US3507573A

US3507573A - Photocopy paper cutting means

Info

Publication number: US3507573A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ira M Sage; Peter P Pungitore; Peter J Totino
Original assignee: Old Town Corp
Current assignee: Old Town Corp
Priority date: 1964-11-20
Filing date: 1967-12-20
Publication date: 1970-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1987-04-21

Description

A ril 21, 1970 SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS ori inal Filed Nov. 20, 1964 1 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. RA SAGE PETER P PUNGITORE PETER J2 TOTINO April 21, 1970 l. M. SAGE ET AL PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 Aw //7/V/ INVENTOR 5 t "fizmgw i Kw W IRA M- SAGE- PETE-R P. PUNGIITORE PETER .ITOTINO April 21, 1970 M. SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCORY PAPER :CUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8 SheetsSheet 5 a v Q INVENTORS.

IRA M SAGE PETER R PuNGlTorzE Q P TER JT'ToTINo ATTORNEYS A ril 21, 1970 .,M SAGE Em 7 3,507,513 PHOTO COi Y PAPER CUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. M. SAGE ET L PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS April 21, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 INVENTORS. IRA M- SAGE PETER P- PUNGITDRE PETER Iv B! T TI ATTORNEY S April 21, 1970 SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCOPY PAPERCUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 f w FIG. 70

7a f yg /24 34 INVENTORS. ITZA M SAGE PETER P. FUNGITOJZE PETER J. TOT/MO $7 WY n/ ATTORNEY April 21, 1970 M SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR s: 12 M. SAGE P 12- P. WNGITOZE IIIHII nu n n'p O N m E m M Z a T n A E P 1 B Qv Q\ April 21, 1970 l. M. SAGE ET AL PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS 8 SheetsSheet Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 INVENTOR IIZA M. SAGE P TER J'- TOTmo B1 ATTZ IQNEY 3,507,573 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 United States Patent Ofice 3,507,573 PHOTOCOPY PAPER CU'ITING MEANS Ira M. Sage, New York, and Peter P. Pungitore, Bronx, N.Y., and Peter J. Totino, Edgewater, N.J., assignors to Old Town Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,729, now Patent No. 3,385,161, dated May 28, 1968. Divided and this application Dec. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 716,247

Int. Cl. G03b 29/00 US. Cl. 355-28 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is used in a reader-copier which enlarges microfilm images, displays the images on the viewing screen, and makes electrostatic copies of the images on coated photoconductive copy paper. The copy paper is fed in a continuous web from a roll. Means is provided for notching the paper at one edge upon the supplying of an appropriate electrical signal by the operator. After the copy has been developed, the cutting means senses the notch and cuts the paper at the notch. The cutting means includes a set of shears in which the blades rotate into contact with one another and shear the paper while simultaneously moving with the paper at approximately the same speed so that there is no binding of the paper in the shearing blades. This invention is described in greater detail in the portion of the specification entitled Paper Cutting System, and is shown in FIGURES 7 through 9.

This invention relates to apparatus for displaying and copying documents; more particularly, this invention relates to apparatus for enlarging, displaying and copying documents recorded on microfilm.

This is a division of US. application Ser. No. 412,729, filed Nov. 20, 1964, now US. Patent No. 3,385,161, granted May 28, 1968.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a microfilm reader-copier which enlarges and displays documents recorded on the microfilm and quickly makes dry copies of selected portions of the documents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for setting the length of the copies made by said reader-copier to correspond to the length of the selected portion of the document copied.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide electrostatic copying equipment for such apparatus, the copying equipment being relatively fool-proof and maintenance-free.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for cutting roll-fed copier paper into desired lengths in a manner such as to minimize the possibility of the paper jamming in the copying equipment.

The drawings and description that follow describe the invention and indicate some of the ways in which it can be used. In addition, some of the advantages provided by the invention will be pointed out.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a microfilm readercopier made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional and partially schematic view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective and partially schematic view of some of the components of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a partially cross-sectional, partially schematic elevation view of a portion of the paper-cutting apparatus of the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 7a is a partially cross-sectional elevation view of another portion of the paper-cutting apparatus of the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 8 is a partially cross-sectional partially cutaway elevation view of the paper-cutting apparatus shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 99 of FIGURE-8;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit of the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

OVERALL OPERATION The overall operation and performance of the readercopier machine of the present invention now will be explained with reference to FIGURE 1. The readercopier 20 is designed to be used on top of a table with the operator seated in front of it. The operator places a magazine 22 of microfilm 24 on a turntable 26 and threads the microfilm 24 through a rotatable projector assembly 28 and onto a take-up reel 30 which also is mounted on the turntable 26.

