US3547538A

US3547538A - Photographic copying machine

Info

Publication number: US3547538A
Application number: US702066A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nobuyuki Yanagawa
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 1967-03-03
Filing date: 1968-01-31
Publication date: 1970-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-15
Also published as: GB1213222A; DE1622943B2; DE1622943A1; DE1622943C3

Description

1970 .NQBUYUKI YANAGAWA 3,547,533

PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYING IrlACI'IIlUZI Filed Jan. 31, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v FIG.

INVENTOR BY A a r/ ATTORNEYS ,1970 NOBUYUKI YANAGAWA 3,547,538

PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYING MACHINE ZSheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1968 I NVENTOR /w' 7W7 BY v ATTOR NEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 355-106 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A photographic copying machine has a hinged top, on the underside of which is mounted a copy paper storage and feeding device and an original paper feeding device for superimposing an original paper and a copy paper. The superimposed papers are fed through an exposure device to a removable separating device where they are separated, the copy paper (if of the type requiring wet development) being fed through a removable wet development device which has been filled with suitable developer, or (if of the type requiring dry development), through a dry development device and thence from the machine. The removable wet development device is provided at the front of the machine where it is easily removed and where the fluid level in its transparent fluid reservoir is visible to the machine operator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation partly in section of applicants copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagramatic side elevation in section of applicants copying machine.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a desk-top photocopying machine having a top or lid hinged at the rear of the machine. Attached to the underside of the top are devices for storing and feeding copying paper and for accepting an original to be copied. These devices feed the copying paper and the original together in a channel and super impose one on the other. The superimposed papers are then fed downwardly substantially at the center of the machine into a loop of belting which passes around a rotatable transparent drum. An intense light within the drum radiates the superimposed paper sheets and they are then passed forwardly and upwardly through a removable separating device which separates the original from the copy sheet. By making this portion of the machine removable, repair and cleaning thereof is facilitated.

If the copy paper being used requires moistening by a developer, it passes downardly through a removable developing device located in the front of the machine near the bottom thereof. This device has a transparent reservoir which is visible to the operator of the machine from the outside thereof, enabling him to monitor the level of developer in a convenient fashion. By making the wet developing device removable, cleaning and repair thereof is facilitated, as is refilling of the reservoir. If the copy paper requires no moistening, the application of wet developer may be omitted. Finally a drying device comprised of a heated drum and an endless carrier belt accepts the copy paper and heats the surface thereof, drying said paper and completing the development thereof. The finished copy is ejected at the bottom of the front of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 illustrating one embodiment thereof, wherein reference numeral 1 designates a well known transparent cylinder provided near the central portion of the photographic copying machine body A. Said transparent cylinder is suspended rotatab'ly within the loop of the endless transmitting belt 3 which extends between the peripheries of the four rollers 2.

Within said transparent cylinder 1 a stationary lighting tube lamp 4 and deflecting plate 5 are provided, mounted on the stationary portion of said body. The above described parts compose an exposure device I of the photographic copying machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, one set of forward facing slots a and a are formed beneath the edge of the top of the front opening A of said body A and one set of horizontal, laterally extending pins d and d project from both side walls C (see FIG. 1) of the automatic separating device IV described later below. Said slots and pins are positioned to engage with each other.

Above the top of the front opening A, one set of ears a and a are formed and positioned to engage with the horizontal, laterally extending pins C and C which extend from both side walls C of the automatic separating device IV described below.

Furthermore, on the rear portion of said body A a prime mover E is provided and enabled to drive each device of the whole photographic copying machine through a suitable sprocket wheel and drive chain (see FIG. 2).

Inside of the top plate B of said exposure device I the transmitting device II is comprised of two sets of guide rollers 6 and 7 (see FIG. 1). Guide plate 8 guides the original paper to the exposure device I, and the paper feeding device III feeds a sheet of the printing paper located on the printing paper table 10 by means of the roller 9, said feed being at a rate synchronized with the speed of the original paper. On the rear portion of said top plate B one pair of ears B are formed and said ears are rotatably positioned on the spindle A mounted laterally at the top rear position of said body A.

