US3472106A - Apparatus and method for reproducing long originals - Google Patents

Description

D. W. SAMES Oct. 14 1969 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPRODUCING LONG ORIGINALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1967 INVENTOR.

Delbert W. Same:

ATTORNEY D. W. SAMES Oct. 14, 1969 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPRODUCING LONG ORIGINALS Filed Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Delbert W. Some:

ATTORNEY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPRODUCING LONG ORIGINALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct 14, 1969 o. w. SAMES Filed Feb. 7, 1967 ,IIIHIA'E" c 50 g; n

Fig. 5. "I 22 I [F --6 .I

Fig. 4.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Delbert W. Some Oct. 14, 1969 D. w. SAMES 3,472,106

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEPRODUCING LONG ORIGINALS Filed Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet swaz I I I 5 W 90 {/20 I22 swan/2 Neg III SW73 1 M; Fig. 8.

I24 1 I08 l I06 INVE-TOR.

Delbert W. Some;

ls c1271 H ATTORNEY n te S es Parh 1 3,472,106 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPRODUCING LONG ORIGINALS Delbert W. Sarnes, 'Conklin, N.Y.,v assignor to, GAF Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 614,445

' Int. Cl. 1323b 3/28 U.S. Cl. 83-13 Claims This invention relates generally to improvements in supplying sensitized copy paper from a continuous roll to a developing or processing apparatus and, in particular, to an improved feeding and severing device and method adapted to supply segments of the sensitized copy paper in lengths substantially corresponding to the length of an original sheet being reproduced. 1 In prior art reproduction or developing machines it has been the practice heretofore, to provide lengths of sensitized copy paper from a single supply roll severed into lengths predetermined by the length of the reference or original sheet to be reproduced. Usually, the maximum width of the original sheet, conventionally '19 inches wide, determined the width' of the supply of copy paper furnished to the machines. In effect, ,when reproducing originals having smaller widths, as for example, standard size '11 inch paper, it was necessary to trim the copy paper after development or pr'oce ssing thereof, resulting in the waste of an 8 inch side strip of copy paper. Inorder to avoid such undue waste of paper it was subsequently proposed to process only 19 inch wide original sheets through the machine until the 19 inch wide supply roll of copy paper was expended, and to thereafter insert an 11 inch side supply roll of copy'paper for the processing of 11 inch wide originals. This, however, proved to be an extremely'cumbersome and inconvenient procedure,

frequently requiring the interchanging of partially used supply rolls ofdifferent widths of copy paper when the total length of the originals to be produced at any particular time was less than the remaining copy paper available on the supply roll. u

More recently, improved apparatuses and methods have been developed for the supplying of different'widths of copy paper from supplyv rolls. In essence, the apparatus utilizes two supply rolls of thecopy paper, one roll of 19 inches in width and the other of 11 inches, which may be selectively and automatically ,actuated tofeed predetermined lengths of copy paper which substantially correspond in width and length to the original sheet or reference desired to be reproduced. The apparatus is actuated by means of sensing devices or switches which are 3,472,106 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 ice adapted to sense various characteristics, such'as the leading and trailing edges and the widths of the original sheets passing through the apparatus. Actuation of the sensing devices by the original sheets will initiate feeding of the appropriate supply roll to thereby commence presentation of a length of copy paper in response to sensing of the leading edges and widths of the original, whereas subsequent sensing of the trailing edges of the original sheets will immobilize the actuated supply roll and cause a cutting or severing device to sever a portion of the presented copy paper essentially corresponding in length and width to the sensed original sheet. The selective method of employing supply rolls of copy paper adapted to sup ply sheets corresponding in size to the originals ameliorates or eliminates many of the disadvantages encountered in the prior art machines in an effective and commer cially desirable manner. One such improved apparatus and method for selectively supplying copy paper from a plurality of continuous webs or supply rolls is discloseed in detail in the co-pending patent application of Robert C. Goodman and Delbert W. Sames, Ser. No. 593,534.