The machine 20 is turned on by means of an on-off switch 32. This lights the projector lamp and displays an image of the microfilm document on a viewing screen 36. Then, the operator turns a microfilm alignment knob 34 which causes the projector mechanism 28 and tumtable 26 to rotate a full 360 to any desired position in order to align the image appearing on screen 36 in a vertical position regardless of the angle at which the document originally was recorded on the microfilm.

A scanning knob 37 is provided. It may be turned to move the microfilm 24 through the projector apparatus 28 until the frame containing the desired document appears on screen 36.

In accordance with the present invention, a horizontal editing bar 38 is positioned on the inside surface of viewing screen 36. An editing knob or crank 40 is provided so that the operator may move the editing bar 38 up and down screen 36. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, apparatus is provided in the readercopier 20 for copying only that portion of the image that appears on screen 36 above the editing bar 38. Thus, by turning editing crank 40, the operator may select a given section of the document for copying and is not forced to copy the whole microfilm frame being viewed on screen 36.

When the operator has found the frame desired and has positioned the editing bar 38, he may automatically print the desired portion of the document merely by setting a rotary selector switch to obtain the exposure time desired (long or short exposure), and then pressing automatic print button 44. In accordance with the present invention, the selected portion of the document will be printed automatically on a continuous web of copy paper and the length of paper used in making the copy will correspond directly to the distance from the upper edge of editing bar 38 to the top of screen 36.

If manual control of the exposure time is desired, the selector switch 42 is turned to the manual operation position, manual print button 46 is pushed and held in for the length of exposure time desired, and is then released. The copying operation then will proceed automatically as described above.

If desired, the above operation can be repeated immediately so as to record a selected portion of another document closely adjacent to the copy of the first document on the continuous Web of copy paper. This feature can be very advantageous in many operations such as those in which it is desired to make a single compact record of many different short microfilm entries. This can give very significant savings in copy-making time, in copy paper costs, and gives a very compact copy which is easy to use.

When a desired record has been completed, it may be cut off by pressing rocker-type switch 48 upwardly. As further copy-making proceeds, the cut copy will emerge from the rear of the machine and will be deposited in a hopper at the rear of the machine. If it is desired to obtain the cut copy immediately, rocker switch 48 may be pressed downwardly and the cut copy will be fed into hopper 50 immediately.

In accordance with the present invention, novel means are provided for identifying each copy made by the readercopier machine. When desired, a serial number is automatically printed at the beginning or end of a given copy. This may be accomplished merely by moving edit bar 38 close to the top of screen 36, setting selector switch 42 to the automatic numbering position, and then pressing the automatic print button 44. The number will be printed on a short length of copy paper either preceding or following the copy to be identified with the number. The serial number may be increased one digit by pressing rocker switch 52 downwardly, and may be displayed at the lower edge of screen 36 by pressing rocker switch 52 upwardly. The number is similarly displayed while being copied.

A reset switch 53 is provided to reset the copying apparatus in case of malfunction.

EDITING SYSTEM The system for producing edited copies of the displayed document is illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 6. Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, and especially to FIGURE 3, editing bar 38 is clamped at its ends to a pair of

chains

54 and 56 by means of clamps 58. Drive chain 54 is driven upwardly and downwardly along the edge of screen 36 by a sprocket 60 which is driven by bevel gears 62 and 64, the latter of which is coupled to editing knob 40 by means of a sleeve 66 (see FIGURE 2).

It should be noted that sleeve 66 rotates independently from shaft 68 to which microfilm alignment knob 34 is secured. Shaft 68 drives bevel gears 70 and 72 which, in turn, drive bevel gear 74 which mates with ring bevel gear 76 to rotate the projector assembly 28 and the turntable 24 to align the microfilm in the machine.

