US3672760A - Xerographic plate transporting mechanism - Google Patents

Xerographic plate transporting mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3672760A
US3672760A US75995A US3672760DA US3672760A US 3672760 A US3672760 A US 3672760A US 75995 A US75995 A US 75995A US 3672760D A US3672760D A US 3672760DA US 3672760 A US3672760 A US 3672760A
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Prior art keywords
plate
support sheet
xerographic
sheet feeding
transporting
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US75995A
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English (en)
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Raymond A Lunning
Francis T Mercer
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Xerox Corp
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Xerox Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/75—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing
    • G03G15/758—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing relating to plate or sheet

Definitions

  • the velocity equalizing means comprises a rack supported by the plate transporting mechanism, a gear segment supported by the support sheet feeding mechanism and means to permit the motor driving the plate transporting mechanism or the motor driving the support sheet feeding mechanism to overdrive the other of said motors.
  • This invention relates to the field of xerography and, more particularly, to a mechanism for transporting a xerographic plate through an automated fiat-plate xerographic processing system.
  • a base plate of relatively low electrical resistance, such as metal, having a photoconductive insulator layer coated thereon is electrostatically charged in the dark.
  • the charged coating is then exposed to a light image.
  • the charges leak off rapidly to the base plate in proportion to the intensity of light to which any given area is exposed, the charge being substantially retained in nonexposed areas.
  • the coating is contacted with electroscopic marking particles in the dark. When forming a positive image, these particles adhere to the areas where the electrostatic charges remain whereby there is formed a xerographic powder image corresponding to the latent electrostatic image.
  • the powder image can then be transferred to a sheet of transfer material resulting in a positive print having excellent detail and quality.
  • the base plate is relatively inexpensive, as in the case of paper, it may be desirable to fix the powder image directly to the plate itself and thereby eliminate the image transfer operation.
  • the art of xerography is also amenable to recording X-ray patterns such as might be attained by passing X-rays through a body to be analytically examined.
  • the art of X-ray recording by xerography generally known as xerodiography, relates to the recording of X-ray patterns and information by means of materials and devices whose electrical conductivity is altered by the action of X-rays reaching the recording medium.
  • the plate or element exposed to the X-ray pattern usually comprises a metallic backing sheet having a photoconductive insulator layer or coating, for example vitreous selenium, on one surface thereof.
  • a slide plate usually called a dark slide, spaced from the photoconductice surface.
  • the plate or element is sensitized by applying a uniform electrostatic charge to the coating and thereafter the charged plate is exposed to sensitizing radiation with the object to be examined appropriately interposed between the radiation source and the sensitized plate.
  • the photoconductive coating becomes electrically conductive in those portions reached by the sensitizing radiation, thereby permitting portions of the electrostatic charge thereon to be selectively dissipated.
  • Dissipation of the electrostatic charge is proportional to the amount of radiation absorbed by the test body with greater dissipation occurring in those portions of the coating shaded by less absorptive portions of the object being radiographed.
  • an electrostatic latent image of the test body is formed on the photoconductive element.
  • the image may then be made visible with an electroscopic marking material which clings to the electrostatically charged portion of the latent image.
  • Reversible, or negative, prints can also be developed by contacting the latent electrostatic image with marking particles of the same polarity.
  • the xeroradiographic process is disclosed, for example, in Schalfert et a1. U.S. No. 2,666,144.
  • xeroradiography can be applied to the field of medical diagnostics.
  • extremities such as hands and feet
  • xeroradiographic process when utilized to examine extremities, such as hands and feet, has been characterized as being a valuable diagnostic technique since more information is recorded on the xeroradiogram than is recorded on a corresponding radiogram.
  • the xerodiographic technique has been utilized in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in women.
  • the process known as xeromammography
  • xeromammography has been described as requiring less radiation than non-screen film radiology, and one which gives greater detail in the mammogram to be reviewed by the radiologist.
  • a most important advantage is in the increased ease and speed of interpretation of the xeromammogram. Because they are easier to interpret and, accordingly, reduce the fatigue on the examining radiologist, thereby increasing his overall effectiveness, the technique is believed to have application in screening techniques for the early detection of breast cancer.
  • an automated flat-plate xerographic processing system including charging means for placing a uniform electrostatic charge on the photoconductive surface of a xerographic plate, means for holding a lighttight cassette into which the xerographic plate can be inserted, means for opening the cassette and for inserting the charged xerographic plate therein without exposing the charged plate to actinic electromagnetic radiation, means for receiving the xerographic plate-holding cassette after imaging exposure, the xerographic plate having thereon a latent electrostatic image suitable for subsequent development, means for opening the cassette and for withdrawing the latent electrostatic image-bearing xerographic plate from the cassette without further exposure of the xerographic plate to actinic electromagnetic radiation, means for developing the latent electrostatic image to form a reproduction thereof suitable for visual examination, and means for advancing the xerographic plate to the developing means without disturbing the latent electrostatic image thereon.