Although the aforedescribed selective feeding and severing apparatus and method have been found to be generally satisfactory during commercial use thereof, certain problems have been encountered, particularly when 'original sheets of greater than usual lengths are processed through the aparatus. In order to prevent tensioning and possible tearing of the trailing edge of the web of copy paper during severing thereof, a controlled loop or bump is formed in the superimposed original sheet and copy paper prior to being forwarded into the reproduction or processing machine. This loop in the superimposed original and copy paper is formed by forwarding the superimposed materials in the reproduction machine at linear speeds which are somewhat lower than the linear speeds at which the individual original sheets and activated copy paper supply roll are transported toward the point at which the materials will be superimposed. For relatively short originals, the loops or bumps which are thus formed in the superimposed materials are readily controllable due to their rather small physical proportions. However, for extremely long originals, it becomes apparent that the size of the loops formed will increase constantly in proportion to the length of the originals being processed therethrough. This, in effect, will generate loops which become unwieldly in size and difficult to control. [The present invention, by providing a novel and uniquedevice and method for sensing the loops formed in the superimposed originals and copy paper and thereby controlling the feeding and severing sequence of the apparatus, obviates the aforedescribed and other attendant disadvantages encountered in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is a'primary object of the present invention to provide an appartus and method by which one of a plurality of webs of copy material may be selectively conveyed to a predetermined point and severed to produce a sheet of desired dimensions in response to the sensed conditions of an original sheet and of said conveyed material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding and severing apparatus and method by which .one of a plurality of webs of sensitized copy paper, each varying in width, may be selectively and automatically removed from a supply roll and severed to produce an individual sheet of copy paper substantially corresponding in width and length to an original to be reproduced in re:

sponse to various sensed conditions of the original and the superimposed original and copy paper.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a feeding and severing apparatus and method incorporating novel sensing devices for sensing various physical characteristics of an original sheet to be reproduced and of said original and a superimposed sensitized copy paper, in response to which, one of a plurality of webs of said copy paper, each varying in width, may be selectively and automatically removed from a supply roll and severed to produce an individual sheet of said copy paper substantially corresponding in width and length to the original sheet to be reproduced.

These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet enclosing the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the positioning of such cabinet adjacent to a suitable reproduction machine;

FIG. 2 is a left side sectional view taken generally along Line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along Line 2-2 in FIG. 1, but showing the paper web cutter bar in actuating position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken generally along Line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view taken generally along Line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view taken generally along the Line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cutter bar actuating assembly viewed in FIG. 6, but having portions removed; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuit employed in the practice of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a selective web feeding and severing device 1 may be enclosed within a suitable cabinet 2 and employed to selectively feed sheet material having different characteristics and of any desired length to a processing apparatus or reproduction machine 3. A reference sheet or original which is to be reproduced is passed in a superimposed relationship with a sensitized copy paper, such as, for example, a diazo type paper, to an exposure station, not shown, at which position, indicia on the original is fixed on the copy paper. Thereafter, the original is separated from the copy paper and the copy paper is forwarded through a developing station.

The device 1 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a freely rotatable shaft 4, which is adapted to support an upper supply roll of sensitized paper 5; a freely rotatable shaft 6, which is adapted to support a lower supply roll of sensitized paper 7; a paper web severing station 8; feeding means 9, for feeding a web of paper 10 from supply roll 5 to severing station 8; feeding means 11, for feeding a web of paper 12 from supply roll 7 to severing station 8; and a second station 13 for feeding and sensing an original or reference 14. A further station 13a is provided for sensing the configuration of superimposed sensitized paper 12 and original 14 after the latter is forwarded from second station 13. Preferably, apparatus 1 is also provided with forwarding means 15 which is adapted to forward original 14 in superimposed relationship with a selected web of paper, as for instance web 12 viewed in FIG. 2, to an exposure station, not shown, provided within reproduction machine 3. Supply rolls 5 and 7 may be employed to hold 11" and 19" paper webs, respectively, which are suitable for use in reproducing originals of convention ll" and 19' widths.