Referring again to FIGURE 3, drive chain 54 passes over an idler sprocket 78 and a sprocket 80 at the top of screen 36 which is mounted on a shaft 82 which extends along the top of screen 36 and has a sprocket 84 secured to its other end. Editing bar drive chain 56 is driven up and down by sprocket 84 and passes over an idler sprocket '86 at the bottom of screen 36.

Drive chain 54 passes over another idler sprocket 88 and then over sprocket 90 which is attached to the end of a shaft 92 which is located at the upper end of a printing screen 94 over which the copy paper passes and upon which the paper is charged and exposed.

Secured to shaft 92 are mask drive sprockets 96 and 98 which drive mask chains 100 and 102, respectively, which are used to position a mask which will be described below. Chains 100 and 102 pass around

idler pulleys

104 and 106, respectively, which are rotatably mounted on a shaft 108 located at the lower end of printing screen 94. Two

sprockets

110 and 112 are secured to shaft 108 and drive

charger chains

114 and 116, respectively.

Chains

114 and 116 idle upon sprockets 118 and 120, respectively, which are rotatably mounted on shaft 92.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 as well as FIGURE 3, a corona charging unit 122 is provided for applying an electrostatic charge to the oxide-coated surface of electrostatically-sensitive copying paper 124 (see FIGURE 2) which is fed from a roll 126 and which moves along the underside of print screen 94.

As is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, corona charger 122 is suspended beneath print screen 94 on a pair of guide members 128 and 130. Members 128 and 130 are fitted into guide slots extending longitudinally along print screen 94 with the edges of the guide slot fitted into

grooves

132 and 134 in the members 128 and 130. Members 128 and 130 are clamped to

charger chains

116 and 114, respectively, by means of

clamps

136 and 138.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a mask 140 is provided for covering the portion of the copy paper 124 on print screen 94 which is not needed for copying the image portion above edit bar 38. Mask 140 is moved up and down print screen 94 by the turning of edit knob 40 and thus moves in correlation with the edit bar 38.

Mask 140 preferably is an opaque window shade which is spring-wound in a roll in a housing 142. Its leading edge is secured to a bar 144 which is fastened at its ends to guide members 146 and 148, each of which slides in one of the same slots 131 as do members 128 and 130. Guide member 146 is clamped to mask chain 102, and guide member 148 is clamped to mask chain 100.

A spring detent arrangement is provided between charger 122 and mask 140 so that the charger is releasably secured to mask 140 and follows it wherever it moves until the charger is driven away from the mask. Thus, turning the editing knob 40 has the following results: drive chain 54 is driven, editing bar 38 moves upwardly, and chain 54 drives shaft 92. This causes mask chains 100 and 102 to move the mask 140 from the lower position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 corresponding to the position of edit bar 38 on screen 36. Mask 140 is secured by detents to charger 122 and carries the charger upwardly with it. Charger 122 is free to move with mask 140 since its

chains

114 and 116 idle on shafts 92, and since at this time shaft 108 is free to rotate.

When the operator presses the print button to print the unmasked portion of the copy paper at printing screen 94, a brake 150 (FIGURE 3) is actuated to lock shaft 92 and screen 140 in position. Also, a clutch 152 is engaged to couple a shaft 154 to shaft 108.

As is shown in FIGURE 2, shaft 154 is driven through sprocket 156 and chain 158 by the main drive motor 160 of the reader-copier 20. The engagement of clutch 152 causes driven shaft 154 to drive shaft 108 and move charger 122 upwardly and away from mask 140. Corona charger 122 moves upwardly across the unmasked copy paper and applies an electrostatic charge to it in a manner well known in the art. When charger 122 reaches the uppermost end of its travel it strikes a limit switch which deactivates clutch 152 and energizes another clutch 162 which now causes shaft 154 to drive shaft 108 in the opposite direction and return charger 122 to the forward edge of mask 140 where it is again locked in position. At that point the charger strikes another limit switch which de-energizes clutch 162 and releases shaft 108.

Clutches

152 and 162 are of standard design. Clutch 152 causes shaft 108 to be driven in one direction by means of a toothed belt 164, while clutch 162 causes shaft 108 to be driven in the opposite direction by means of a gear train 166.

In another embodiment of the invention, charger 122 makes only one charging pass over the copy paper and is not locked to mask 140. Instead, it normally rests at the top of screen 94 and makes its charging pass downwardly. It stops when it hits switches at the lead ing edge of the mask 140, and returns to the top of screen 94 after the copy has been completed.