  • the processing system described in the aforementioned co-pending application includes a light-tight cassette into which the uniformly charged xerographic plate is inserted and through which imaging exposure is made. To complete the xerographic processing cycle, the toner image on the photoconductive surface of the xerographic plate is transferred to a suitable support member.
  • a non-reusable photoconductive element such as zinc oxide coated paper
  • the xerographic plate is advanced through the two processing units by numerous transport mechanisms.
  • separate mechanisms Where provided for withdrawing the xerographic plate from its storage box and for inserting the leading edge of the xerographic plate into the conditioning means, for transporting the xerographic plate through the conditioning means, for withdrawing the xerographic plate from the conditioning means and for depositing the xerographic plate upon the plate carriers in the plate storage magazine, for withdrawing the bottom-most xerographic plate from the storage magazine, for transporting the xerographic plate along a path beneath the electrostatic charging means and for inserting the charged xerographic plate into a cassette.
  • distinct mechanisms were provided for withdrawing the latent electrostatic imagebearing xerographic plate from the cassette, for positioning the xerographic plate above the development means, for transporting the xerographic plate, after development, from its position above the developing means to a position where it is in registration with a separate support sheet, for transporting the xerographic plate in registration with the separate support sheet, for transporting the xerographic plate, after the powder image has been transferred therefrom to the support sheet, along a path where a cleaning brush rotates in contact with the photoconductive surface of the xerographic plate, and for inserting the cleaned xerographic plate into a storage box.
  • the vastly improved plate transporting mechanism described in application Ser. No. 68.098, filed on Aug. 31, 1970, was designed. As described therein, the plate transporting mechanism engages a fiat xerographic plate at a first terminal position and transports it completely to a second terminal position where it is deposited for storage, inserted into a cassette or storage box, or deposited for certain xerographic processing. In this manner, the numerous plate transporting mechanisms have been reduced to four, two in each of the two processing units associated with the automated system described above.
  • the latent electrostatic image residing on the photoconductive surface of the xerographic plate is converted into a corresponding powder image which is thereafter transferred to a separate support sheet.
  • the support sheet is brought into virtual contact with the powder image-bearing surface of the xerographic plate.
  • the xerographic powder image is transferred, in perfect registration, from the xerographic plate to the adjacent surface of the support sheet. To achieve such faithful transfer, it is necessary that the xerographic plate and the support sheet be moving at essentially the same linear velocity during the image transfer.
  • the primary object of the present invention to provide a further improved mechanism for transporting a flat xerographic plate through an automated xerographic processing system.
  • a fiat xerographic plate transporting mechanism having a pair of opposed, vertical shuttle plates, each of the shuttle plates having a substantialy vertical slot therein, endless drive chain means passing over sprocket wheels at each of two terminal positions, means to drive the drive chain means in one direction only, a pin securely mounted on each drive chain associated with the drive chain means and adapted to pass through the substantially vertical slot in each shuttle plate, means, of specific configuration as described below, supported by each shuttle plate to engage the xerographic plate at the first terminal position, means mounted on at least one shuttle plate and adapted to cooperate with means on the support sheet feeding mechanism in the transfer station to equalize the linear velocities of the xerographic plate and the support sheet adjacent thereto when they are positioned in image transfer adjacency, and means to cause the plate engaging means to become disengaged from the xerographic plate at the second terminal position after image transfer and after the xerographic
  • the drive chain means is adapted to be driven in a single direction only.
  • Each pin secured to a drive chain passes through, and is retained in, the slot in the shuttle plate adjacent thereto.
  • the drive means When the drive means is energized, these pins cause the shuttle plates, which carry the plate-engaging means, to be moved from the first terminal position through the transfer station to the second terminal position.
  • the plate engaging means of the present invention comprises a pair of pawls pivotally mounted on each shuttle plate.
  • Each pawl includes an elongated leg connected to the pivot point in such a manner as to define an acute angle between the leg and the vertical shuttle plate on which it is mounted.
  • the pawls are pivotally mounted either above or below the level of the xerographic plate (i.e., the image transfer plane).
  • the acute angle which each elongated leg makes with respect to the shuttle plate and the length of the elongated leg are so chosen that there is sufficient space between the shuttle plate and that end of the elongated leg connected to the horizontal plate-engaging leg for the velocity equalizing means on the shuttle plate and the support sheet feeding mechanism to be positioned therein for cooperation during the transfer operation.
  • the velocity equalizing means are positioned along the image transfer plane, which was not possible with the embodiment described in detail in application Ser. No. 68,098 since the horizontal positioned pawls occupied that position.
  • the xerographic plate is being transported along a horizontal path.
  • the support sheet is being advanced along an arcuate path which becomes parallel to the xerographic plate within the actual transfer zone adjacent the transfer corotron.