Any suitable means may be employed to guide paper webs 10 and 12 during passage thereof through apparatus 1. As by way of example, cylindrical rods 16 and 17 are employed to guide webs 10 and 12 to feeding means 9 and 11, respectively; pairs of plates 18 and 19 are employed to guide webs 10 and 12 in passing from feeding means 9 and 10 to severing station 8, respectively; and a pair of plates 20 are provided to guide the webs passing from severing station 8 to forwarding means 15.

The previously referenced elements of apparatus 1 are mounted on a pair of spaced side supporting plates 21 and 22, which form part of a cabinet 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cabinet 2 includes front and top cover plates 23 and 24,'which are affixed to respective side plates 21 and 22 in any suitable manner, not shown. An original sheet edge guide 25, which is aflixed to top cover plate 24 by means not shown, is adapted to cooperate withtop plate 24 in positioning original 14, as the latter is presented by an operator to the original sheet feeding and sensing station 13.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the original sheet feeding and sensing station 13 generally includes pairs of upper and lower feed rollers 26 and 27, respectively; an original sheet guide plate 28; and a plurality of microswitches 29, 30 and 31 having original sheet sensing fingers 32, 33 and 34 respectively.

Preferably, as indicated in FIG. 5, lower feed rollers 27 are supported on spaced shafts 35, ,which are supported by bearings, not shown, provided in side plate 21 and top cover plate flange 36, and are adapted to be driven through a clutch 37 geared to an electric motor 37'. Clutch 37 may be mounted on side plate 21 in any suitable manner, not shown. Upper feed rollers 26 are shown as being supported on spaced shafts 38, which are mounted for free rotational movement within suitable journals mounted on side plate 21 and guide plate flange 39, respectively. Further, upper feed rollers 26 may, if desired, be spring biased downwardly to permit positive gripping and feeding of original sheet 14.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, guide plate 28 and top cover plate 24 are shown as being disposed in a parallel, vertically spaced relationship so as to define an original sheet guide slot 40, and as being punched out, as at 41 and 42, to permit roller pairs 26 and 27, respectively, to engage the opposite surfaces of the original sheet 14 passing through the guide slot 40.

It will be understood by referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 that the original sheet sensing fingers 32, 33 and 34 are adapted to project into guide slot 40 and to be selectively engaged by original sheet 14 as it is fed through the guide slot 40 by feed rollers 26 and 27, thereby actuating corresponding switches 29, 30 and 31 in succession. The selection of the sheet sensing fingers and thus their respective switches depends only upon the width of such original. In this respect, it will be further understood that when the original 14, such as a tracing, is to be reproduced, it is first placed on top cover plate 24 in such a manner. that the side is in engagement with edge guide 25 and the leading edge, normally either 11" or 19" width, is placed within the front end of the guide slot 40. Thereafter, an operator pushes the leading edge of the original further into the guide slot until the original is engaged by the first of each pair of feed rollers 26 and 27, which thereafter automatically feed the original toward forwarding means 15. It will be seen by viewing FIG. 4, that when feeding an 11" wide original, the leading and trailing edges thereof successively actuate switches29 and 30. When reproducing a conventional 19" side original, it will be seen that the leading and trailing edges of the original successively actuate switches 29, 31 and 30. The switch arrangement described thus far, is particularly adapted to the sensing of originals having either of two pre-selected widths. However, it will be apparent that any desired number of original widths may beaccommodated by providing additional switches at suitably spaced intervals between switches 30 and 31,

and a corresponding number of additional paper supply rolls and paper web feeding means. 7

Paper web feeding means 9 and 11 are shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 5. In that such feeding means are of identical construction, like elements are identified by numbers and prime numbers, respectively. Thus, reference is made only to feeding means 9, which includes a sensitized paper web feed roll 43, which is adapted to be driven in a feed direction by an electric motor 44; a freely rotatable roll 45, which may, if desired, be spring biased towards roll 43 to insure proper gripping of the fed web; and a feed roll brake and return assembly 46. Electric motor 44 is mounted on side plate 21 and is se lectively connected to roll 43, by an electrically operated clutch 47.

