958 E. .1. LAVANDER APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTROSTATIC MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1965 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. LAVANDER Nov. 5, 1968 E. J. LAVANDER 3,409,357

APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTROSTATIC MACHINE Filed June 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. LAVANDER ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 E. J. LAVANDER APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTROSTATIC MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1965 INVENTOR. EDWARD J. LAVANDER ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 E. J. LAVANDER 0 APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTROSTATIC MACHINE Filed June 21, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -*l20 VOLTS SO lGR i SOL-I A ILS SOL-2 FIG. 9

20s 20? 222 248 l 208 E1 242 2/0 228 24 2/4 238 SOL-l SOL-2g INVENTOR EDWARD J. LAVANDER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 409 357 APPARATUS FOR AN ELIiCTROSTATIC MACHINE Edward J. Lavander, Rochester, N.Y., assignor t0 Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,335 Claims. (Cl. 3557) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for projecting text from a cylinder to the exposure station of a copying apparatus including an indexing apparatus for sequentially positioning different portions of the text in a step-wise manner.

This invention relates to an imprinter apparatus for an electrostatic copying machine and in particular to a device for presenting additional copy in sequence on the bottom edge, top edge, or through a slit of a document to be copied by an electrostatic machine.

In Mayo et al. Patent 3,062,109, issued Nov. 6, 1962, there is shown an electrostatic reproducing machine wherein a xerographic plate comprising a layer of photoconductive insulating material on a conductive backing is given a uniform electric charge over its surface and then exposed to the subject matter to be reproduced usually by conventional projection techniques. This exposure discharges the plate areas in accordance with the radiation intensity that reaches them and thereby creates an electrostatic latent image on or in the plate coating. The image is then developed on the plate and transferred to support material, usually paper.

It is often necessary to make and/or send many copies of an original document that is reproduced. In some cases, long lists of names or numbers in sequence are provided either at the top or at the bottom of each original.

It may be necessary to add different names, addresses, numbers or other designations to the copies at the top, bottom or in a blank space provided which is to be filled in later.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate the necessity of including distribution lists on original documents.

Another object of this invention is to include on every copy, only the name of the person or of the place that the copy is to be distributed and not a long list that is of no interest to the receiver.

A further object of this invention is to imprint individual copies automatically with the names, numbers in sequence, or information desired.

A still further object of this invention is to simplify the production and distribution of copies.

Another object of this invention is to include varied information on each copy produced.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by a device that is attachable to the platen of a copying machine. The device holds an insert that contains text material. The insert is indexed to present various portions of the text to the exposure station of the copying apparatus for projecting the text and the original for reproduction.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter appended with the claims.

Fora better understanding of the invention as well as further objects and features thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

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FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the xerographic apparatus used with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right hand perspective view of the imprinter apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on the platen of xerographic apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the imprinter apparatus with parts broken away to show the arrangement of various elements;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the imprinter apparatus taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the insert that is used in the imprinter apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the imprinter apparatus with parts broken away to show the arrangement of various elements in the drive system;

FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the imprinter apparatus with parts broken away to show the arrangement of various elements in the drive system;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 9 is a schematic electrical circuit wiring diagram of the imprinter.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the xerographic apparatus comprises a xerographic plate including a photoconductive layer or light receiving surface on a conductive backing and formed in the shape of a drum 20 which is journaled in a frame to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow to cause the drum surface sequentially to pass a plurality of xerographic processing stations.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the several xerographic processing stations in the path of movement of the drum surface may be described functionally as follows:

A charging station at which a uniform electrostatic charge is deposited on the photoconductive layer of the xerographic drum is shown at A. An exposure station at which a light to be reproduced is projected onto the drum surface to dissipate the drum charge on the exposed areas thereof, and thereby form a latent electrostatic image on the copy to be reproduced is shown at B. A developing station, where a xerographic drum is developed is shown at C. A transfer station at which the xerographic powder image is electrostatical-ly transferred from the drum surface to the material is shown at D. A drum cleaning station is shown at E.

The charging apparatus or corona charging device 22 includes a corona discharge array of one or more discharge electrodes that extend transversely across the drum surface and are energized from a high potential source and are substantially enclosed within a shielding member.

The optical scanning or projection assembly generally designated 24, comprises a copyboard or platen 60 which may consist of a transparent plate member which is adapted to receive an original. The copyboard is uniformly illuminated and arranged in light projecting relation to the moving light receiving surface of the xerographic drum.

Adjacent to the exposure station is a developing station C in which there is positioned a developer apparatus 26 including a developer housing having a lower or sump portion for accumulating developer material 30. Mounted within the developer housing is a motor driven buckettype conveyor used to carry the developer material previously supplied to the developer housing to the upper portion of the developer housing from where the developer material is cascaded over a hopper chute onto the drum.

As the developer material cascades over the drum, toner particles of the developer material adhere electrostatically to the previously formed electrostatic latent image areas on the drum to form a visible xerographic powder image; the remaining developer material falling off the peripheral surface of the drum into the bottom of the developer housing. Toner particles consumed during the developing operation to form the xerographic powder images are replenished by a toner dispenser 28 mounted within the developer housing.