In both of the above-described embodiments, the Speed of copying process is considerably increased because the charger need pass over only that portion of the copy paper to be used in copying. The latter of the two charger-movement embodiments produces even faster copying since only one charging pass is used.

OPTICAL SYSTEM Referring now to FIGURE 2, when the microfilm is being viewed on screen 36, the document image is projected from the lens barrel 168 of projector assembly 28 onto a mirror 170 and is then reflected along dashed lines 172 to the screen 36. Mirror 170 is mounted on a plate 174 hinged along its upper edge to a shield plate 176 of the reader-copier machine 20. When the print button 44 on the front of the machine is pushed, an electric motor (not shown in FIGURE 2) rotates a shaft 178 which is attached to a lever arrangement 180 to swing the plate 174 towards the front of the machine until it reaches the position shown by dashed lines 182. Thus, mirror 170 no longer blocks the image from reaching the printing screen 94. However, as plate 174 starts to swing forward, the projector lamp is turned off so that the document image is not projected on screen 94.

The projector lamp remains turned off while the charging operation described above is taking place. After the charger has completed its work, the projector lamp is turned on again and a document image is projected upon the copy paper at printing screen 94. The portion of the-paper which is covered by mask 140 and charger 122 is not exposed. After the copy paper has been exposed for a sufficient length of time (as will be explained in greater detail below), the projector lamp is again turned off, plate 174 is swung back to its initial position, and the paper feed assembly 184 shown in FIGURES 3 through 6 is actuated to cause the latent image-bearing copy paper to move upwardly past a developer unit 186 to develop the latent image, past a fuser 276 which fuses the thermoplastic developer powder into the copy paper, through a paper cutter 280, and out of the machine.

PAPER FEEDING AND LENGTH CONTROL SYSTEM FIGURES 4 through 6 show the details of the paper feed control assembly 184 which is shown schematically in FIGURE 3. It should be noted, that, for the sake of clarity, control assembly 184 is shown in FIGURE 4 raised from its actual position, which can best be seen in FIGURE 3.

Control assembly 184 includes an input drive gear 188 which meshes with a smaller gear 190 which is secured to shaft 154. Gear 188 is driven by gear 190 whenever drive motor 160 is energized, and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 192 by means of a single-revolution Tiny clutch 194. Clutch 194 has a tab 200 which is normally engaged by a pawl 198 to disengage the clutch. However, after the exposure step is completed, solenoid 196 (see FIGURE 6) is energized and pulls pawl 198 away from the tab 200 to engage the clutch and couple gear 188 to shaft 192. After releasing the tab 200, the solenoid 196 is de-energized, and a spring 202 returns pawl 198 to its initial position so as to engage the tab 200 when it returns to its initial position.

Two

identical cams

204 and 206 are secured to shaft 192. As it rotates, the tip of cam 204 closes first one and then the other of a pair of

micro-switches

208 and 210 which are firmly fixed in the position shown in FIGURE 4. The tip of cam 206 similarly closes two

other micro-switches

212 and 214 which are mounted on a rotatable mounting panel 216 (see FIGURE As will be described in greater detail below, switches 208, 210, 212 and 214 are used in timing the operation of the paper feed apparatus and other components of the copying system.

Mounting panel 216 is secured to a paper lengthmetering sprocket 218 by means of a hub 220. Sprocket 218 is coupled to a smaller sprocket 222 by means of a chain 224 (see FIGURE 3). Sprocket 222 is rigidly attached to mask sprocket 104, and both

sprockets

104 and 222 are mounted to rotate freely on shaft 108. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 5, sprocket 218 and panel 216 are rotated counter-clockwise by upward movement of the mask so as to reduce the elapsed time taken by cam 206 to rotate clockwise from the initial position shown to the position in which it closes switch 212. Since the closing of switch 212 stops the paper feed, this positioning of panel 216 controls the length of paper which is fed so that it corresponds to the amount of copy paper left unmasked by mask 140.