The roll brake and return assembly 46 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes first and second brake discs 48 and 49, which are keyed for rotation with a reduced diameter end portion of feed roll 43; a brake plate 50, which is journaled on the reduced diameter end portion of roll 43 and disposed between discs 48 and 49; a brake plate locking pin 51; a locking pin retracting solenoid 52; a brake plate motion limiting pin 53; and a brake plate return spring 54. A spring 55 is adapted to bias disc 49 towards the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, thereby tending to maintain discs 48 and 49 in frictional surface engagement with brake plate 50. Motion limiting pin 53' is adapted to be received within a slot provided in side plate 22, shown only as 57' in FIG. 5, and is adapted to prevent pivotable motion of brake plate 50 beyond the position shown in phantom line in FIG. 6. i

Brake plate return spring 54, which is connected to brake plate 50 through pin, is adapted to return the brake plate from the position shown in phantom to that shown in full line in FIG. 6, when, as will be more fully hereinafter discussed, clutch 47 is de-euergized and locking pin retracting solenoid 52 is actuated.

It will be understood that locking pin 51 is normally biased towards an extended position by means of a spring 56 and that it is forced to move to a fully retracted position upon energization of solenoid 52. The structure described in reference to the roll brake and return assembly is for illustrative purposes only, it being understood that any desired means may be provided to brake, lock and return the driving roll 43 in the manner now to be fully described.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that upon energization of clutch 47, motor 44 is drivingly con nected to feed roll 43-to effect rotation thereof in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2; to feed paper web towards severing station 8. Upon initiation of the driving rotation of roll 43, brake plate 50 is rotated from its rest position into its cocked position shown-in phantom in FIG. 6 against the biased force of spring 54, by frictional driving connection between the brake plate 50 and brake dicsc 48 and 49, whereafter the brake plate 50 is permitted to slip with respect to the brake discs. The force of locking pin spring 56is sufiiciently light to allow locking pin 51 to be partially retracted as the brake plate 50 rotates, however, after pin 53 reaches the end of slot 57, spring 56 acts to fully extend the locking pin to prevent return rotation of the brake plate from its cocked position. After a desired length of paper web 10 has been fed, which corresponds to the length of reference sheet 14, clutch 47 is deenergized and solenoid 52 is energized in a timed sequence, by means more fully hereinafter described, to first disconnect feed roll 43 from motor 44 and then retract pin 51 to permit the return of brake plate 50 to its rest position. Upon de-energization of clutch 47, brake plate 50 and discs 48 and 49 immediately cooperate to arrest rotation of feed roll 43 in its feed direction. Immediately after stopping of feed roll 43, solenoid 52 is energized to withdraw locking pin 51 from engagement with brake plate 50 to permit the latter to be returnedby spring 54 to its rest position. Return motion of brake plate 50 causes rotation of the feed roll 43 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to withdraw the leading or severed end of paper web 10 from adjacent severing station 8 and position the web in the manner indicated as 10 in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 severing station 8 is shown as including a rotatably supported cutter bar 58 and a pair of spaced apart paper web guides 59 and 60. Guide 60 is adapted to cooperate with cutter bar 58 to shear a paper web presented thereto, such as paper web 12, when bar 58 is rotated in the direction indicated in FIG. 2 by arrow 61. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that cutter bar 58 is journaled adjacent the ends thereof on side plates 21 and 22, and as having an actuating assembly, generally indicated as reference numeral 62, which may be supported on side plate 22 by a suitable bracket 63. From the drawings, it will appear that actuating assembly 62 includes a rotary solenoid 64 having a shaft 65, which is adapted to carry an arm 66 having a pin 67 disposed on the outwardly extending end thereof. It will be apparent from viewing FIG. 7, that pin 67 is adapted to engage a side surface 68 which is in turn affixed to a reduced diameter end portion of cutter bar 58. A spring 69 having one end afiixed to side plate 22, as by pin 70, is adapted to normally maintain arm .68 in its rest or full line position, shown in FIG. 7, and thus cutter bar 58 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that upon energization of solenoid 64, arm 66, and thus pin 67 are caused to move in the direction illustrate-d by arrow 71 in FIGURE 7 to move cutter bar arm 68 to the position shown in phantom against the bias of the return spring 69. The phantom line position of arm 68 corresponds to the position of cutter bar 58 illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be understood that for the purpose hereinafter discussed, arm 68 shortly after or simultaneously with the severing of the paper web by cutter bar 58, is adapted to engage and deflect finger 72 to close microswitch 73. Upon de-energization of solenoid 64, spring 69 is free to return cutter bar arm 68 and thus assembly 62 to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 7, curing which time switch 73 is permitted to open.