Positioned next adjacent to the developing station is the image transfer station D which includes suitable sheet feeding mechanism adapted to feed sheets of paper successively to the xerographic drum in coordination with the presentation of the developed image on the drum at the transfer station.

The next and final station in the device is a drum cleaning station E whereat any powder remaining on the xerographic drum after the transfer step is removed and whereat the xerographic drum is flooded with light to cause dissipation of any residual electrical charge remaining on the xerographic drum.

Removal of residual powder from the xerographic drum is effected by means of a brush cleaning device 46 adapted to continuously clean the xerographic drum.

It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for the purposes of this application to show the general operation of the xerographic reproducing apparatus. For further details concerning the specific construction of the xerographic apparatus shown, reference ismade to the above mentioned Patent No. 3,062,109, issued Nov. 6, 1962, to Mayo et al.

The imprinter apparatus generally designated as 102 is mounted on the copyboard by means of a pair of clamps 104 and 106. The clamp 106 is first placed along the border of the copyboard while the clamp 104 is adjusted and mounted on the other side of the platen. After the clamps 104 and 106 are in place a spring 108 will force the clamp 104 securely against the platen. The clamp 104 is movable by means of finger grips 110 onto which a middle and forefinger can be placed while the thumb of the hand rests on the end of the shaft 111 which has mounted thereon a knob or thumb rest 112. It can thus be seen that the imprinter apparatus is easily mounted on the platen by means of clamps 104 and 106. These clamps 104 and 106 attach the frame 114 of the imprinter apparatus to the platen. A pair of adjustment screws 115 are located in the bottom of the outer housing 202 for leveling the device if necessary. Only one of the screws is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is understood that there are two such screws mounted on the bottom of the housing 202. The frame has two upright portions 116 and 118 which have journaled therein a shaft 120. The frame 114 has a slit 122 therein the purpose of which is to be described below.

Mounted on the shaft is a document cylinder 124. The purpose of the document cylinder is to receive an insert 126 made of any suitable support material as shown in FIGURE 5. The insert has thereon the text to be presented to the platen 60. The document cylinder 124 is mounted on the shaft 120 by means of two end washers 130 and 132 which lock the cylinder on the shaft 120 by means of locking rings 134 and 136. The document cylinder 124 is slidable along the shaft 120 from left to right as shown in FIGURE 3. The purpose of this movement is to enable the text contained on the insert to be positioned as desired on the copy. The document cylinder is prevented from rotating about the shaft 120 independently of the movement of the shaft by means of a leaf spring 138 which is mounted on the inner surface of the copy drum 140. The leaf spring 138 fits snugly against a flat portion 142 of the shaft 120 thereby preventing rotation of the copy drum relative to the shaft 120.

The insert 126 is fitted into the slot 144 of the copy drum 126 on the outer surface 146 thereof. The top portion 148 of the insert 126 is folded and fits into the slot 144 of the copy drum 124. The insert 126 is then wrapped around the copy drum 124 and the trailing end 150 of the insert 126 is also inserted into the slot 144 as shown in FIGURE 4. The slot 144 is opened by means of two closure cams 152 and 154. The closure cams are moved in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 2, thereby allowing the locking pin 156to drop vertically in the slot 158 located in the end portions 160 and 161 of the document cylinder 124. To lock the insert in place each of the cams 152 and 154 is rotated clockwise and closed against the top portion of the insert 148 and the bottom portion 150 of the insert by means of rubber grommets 162 that are mounted on the locking pin 156 thereby securely holding the insert in place.

The slot 144 in the copy cylinder 124 is shaped such that the folded end 148 easily fits into the slot 144 against the surface 164 of the slot 144. The opposite surface 166 of the slot 144 is curved and shaped. Thus, the trailing edge 150 of the insert 124 which has larger corner portions removed than the top portion 1480f the insert 126 will not mesh properly with the edge portion 164 of the slot 144, but only with the surface 166. Also the edge 148 will not mesh with the surface 164. In this manner, it is possible only to place the insert 126 properly in the copy drum 124. It is noted that in the embodiment shown it is necessary that the insert be placed as indicated in FIG- URE 2 so that the matter imprinted will be copied properly through the slot 122 of the frame 114.

The slot 122 is just wide enough to expose the amount of subject matter desired to be copied. In the format shown in FIGURE 5 there are ten portions of information to be copied on ten different copies. The slot 122 will therefore only expose that amount of subject matter indicated in FIGURE 5 as in 1, 2, 3, etc. In lieu of the inserts, it is possible to use interchangeable drums having text thereon. The copy drum is indexed by means of a drive mechanism to be described below.

The drive mechanism is housed in an outer housing 202 and may be actuated either manually or automatically. In the automatic mode, after each cycle of the scanning mechanism, an electrical contact switch ICR is tripped as indicated schematically in FIGURE 9 solenoid SOL-1 is energized to operate the actuator 204. The same operation can be done manually by pushing the button 206 mounted in housing 202 by means of a bracket 208. The button 206 is depressed thereby operating the actuator 204 and is returned by means of a leaf spring 210 which then holds the button 206 in a retracted position. The position of the button 206 is shown in a dotted line in FIGURE 6.