When shaft 192 first is rotated by gear 188, cam 204 closes switch 208 which actuates a paper feed clutch (not shown) on main drive motor 160. Motor then starts driving a pair of paper feed rollers 228 by means of a chain 226. Another chain 230 connects the drive of rollers 228 to another pair of feed rollers 232 near the top of the reader-copier machine 20. When cam 206 closes switch 214, the paper feed clutch is disengaged and the paper feeding stops. A brake 234 is connected to shaft 192 in order to stop shaft 92 quickly after it has been released by the clutch 194.

PAPER-CUTTING SYSTEM As was mentioned above, switch 48 (FIGURE 1) on the front of the machine 20 is pressed in order to cut the paper at the end of a record. This actuates a notching device 394 which is illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7a. Notching device 394 comprises a solenoid 400 with a plunger 396 having a cut-out portion 398 into which the edge of copy sheet 124 fits. Solenoid 400 lifts plunger 396 upwardly quickly when energized in response to the actuation of switch 48. A notch is cut out of the edge of the paper by shearing between the edge 401 of the plunger 396 and a cutting edge of a metal cutting member 402. A spring 404 returns the plunger 396 downward quickly after switch 48 is released. The notching unit 394 is positioned on the upper portion of screen plate 94 so that the notch is cut in the copy sheet at the end of a copy.

The paper-cutting assembly 280 is shown in FIGURE 7. As the paper 124 passes around a guide 278, an arm 406 of a feeler switch 408 drops downwardly into the notch in the edge of the paper. This actuates a solenoid 410 which swings a pawl 412 out of engagement with the tab 414 of a Tiny clutch 416 (see FIGURE 8). PaWl 412 is pivoted on a pivot 413, and is urged into engagement with tab 414 by a spring 415. A stop member 417 limits the movement of pawl 412. As is shown in FIG- URE 8, the release of tab 414 causes clutch 41 6 to engage and couple a sprocket 418 to a shaft 420 forming a part of a knife unit 422. Sprocket 418 is driven by roller shaft 424 (see FIGURE 7) by means of a chain 426.

I Referring now to FIGURES 7 through 9, knife unit 422 includes a pair of parallel rotatably-mounted

shafts

420 and 428. An upper cutting blade is mounted in a cut-out portion of shaft 428 by means of a pair of screws 432 and 434. A lower cutting blade 436 similarly is mounted in a cut-out portion of shaft 420 by means of screws 438 and 440. Each cutting blade is slightly wider at the right end (as shown in FIGURE 8) than at the left end. Also, the mounting surface for each blade at,

its left end is inclined With respect to the mounting surface at its right end so that each blade is given a helical twist, lower blade 436 being twisted clockwise as viewed left end of upper blade 430 to mate with lobe 442.

When sprocket 418 is clutched to shaft 420 in the manner described above,

shafts

420 and 428 are rotated for one revolution in opposite directions, thus bringing the cutting edges of

blades

430 and 436 together in a sweeping shearing motion; that is, in a shearing motion that takes place while the blades are sweeping" or moving with the paper.

Shaft 428 is rotated by means of a spur gear 448 secured to shaft 420 and mating with another spur gear 450 which is coupled to shaft 428 by means of a springcoupling indicated generally at 452 in FIGURE 8 and illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 8a and 9. Spring coupling 452 includes three

flat springs

454, 456 and 458, each of which is coiled into a spiral at both ends. One end of each coil spring is wound around a

post

460, 462 or 464, respectively, which is mounted upon spur gear 450. The other end of each spring is coiled around a

post

466, 468 or 470, respectively, which is secured to shaft 428 by means of an annular member 472. As is best shown in FIGURE 8a, the right end 474 of pin 462 fits into a slot 476 in shaft 428. There is substantial room for a' pin end 474 to move circumferentially within slot 476, thus giving considerable play between gear 450 and shaft 428. The three

springs

454, 456 and 458 urge the cutting edges of

blades

430 and 436 together to ensure clean papercutting, but, because of the flexibility, do not cause the blades to bind together or wear excessively.