Forwarding means 15 is generally shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as including an endless transfer belt 74; a belt drive roll 75; and upper and lower guide rollers 76 and 77, which are adapted to deflect transfer belt 74 in the manner shown in the drawings to insure positive surface engagement of the paper webs with the conveyor belt and with the reference sheet. If desired, drive roll 75 may be powered through clutch 37 by the same electric motor which drives the lower feed rollers 27 or driven by any other suitable means. i

Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a guide member 78, which may be of any described construction, is pivotably supported on guide plate 28, as by hinge pin 79, adjacent the outlet end of reference sheetguide slot' 40. It will be apparent that'member 78 functions to guide the leading portions of the original and the paper web, as they emerge from the outlet end of guide slot 40 and from between guide plates 20, respectively, into engagement with transfer belt 74 andsubsequently into the nip 80 defined by the transfer belt and guide roller 76.

Based on the length of superimposed original and copy paper which has at this time already been conveyed into reproduction machine 3 over belt 74, infeed means (not shown) in the reproduction machine will continue to pull the superimposed material in the reproduction machine. When the trailing edge of the original 14 passes over the sensing finger 89 in station 13, the clutches 37 and 47 will again be energized to continue overfeeding original 14 and web 12 for final cutting sequence of the feeding and severing apparatus.

By permitting the formulation of loop 81, the original sheet and paper web may be forwarded by belt 74 through nip 80 while the loop 81 permits the trailing edge of the paper web to be stationary during the operation of cutter bar 58. This arrangement is desirable from the standpoint that the original sheet and paper web need not be stopped for the cutting operation but may be continuously forwarded to and through an exposure station of the reproduction machine 3 at a constant predetermined speed to insure uniform printing.

An electrical control circuit suitable for use in the practice of present invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8. Briefly, the circuit is shown as including coils 100, 101 and 102 for energizing original sheet and transfer belt drive motor 37 and paper web drive motors 44 and 44', respectively. Coils 100-102 are energized from a suitable source of electrical power 104, when master switch 105 is closed by an operator. Further, the circuit is shown as including coils 106, 106' for energizing electrical clutches 47, 47'; coils 107, 107' for energizing locking pin retracting solenoids 52, 52'; coil 108 for energizing cutter bar actuating solenoid 64; coil 121 for energizing clutch 37; and relay coil 117 for closing switch 122 and opening normally closed switch 119. Also, it will be seen that the contact arms of microswitches 29, 30, 31, 73, 82 and 90, are referenced in FIG. 8, as SW 29, SW 30A- -SW 30B, SW 31, SW 73, SW 82 and SW 90, respectively, and are normally in the position shown when no original is present in the feeding and sensing station 13. The circuit also includes a bridge rectifier 109 having terminals A, B, C and D.