Therefore, by pivoting the top plate B on the spindle A in FIG. 1, cleaning of the transparent cylinder 1 or replacement of the lighting tube lamp 4 can be easily accomplished.

While the original drawing paper and each end of the printing paper are superimposed, one set of rotatable transmitting rollers 11 are provided, and said transmitting rollers are adapted to feed superimposed original paper and the printing paper toward the entrance port Ia of said exposure device I.

Above the discharge port lb of said exposure device I, the guide plate 12 bent at right angle is adapted to guide the superimposed original paper and the printing paper paper at said guide plate between a set of rollers 13 and 14 having different peripheral speeds. As said roller 13 is rotating at a higher peripheral speed than the roller 14 which is positioned above said roller 13, the leading edge of the printing paper is advanced slightly relative to the leading edge of the original paper.

On the exit side of said rollers 13 and 14 the separating plate 16 is located. Said plate has a pair of bill shaped pawls 16a in diametrically opposed position on its periphery and is pivoted loosely to the supporting spindle 15.

Below said separating plate 16, a bellcrank lever 17 biased counter clockwise on the supporting spindle 18 through a spring or weight not shown in drawing. One arm end portion 17 of said lever 17 is extending to the pawl 16a of said separating plate 16, and the end of the other arm 17b of said lever is engaged with the shoulder of the other pawl 16b to prevent said separating plate from rotation.

Therefore, when one arm end portion 17a of the lever 17 is pushed by the advancing edge of the printing paper, the lever 17 is turned clockwise on the spindle 18 resisting its own bias in clockwise direction at the same time releasing restriction of the separating plate 16 with the other arm of thus said lever 17, said separating plate is enabled to rotate on the supporting spindle 15.

On the front side of said separating plate 16, rollers 19 and 20 having different peripheral speeds are rotatably mounted. At one location adjacent the periphery of said separating plate 16, one passage is formed by a curved guide plate 21aand an auxiliary guide plate 21b provided slightly above 21a.

Therefore, one roller 19 transmits the printing paper along the guide plates 21a, 21b, and 22, while other roller 20 discharges the original drawing paper to the outside of the machine along the guide plates 23 and 24.

When the lapped papers enter between the rollers 13 and 14, the leading end edge of printing paper is advanced slightly over the leading edge of the original paper by the roller 13 having higher peripheral speed. As the leading edge of the advanced printing paper pushes one arm end 17a of the lever 17, said lever rotates in the right along the spindle 18, and releases restriction between bent portion 17b of the other arm end of said lever and the separating plate 16. The leading edge of the printing paper is transmitted along the guide plate 21a and 21]; around the supporting spindle while engaged with the pawl 16a of said separating plate 16, and transmitted to the developing device V through the roller 25 described below.

On the other hand, leading edge of the original paper which advances slightly behind the leading edge of the printing paper is transmitted forwardly and slides over the periphery of the separating plate without engaging with a pawl of said separating plate.

The original drawing paper is advancing in the direc' tion shown in arrow by rotating roller and discharged to. the outside of the machine.

Guide plate 24 is a curved type which cooperates with the peripheral surface of roller 6a, so the original drawing paper can be transmitted again to the passage 8 by turning said guide plate clockwise about 90 on the supporting spindle by operation from outside of the machine, and thus may be'obtained a plurality of copies from one sheet of original paper.

One pair of transmitting rollers 25 are pivoted on both side plates C in the direction of movement of said printing paper, and to the parts extending from rollers 13 and 14 to transmitting roller 25 comprise the automatic separating device IV.

Below the transmitting roller 25, a transparent developing reservoir 26 having a triangular cross section is provided, the inclined surface 26a of said reservoir serving as a guide plate, along which the printing paper is transmitted to the developing process described below.

As the reservoir 26 formed by said transparent material is visible from the front of the photographic copying machine, the operator will be aware of the quantities of the developing liquid therein at any time.