The knife unit 422 is highly advantageous for cutting a moving paper Web. The shearing action is created by the rotation of two shafts which are driven by the same drive system which feeds the paper through the unit. Thus, the shearing blades move or sweep along with the paper as they are cutting it and thereby prevent the paper from gathering in folds and clogging in the cutting assembly 280. What is more, the knife blades sweep the cut copy as they move along and eject it from the machine, thus avoiding the necessity of providing an additional set of drive rollers. Furthermore, the

lobes

442 and 444 which make initial and final contact between the blades, and the spring coupling arrangement 442 insure that the blades will not clash against one another and will remain sharp for long periods of time. Thus, knife unit 422 is a troublefree device for cutting copy paper while it is in motion and moving the cut copies out of the copying apparatus.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT The electrical control circuit for the reader-copier 20 is indicated at 512 in FIGURE 10. The electrical control switches are illustrated both in FIGURE 1 and in FIG- URE 10. The way in which the switches are used was related above in the initial part of this description. The operation of control circuit 512 now will be explained by describing what happens when each control switch is actuated by the operator.

Pushing On-Ofi switch 32 to turn the machine On Standard alternating current is applied to input terminals 514 and 516. When on-oif switch 32 is pushed to the on position, the following takes place:

(1) Full-wave rectifier 518 is energized. It supplies direct current to the various relays and solenoids of the circuit.

(2) The projector lamp 520 is energized through switch 522, variable resistor 524, and a power relay 526. Switch 522 is located on a mirror support plate 174 (FIG- URE 2) and is normally closed when the plate 174 is in its rear-most position. Variable resistor 524 is used to vary the voltage applied to the projector lamp.

(3) Fuser blower motor 528 is energized through a relay 590. Motor 528 drives a blower which blows cooling airover the fuser to prevent it from overheating. A thermostat 530 senses the temperature near the fuser and energizes blower motor 528 whenever the blower is not energized and the fuser gets too hot.

(4) Blower motor 532 is energized to drive the blower which cools the projector lamp 520.

(5) Solenoid 534 (see FIGURE 2) which is used to automatically focus the lens in the projector assembly 28 on the screen 36.

(6) A stepping switch 536 having ten levels, 537 through 546, is positioned at its zero or starting position. Stepping switch 536 provides the switching between various steps or functions of the automatic and manual copying processes.

Pushing switch 52 to view or advance the serial number When rocker switch 52 is pressed upwardly to view the number appearing on the Veeder-Root counter 488, counter illumination lamps 490 are energized through a step-down transformer 548 and a relay 550. This projects an image of the counter number on the lower portion of the viewing screen 36.

Pushing switch 52 downwardly (FIGURE 1) energizes a solenoid 552 which advances the count on counter 488 by one number.

Pressing automatic Print switch 44 to make a copy When the masking bar 38 has been positioned to mark the portion of the document to be copied, the operator presses the automatic print switch 44 to make a copy. This advances the contact arm of each level of stepping switch 536 to the next contact to the right (hereinafter referred to as the first contact). This stepping is performed by a coil 549 protected by a spark protector 551. This gives the following results:

(a) With stepping switch 536 in the first position:

(1) The focusing solenoid 534 is de-energized.

(2) Mirror motor 554 is energized and starts moving the projection mirror .170 forward. This causes switch 522 to open.

(3) Projection lamp 520 is de-energized when switch 522 opens.

(4) Mask brake (see FIGURE 3) is energized to lock the mask 140 in position.

(5) When the mirror 170 reaches its forward position, it closes a switch 556 which causes the contacts of stepping switch 536 to be advanced to the second position.

(b) With switch 536 in its second position:

(1) Mirror motor 554 is de-energized.

(2) Relay 558 is energized, and in turn supplies main drive motor (see FIGURE 2) with alternating current.

(3) High-voltage supply 560' is energized; it supplies high voltage energy to the charger unit 122.

(4) Charger clutch 162 (see FIGURE 3) is energized. Clutch 162 now moves charger 122 downwardly along print screen 94 in the arrangement described above in which only a single pass of the charger is used to charge the copy paper.

(5) Switch 562 is located at the front edge of mask 140. It is closed when it is hit by charger 122 when it reaches the end of its charging pass. This moves the contact arms of stepping switch 536 to the third position.

(0) With switch 536 in its third position:

(1) The following are de-energized; relay 558 and main drive motor .160; high voltage source 560; and fus'er blower motor 528.