At this point, it will be understood that the linear speed imparted to transfer belt 74 by roller 75 is chosen to be slightly less than the linear speed imparted to reference sheet 14 and paper webs 10 and 12; it being also understood that the same linear speed is imparted to the original 14 and paper webs 10 and 12, so as to insure registration of the leading edges thereof as they are presented to transfer belt 74. Also it will be noted that, due to the presence of roller 76, belt 74 is slightly inclined in the direction of travel thereof. This, coupled with the fact that the paper web is forced to bend in passing over drive roll 75, produces a controlled instability in the superimposed original and paper web, which when the leading edges thereof enter nip 80, cause the controlled formation of a loop or bump 81. Thus, it will be apparent that the size of loop 81 increases in proportion to the length of paper web fed prior to the severing thereof, due to the difference between speed of belt 74 and the speed at which the original and paper web is forwarded thereto. As will become clear, the difference in such speeds is determined by the minimum loop size necessary to arrest the trailing edge of the paper web and thereby prevent tensioning of the paper web, during severing, when the forward end of the web is being positively transported between belt 74 and roller 76.

In processing extremely long originals 14, it becomes obvious that the size of the loop 81, if not controlled, will become unwieldly and may cause difficulties in passing the superimposed originals 14 and copy paper 12 between belt 74 and roller 76. Accordingly, sensing station 13 includes a sensing finger 89 and a corresponding switch 90 and sensing station 1311 incorporates a microswitch 82 having a loop sensing finger 83. Sensing finger 83 is positioned at a predetermined height above forwarding means 15 whereby a set minimum length of superimposed original and copy paper must pass therealong before a loop .81 of required size is generated in order to actuate microswitch 82. Actuation of the microswitch 82 is accomplished through an actuator rod 84 which is rotated when loop 81 contacts sensing finger 83. At this point actuation of the microswitch 82 will de-energize clutches 37 and 47 and immobilize the feeding of the web 12 and original 14.

Understanding of the operation of the electrical circuit shown in FIG. 8 may best be had by referring to the overall operation of the feeding and severing apparatus of the present invention.

To initiate operation of apparatus 1, an operator first closes master switch to energize motors 37', 44 and 44' whereafter transfer belt 74 and original feed rollers 27 are driven continuously. Due to the normally open position of switch arms SW 30A, SW 30B and SW 90, coils 121, 106 and 106' of respective clutches 37, 47 and 47 are not energized and thus motors 37', 44 and 44' remain disconnected from their respective drive roll 75, and copy paper web feed rolls 43 and 43.

Assuming in the first instance that supply rolls5 and 7 carry paper webs of 11" and 19" widths, respectively, and that an 11 size original is desired to be duplicated, the operation continues as follows. The operator first places one edge of the original against edge guide 25 and guides the leading edge thereof forward into guide slot 40 to permit rollers 26, 27 to pick 'up the original and feed same towards the left, as viewed in FIG. 4. Immediately after feeding is initiated, the leading edge of the original engages in succession sensing finger 89 of microswitch 90 to move contact arm SW 90 into engagement with contact 1 20, sensing finger 32 of microswitch 29 to move contact arm SW 29 into engagement with contact 110, andsensing finger 33 of microswitch 30 to move contact arms SW 30A and SW 30B into engagement with contacts 111 and 112, respectively. The closing arm of .SW 30A on contact 111 establishes a circuit through bridge rectifier terminals A-B, coil 106 and bridge rectifier terminals C-D, whereupon clutches 37 and 47 are energized to drivingly corinect motor 37' to both lower feed rollers 27 and drive roll 75 and also connect motor 44 to roll 43 to feed copy paper web 10 through severing station 8 towards transfer belt 74, whereby leading edges of the original and copy paper web are aligned with the original overlying the web, and loop 81 is formed. Upon initial rotation of roll 43 in its paper web feed direction, brake plate 50 is moved into its phantom line or cocked position and is locked therein by locking pin 51.