The actuator 204 is held in the inoperative position shown in FIGURE 7 by a spring 212. When the actuator 204 is operated either by the solenoid SOL-1 or the button 206 the actuator arm 214 engages the ratchet 216 thereby indexing the drive mechanism in the manner described below. The actuator arm 214 is pivoted on the actuator 204 about pivot point 218 and is held in the position shown in FIGURE 6 by means of a spring 220 which is mounted on the bracket 222. As the actuator arm 214 is operated, the arm moves downward engaging the ratchet 216 and moves along with the ratchet until the actuator engages the solenoid and the pawl 224 engages the ratchet. When the solenoid SOL-1 or the button 206 is released the actuator arm is moved back into the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 by means of the springs 220 and 212 ready to again index the drive mechanism.

The pawl 224 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 222 by means of a shaft 226 which has a coil spring 228 mounted thereon for the purpose of engaging the pawl 224 with the notches of the ratchet 216.

The ratchet Wheel 216 is connected by means of a shaft 230 to a gear 232 which engages a gear 234 connected to the shaft 120 of the imprinter. Thus, the drive mechanism may be indexed a specific number of times according to how many times the scanner operates thus actuating the solenoid SOL-1 or when the drive mechanism is actuated manually by the button 206. Each time the drive mechanism is indexed, the document cylinder is moved an amount equal to the space on the insert that contains the information to be reproduced on each copy.

After a particular document has been copied the required number of times a mechanical limit switch in the machine lLS is closed thus actuating a solenoid SOL-2 which serves to reset the drive mechanism in a manner to be described below. The drive mechanism may, of course, also be reset manually by actuating button 236 which is similar to button 206 and mounted in a similar manner by a bracket and a leaf spring. The position of the button 236 is shown in a dotted line in FIG. 6. The resetting actuator arm 238 is held in the unoperative position as shown in FIGURE 7 by a spring 240 which is similar to spring 212 which holds the actuator 204 in the inoperative position.

As the resetting actuator 238 is operated the outer portion 242 thereof will contact the pawl 224 and pivot it about shaft 226 thereby releasing the ratchet 216. The ratchet 216 will be returned to its starting position by means of coil spring 244 which will serve to rotate the ratchet in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 8. As the outer portion 242 of the resetting actuator contacts the pawl 224 a dog 246 pivoted about a shaft 248 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 8 by means of a spring 250. The dog 246 serves to maintain the pawl 224 out of contact with the ratchet 216 before the ratchet can return completely and come to rest when protruding portion 251 on ratchet 216 contacts stopping means 252. When the actuator 204 is again operated, the actuator arm 214 will contact the outer portion 254 of dog 246 thereby releasing the pawl 224 and the resetting actuator arm 238 to the positions shown in FIG. 8.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, but is intended to cover such modifications, or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device to present text to be copied for attachment to a platen which will project the image of the text contained on a sheet of support material and the image of a document to be copied to an exposure station of a copying apparatus including a frame,

means to attach the frame to the platen,

a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame,

a cylinder rigidly attached to the shaft for holding a support material having text thereon to be presented to the platen,

means to sequentially index the shaft along the axis thereof from a first position to additional positions to present different portions of the text step-wise to the platen for projection of the exposure station, and

means to reset the shaft to said first position.

2. A device to present text to be copied for attachment to a platen which will project the image of the text contained on a sheet of support material and the image of a document to be copied to an exposure station of a xerographic reproducing apparatus including a frame,

a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame,

a pair of clamps mounted on either end of the shaft to clamp the shaft to the platen,

a spring mounted on the shaft to tension the clamps against the platen,

a cylinder rigidly attached to the shaft for holding the support material containing the text to be presented to the platen, and

means to index the shaft from a first position to additional positions to present different texts to the platen, and

means to reset the shaft to the first position.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the cylinder includes means to lock the support material in place around the outer surface of the cylinder.

4. A device to present text to be copied for attachment to a platen which wil project the image of the text contained on a support material and the image of a document to be copied to an exposure station of a copying apparatus including a frame,

means to attach the frame to the platen,

a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame,

means rigidly attached to the shaft, for holding a support material having text thereon to be presented to the platen,

means to sequentially index the shaft along the axis thereof from a first position to additional positions to present different portions of the text step-wise to the platen for projection to the exposure station, and

means to reset the shaft to said first position.

5. A device to present text to be copied for attachment to a platen which will project the image of the text and the image of a document to be copied to an exposure station of a copying apparatus including a frame,

means to attach the frame to the platen,

a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame,

a cylinder having text thereon to be. presented to the platen, said cylinder being rigidly attached to the shaft, and

means to sequentially index the shaft along the axis thereof from a first position to additional positions to present different portions of the text step-wise to the platen for projection to the exposure station.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,983,187 5/1961 Bone 88-24 3,012,841 12/1961 Autere et a]. 346-138 3,039,582 6/ 1962 Simjian.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

R. A. WINTERCQRN, Assistant Examiner.

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