(.2) When the four-position selector switch 42 (FIG- URE 1) is in the automatic numbering position, both of its contacts 562, 564 contact the first (farthest left) contact. In this position, relay 550 is energized through contact arm 564 and serial-numbering lamps 490 are lighted to project a serial number onto the copy paper. Also, an electrical signal is sent through contact arm 562 and variable resistor 566 to a conventional timing circuit 568 which actuates a relay 570 after the copy paper has been exposed to the number image for an exposure time which is set by variable resistor 566. The closing of the contacts of relay 570 then move the contact arms of step- 1 ping switch 536 to the fourth position.

(3) With the contact arms 562 and 564 of selector switch 42 set at either the second or third positions (long or short exposure time, for automatic copy making), an electrical signal is sent through one of variable resistors 572 or 574, through a photocell 576 which samples the light emitted by projector lamp 520, and into timing circuit 568. Projector lamp 520 is energized through contact arm 564 of selector switch 42.

Photocell 576 is an element of a standard densitometer arrangement for automatically sensing and timing the exposure required. The exposure time also is controlled by the resistance setting of variable resistors 572 and 574. After the copy paper has been exposed to the document image for the proper length of time, relay 57 is energized and the stepping switch 536 is moved to its fourth position.

(d) With switch 536 in its fourth position:

(1) The following are de-energized: relays 570 and 550, and, if they are energized, numbering lamps 490.

(2) Developer unit advance solenoid 260 is energized to move the developer unit into contact with the copy paper.

(3) Relay 558 and main drive motor 160 are energized.

(4) The movement of developer unit 186 towards the copy paper closes switches 578 and 580 and opens switches 582 and 584. When switch 580 is closed, an electrical signal is sent through a fuser warm-up timing arrangement which consists of a variable resistor 586, a thermistor 588, and timing circuit 568. The simultaneous closing of switch 578 actuates a power relay 590' and energizes the twin heating elements 592 of the fuser 276 (see FIG- URE 2) to start it warming-up to a proper fusing temperature. Thermistor 588 senses the temperature of fuser elements 592 and, together with variable resistor 586 and timing circuit 568, controls the amount of time the fuser is allowed to warm up before paper is fed through it.

(5) When the fuser has warmed up sufliciently, a signal is sent to relay 570 which energizes solenoid 196 (see FIGURE 6) which releases the drive clutch for paper-feed control unit 184 (see FIGURE 4) and starts paper-

length cams

204 and 206 rotating.

(6) Cam 204 first closes switch 208 which moves the contact arms of stepping switch 536 to the fifth position.

(e) With switch 536 in the fifth position:

(1) Relay 570 and solenoid 196 are de-energized.

(2.) Paper feed clutch 594, located on main drive motor 160, is energized to cause main drive motor 160 to drive the paper-feed follers and start feeding the paper. Also, relay 595 is energized to energize developer drive motor 282.

(3) Switch 212 is closed by cam 206 after the cam has rotated a distance proportional to the length of the paper copied. This moves stepping switch 536 to its sixth position.

(f) When switch 536 is in its sixth position:

(1) Relay 590 and fuser elements 592 are de-energized just before the paper stops feeding.

(2) Fuser blower motor 528 is energized to cool the fuser rapidly and prevent scorching of the copy paper next to it.

(3) Switch 214 is closed by cam 206 (see FIGURE 5) to move stepping switch 536 to its seventh position.

(g) With switch 536 in its seventh position:

(1) Paper feed clutch 594 is de-energized and the paper stops feeding.

(2) Mask brake 150 (see FIGURE 3) is de-energized to free the mask 140 for the next copying operation.

(3) Developer-advance solenoid 260 is de-energized, and switches 578 and 580 are opened, while switches 584 and 582 are closed by the retraction of developer unit 186 away from the copy paper. Also, relay 595 and developer drive motor are de-energized.

(4) The focusing solenoid 534 is energized to refocus the microfilm image on the viewing screen 36.

(5) Mirror motor 532 is energized, returns the mirror 170 to its rearward position thus closing switch 522, deenergizing mirror motor 532, and energizing the projection lamp 520, thus preparing the reader-copier machine for viewing documents on viewing screen 36.

(6) Cam 204 (FIGURE 4) closes switch 210 which switches stepping switch 536 to its eight position.

(h) With switch 536 in its eight position, switch 584 is still closed and the switch 536 is stepped to its ninth position. 1

(i) With switch 536 in its ninth position:

(1) Charger clutch 152 (FIGURE 3) is energized to return the charger 122 to the top of the printing screen 94.