Feeding of paper web 10 continues until loop 81 actuates microswitch 82 which thereby causes relay coil 117, to become energized. This in effect opens arm SW 119 from contact 124 thereby de-energizing clutches 37 and 47, and as a result, will discontinue feeding of the original and the copy paper. Concurrently arm SW 122 engagesja contact 123 to provide an electrical interlock maintaining voltage across relay coil 117 after switch 82 is deactuated by the diminishing of the loop 81. The electrical interlock is required to keep clutches 37 and 47 de-energized so as not to prematurely re-commence the feeding of the original and copy paper. l a

At this point, the infeed means of the reproduction machine 3 will have grasped the superimposed original and copy paper supplied thereto by belt 74 and will continue to pull them into the machine and until the trailing edge of original 14 passes station 13 and de-actuates switch 90. This will break the circuit to relay coil 117, thereby disconnecting arm SW 122 from contact 123 to break the electrical interlock. Simultaneously normally closed arm SW 119 will engage contact 121 whereby clutches 37 and 47 now will be reenergized to again feed the original and copy paper from the supply roll for the final severing sequence of the apparatus.

Feeding of paper, web 10 and the original continues until the trailing edge of the original disengages sensing finger 32 of microswitch 29 to move arm SW 29 out of contact with contact to break the circuit through coil 121 and coil 106 and into engagement with contact 113 ,to establish a circuit through bridge recitifieiflter: minals A-B, solenoid actuating coil 108 and 'bridge r'ectifier terminals C-D. Breaking of the circuit through'coil 121, de-energizes clutch 37 to disconnect motor 37' from lower feed rollers 27 and drive roll 75. Breaking of the circuit through coil 106, de-energizes clutch 47 to disconnect motor 44 from feed roll 43, thereby permitting brake through coil 108 energizes solenoid 64which rotates cutter bar 58 to sever paper web It]; for-ward motion of the paper web continuing during the period of the time required to rotate cutter bar into 'severing position by the infeed means, although the terminal end which is being severed is stationary because offloop 81. Sensing finger 32 of microswitch 29 is positioned with respect to severing station 8, so as to permit paper web to be severed into a sheet length corresponding in length to the original to be reproduced.

Upon rotation of cutter bar 58 past its severing position, arm 68 which is carried ori the cutter bar, engages finger '72 of microswitch 73 to close contact arm SW 73 on contact 114 which establishes a circuit through coils 107 and 107'. The establishing offcircuit through coils 107 and 107' energizes solenoids 52, 52 to retract locking pin 51 from engagement with brake {plate 50, thereby permitting spring 54 to return the brake plate to its original position. Due to the frictional driving connection between brake plate 50 and discs 48, 49 paper web feed roll 43 is counter-rotated to withdraw the severed end of paper web 10 from adjacent cutter bar 58.

Subsequently the trailing edge of the original disengages sensing finger 33 of microswitch 30 to move contact arms SW 30A and SW 30B out of engagement with contacts 111 and 112 to break the circuits through coil 108 and coils 107, 107. Breaking of'the circuit through coil 108 disengages solenoid 64, thereby permitting spring 69 to return arm 68 and thus cutter-bar 58 to its initial position. During return of arm 68 to its initial position, finger 72 of microswitch 73 is released to permit arm SW 73 to be disengaged from contact 114. Opening of either of arms SW 30A or SW 73 breaks'the circuit through coils 107, 107 to de-energize solenoids 52, 52' and permit springs 56, 56' to return locking pins 51, 51' to their initial position.

When reproducing a 19" wide original, the operation of the electrical control circuit and apparatus 1 is substantially identical with that described with reference to the 11" wide original, except that the leading and trailing edges of the original actuates all three microswitches 29, 31, and 30 in succession. Actuation of microswitch 31 acts to disengage arm SW 31 from contact 115 and close it on contact 116. Thereafter, when microswitch 30 is actuated in the manner described, a circuit is established through coil 106' to permit driving connection of motor '44 to feed roll 43'.