Behind reservoir 26', one pair of liquid applying rollers 27 is pivoted on the side plates D. The lower portion of one of said applying roller is dipped with the developing liquid. The wet developing device V is comprised of these above described parts.

The drying and at the same time dry developing device VI is located between said wet developing device V and said exposure device I, said drying and at the same time dry developing device is constructed from parts such as heat producing piping 30 provided within the heating cylinder 29 and endless belts 32 which runs over the outside periphery of several of rollers 31, and said endless belt 32 transmits the dried printing paper to the front of the lower portion of the photographic copying machine.

The printing paper transmitted from one pair of developing rollers 27 is discharged to the outside of the machine in dry state after being heated while passing between said heating cylinder 29 and the endless belt 32.

Now, when the operator inverts the original paper and feeds it into the feeding port of the transmitting device II, it will be advanced by the guide rollers 6a and 6b.

Then, when the leading edge of the orginal drawing paper pushes the contact point of the switch S, an electromagnet not shown in the drawing is activated and a clutch mechanism is engaged, so the roller 9 of the paper feeding device III is rotated, and delivers one sheet of printing paper in the direction shown in arrow, and transmits it to the exposure device I by the rollers 11 after the printing paper has been superimposed on the original paper.

Said papers are carried between the peripheral surface of the transparent cylinder I and the endless transmitting belt 3 under pressure, and after a latent image has been formed upon the printing paper by the light from the lighting tube lamp 4, are discharged from the discharge port lb of the exposure device I through the guide plate 12.

Subsequently, when said superimposed papers pass through rollers 13 and 14, said papers are separated individually by the automatic separating device IV as described above, and the printing paper is forwarded through the guide plates 21a and 22b, and transmitted to the wet developing device V thrdugh the roller 25.

The developing process down the slope of said reservoir 26, and carried between one pair of applying rollers 27, subsequently being discharged to the outside of the machine in dry state after passing over heating cylinder 29 of the developing device VI under pressure.

Above description apply where the wet type sensitive paper is used, however, if said wet developing device V is removed by being drawn out at the front, said photographic copying machine will make copies promptly for dry sensitive papers.

As described above the photographic copying machine is assembled with the exposure device I and the develop ing device of drying VI assembled in one body, while the automatic separating device and the wet developing device are arranged to remove easily, and the paper feeding device and the original drawing paper feeding device and are assembled on the top plate. As said top plate can be opened just as a hinged cover operates, mass production can be accomplished for each device, and allowing easy assembling and repair, and exchange for damage will be easy as it has good interchangeability, furthermore, as cleaning within the photographic copying machine can be performed simply also, this invention is exceedingly practical.

What I claim is:

1. In a photographic copying machine having a hinged top, the combination of transmitting means on the underside of said top for accepting an original paper and feeding it to the interior of the machine; storage means on the underside of the top for storing printing paper sheets; printing paper feeding means for feeding a sheet of printing paper from the storage means and superimposing said sheet of printing paper on the original paper in the transmitting device; an exposure means near the center of said machine to which the original paper and the superimposed sheet of printing paper are fed for exposure; separating means at a separating station near said exposure means for separating the original paper and the printing paper, a dry developing device and a wet developing device; means for feeding the separated printing paper from said separating station to either said dry developing station or to said wet developing station, means for removably securing said developing stations in said machine, near the front end thereof.

2. A photographic copying machine wherein are provided an exposure device, a dry developing device, a wet developing device, a copy paper feeding device, a sensitive paper feeding device, each of said feeding devices being set inside of a top plate whose end portion is pivoted loosely to rotate on the axis located on the upper rear portion of the body of the copying machine; and, moreover, there are provided a front opening at the front portion of said body, and a pair of mounting members above said opening, a wet developer member and a separating member being removably installed in said mounting members.

3. A photographic copying machine according to claim 1 wherein said wet developing device has a transparent storage bath for developing solution which is visi' ble from the outside of the machine.

4. A photographic copying machine according to claim 1, comprising means in the form of a movable 7 guide plate for recycling into the transmitting device means, original papers which have been fed out by the separating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner R. L. MOSES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 355-l00