(2) When charger 122 reaches the top of print screen 94, it closes a switch 596 which returns stepping switch 536 to its initial or zero position, thus preparing the control circuit for another copying cycle.

(j) When switch 536 returns to its zero position, relay 558 and main drive motor are de-energized, and a lamp 598 is energized to illuminate print button 44 from the inside to indicate to the operator that the machine is ready for another copying cycle.

Pressing switch 48 to cut or feed-out a copy When rocker switch 48 is pushed upwardly to cut a copy after it is completed, this energize solenoid 400 of notching unit 394 (FIGURE 7a) and notches the paper in the manner described above. Note that solenoid 400 cannot be energized unless stepping switch is at its zero position; that is, it cannot be energized when the copying apparatus is printing.

When the notch in the paper passes under arm 406 of switch 278 (FIGURE 7), switch 278 closes and solenoid 410 is energized to actuate the knife unit 422 to cut the paper in the manner described above.

When switch 48 is pressed downwardly to feed a copy out of the machine, the paper feed clutch 594 on drive motor 160 is energized. Relay 590 and fuser elements 592 are energized, and current is supplied through the variable resistor 600 to thermistor 588 to set the warm-up time of the fuser. After the required warm-up time, relay 570 is energized and in turn energizes relay 558 which starts the main drive motor to start the paper feeding out of the machine. When the paper has been cut, or when no more paper feed is desired, the operator releases switch 48 and de-energizes the drive motor, fuser and paper-feed clutch.

It should be understood that rocker switches 48, 52 and 53, and switches 44 and 46, all shown in FIGURE 1, are closed only as long as they are held in by the operator. Only on-ofi switch 32 and selector switch 42 remain in position when released by the operator.

Pressing reset switch 53 Reset switch 53 is pressed if, during a printing cycle, the developer unit 186 is not in proper position, or if the paper length cams, charger, or stepping switch do not operate properly and it is desired to start the printing cycle all over again. Pressing switch 53 energizes relay 602 which closes appropriate switches to recycle the equipment and return the stepping switch 536 to its initial position.

The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes or modifications in the embodiments described may occur to those skilled in the art and these can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a copying machine utilizing a continuous web of copy paper fed from a roll, and including exposing and developing means, means for feeding paper from said roll through said developing means, drive means for said feeding means, apparatus for cutting said copy paper to form individual copies, said cutting apparatus comprising a pair of substantially parallel shafts, a shearing blade on each of said shafts, said shafts and said blades being positioned to normally pass said copy paper between them without cutting it, and coupling means for drivably coupling said shafts to said drive means and moving both of said blades together in a shearing movement while simultaneously rotating both of said shafts in opposite directions to sweep said blades in the direction in which said paper is moving at approximately the same speed as said paper.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which each of said blades is secured to its shaft and is twisted with respect to its longitudinal axis to form a generally helical cutting edge on said blade, the direction of twisting of one of said blades being opposite to that of the other of said blades.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which one of said shafts is adapted to be driven to rotate both of said shafts, and including a drive coupling between said shafts, said coupling being adapted to rotate the other of said shafts in the opposite direction with play between the shafts, said coupling including spring means for urging said blades together during said shearing movement.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said drive coupling comprises a first spur gear secured to said one shaft,

12 v a second spur gear rotatably mounted on said other shaft and meshed with said first spur gear, an annular member secured to said other shaft adjacent said second spur gear, at least one post extending from said second spur gear towards said annular member, at least one other post extending from said annular member towards said second spur gear, said spring means comprising at least one flat spring with each of its ends being: coiled around one of said posts.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said cutting means is positioned adjacent a discharge guide so as to discharge cut copies from said machine.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said feeding means includes feed rollers and said coupling means couples said shafts to be driven by said drive means at approximately the same speed as said feed rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,318,892 10/1919 Maier 83-342 X 1,948,796 2/1934 Miiller 83-345 2,125,939 8/1938 Macfarren 83-345 X 2,233,922 3/ 1941 Kaddeland 83-342 X 3,075,493 1/1963 Cerasani et al. 83-371 X 3,084,582 4/1963 Anderson 83-348 X 3,185,025 5/1965 Pfaff et a1 83-371 X FRANK T. YOST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.