It should also be understood that the foregoing relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination with an apparatus for processing sensitized materials, a selective web feeding and severing device comprising;

a first station having a severing means adapted to sever a length of sensitized material from a web presented thereto,

a plurality of feeding means each including a web of said sensitized material and each of said feeding means being adapted when activated to present its respective web to said first station,

an original sheet,

a second station including a first sensing means adapted to sense a plurality of physical characteristics of said original sheet when presented thereto, said first sens, ing means being adapted to selectively activate one of said web feeding means,

transport means for feeding said original sheet through said first station during sensing thereof into superimposed relation to said presented web,

10 l a second-sensing means adapted-tosense a positional characteristic of said superimopsed original sheet and web, means responsive to said second sensing means for rendering immoble said transport means and said actuated web feeding means, infeed means conveying said superimposed original sheet and web into said processing apparatus at least during said period of immobility, said first sensing means being adapted to reactivate said transport means and said web feeding means in response to one of the physical characteristics of said original sheet, which characteristic thereafter activates said severing means so as to sever a length of material from said web. 2. A device as defined in claim 1 including feed in means for conveying said superimposed original sheet and web to said processing apparatus infeed means, said feed in means being adapted to continuously convey said superimposed original sheet and said web at a linear speed less than the linear speed imparted to said original sheet by said transport means and to aid web by said web feeding means, whereby said differential in linear speeds causes a loop to be formed in said superimposed original sheet and web between said feed in means and said transport means the height of which is the positional characteristic sensed by said second sensing means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the plurality of physical characteristics of said original sheet sensed by said first sensing means includes the length and width of said sheet, the width of said sheet determining which feeding means is actuated and the length of said sheet determining the length of sensitized material severed from said web.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the means for rendering immobile said original sheet transport means comprises a clutch member responsive to the sensing of the positional characteristic of said superimposed original sheet and web by said second sensing means.

5. A method of supplying to a photocopy processing apparatus an original sheet to be reproduced and a superimposed sheet of sensitized material corresponding substantially in width and length to said original sheet, including the steps of:

providing a plurality of webs of sensitized paper differ in g in width one from another, feeding said original sheet toward said apparatus, sensing the presence of the leading and trailing edges and the width of said original sheet during feeding thereof,

employing the sensed width of said original sheet to select one of said webs to be utilized in forming said sheet of sensitized material,

using the sensed presence of the leading edge of said original sheet to initiate the feeding of said selected web toward said apparatus in superimposed relation to said original sheet,

sensing a positional characteristic of said superimposed original sheet and web to immobilize said original sheet and web feeding sequence while concurrently facilitating the conveyance of said superimposed original sheet and web into said apparatus through infeed means provided therein, and

utilizing the sensed presence of the trailing edge of said original sheet to both re-initiate feeding of said original sheet and web toward said apparatus and eflect severing of the leading portion of said selected web to form said sheet of sensitized material.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 in which said positional characteristic comprises a loop of predetermined dimensions formed in said superimposed original sheet and web during feeding thereof toward said apparatus.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 in which said loop is formed by continuously forwarding said superimposed original sheet and web toward said processing apparatus at a linear speed less than the linear speed at which said 1 1" 1 2 Original sheet and said web are fed tbwards said apparatus 3,292,471 '=-12/ 1966 Sarn'eset a1." 83 -203 individually. I p: r Y 1 References Cited 7 FRANK'T. YQST, Primary Examiner v UNITED STATES PATENTS Tu Q X 2,430,781 3/ 1949 Simpson 33-65 6 31. 1103, 400, 424; 22543, 113; 117 3,182,539 5/1965 Williams 83- -2105 I l w 1

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