  • the support sheet having the xerographic powder image thereon, is advanced away from the xerographic plate to fixing means where the powder image thereon is permanently fixed to the support sheet.
  • the linear velocities of the plate transporting mechanism and the support sheet feeding mechanism can be best equalized by initially matching the respective 6 velocities of the two units as close as possible and subsequently identically matching their velocities by cooperating means positioned along the image transfer plane.
  • the velocity equalizing means includes a rack supported by at least one shuttle plate along the horizontal plane passing along the imagebearing surface of the xerographic plate (i.e., the image transfer plane). As the shuttle plate reaches the transfer station, the rack thereon comes into contact with a properly positioned gear segment, or pinion, on the support sheet feeding mechanism. As indicated above, this contact is made in the space between the shuttle plate and the edge of the elongated pawl leg most closely adjacent thereto and is along the image transfer plane.
  • the support sheet feeding mechanism has its own motor which drives the mechanism, and the support sheet fed thereby, in the desired direction relative to the xerographic plate as they pass in virtual contact in the transfer station.
  • the unidirectional motor associated with the plate transporting mechanism or the motor associated with the support sheet feeding mechanism must control and overdrive the combined units when they are brought into contact by means of the rack and gear segment referred to above.
  • the plate transporting mechanism is driven slightly faster (in a linear velocity sense) than the support sheet feeding mechanism is driven.
  • a clutch mechanism associated with the support sheet feeding motor permits the necessary slippage between the latter motor and the support sheet feeding mechanism whereby the linear velocities are equalized by the support sheet feeding mechanism assuming the linear velocity of the plate transporting mechanism
  • the support sheet feeding mechanism is driven slightly faster than the plate transporting mechanism.
  • the vertical slot in the shuttle plate has a short horizontal leg adjacent the lower end thereof and extending toward the trailing edge of the xerographic plate being supported by the plate transporting mechanism (i.e., the slot becomes an L- shaped slot).
  • the pin extending into the L-shaped slot will be free to move along the slot as the support sheet feeding motor overdrives the plate transporting motor.
  • the linear velocities of the two units are equalized by the plate transporting mechanism assuming the linear velocity of the support sheet feeding mechanism.
  • both mechanisms are moving together in essence as a single unit, neither the xerographic plate nor the support sheet can attain a difference in linear velocity, assuming the absence of xerographic plate or support sheet jams.
  • Faithful transfer of the xerographic powder image from the xerographic plate to the adjacent support sheet is, therefore, more positively assured.
  • the present invention achieves this equalized linear velocity of the two units in the transfer station, and the advantage afforded thereby, without sacrificing the advantages afforded by the use of the plate transporting mechanism and principle broadly described in application Ser. No. 68,098.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elcvational view of a portion of the improved plate transporting mechanism of the present invention as it reaches the transfer station when the xerographic plate supported thereby is being transported from right to left;
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of that portion of the plate transporting mechanism shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 22, showing both sides of the mechanism and the Xerographic plate supported therebetween;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the improved plate transporting mechanism of the present invention, also showing the mechanism as it reaches the transfer station when the xcrographic plate supported thereby is being transported from right to left;
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are side views showing the cooperation of switching means, associated with the support sheet feeding mechanism, with the positioning cam means, adjacent the leading edge of the plate transporting mechanism. whereby the support sheet feeding mechanism is actuated and caused to move in proper synchronization with the plate transporting mechanism of FIG. 3.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 there is seen a plate transporting mechanism which, in this particular instance, is adapted to transport a xerographic plate 12 having side rails 14 from right to left through xerographic powder image transfer station 16.
  • a vertical shuttle plate 18 adapted to support a flat xerographic plate therebetween, in a manner similar to that shown in application Ser. No. 68,098.
  • the opposed shuttle plate not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a mirror image of the shuttle plate. and the elements supported thereby, actually depicted in these figures.
  • a further inwardly extended arm or bracket 26 adjacent the trailing edge 24 of the shuttle plate there is a further inwardly extended arm or bracket 26.
  • Aligned apertures 28 and 30 in brackets 22 and 26, respectively, have a horizontal bar 32 extending therethrough.
  • Mounted on bar 32 adjacent the leading edge of the shuttle plate is a pawl 34, the bottom end of which is urged inwardly by spring 36 also mounted on bar 32.
  • Adjacent the trailing edge of the shuttle plate pawl 34 is mounted in similar fashion and caused to rotate inwardly by spring 36, The pawls are, therefore, mounted for rotation in a vertical plane, as
  • Each pawl includes an elongated leg 42 which, as shown, is caused to pivot essentially about the midpoint thereof.
  • an essentially horizontal plate engaging leg 44 adapted to enter into properly angled slots or recesses in the side rails of the xerographic plate desired to be transported through the transfer station.
  • leg 44 does have angled surfaces 46 and 48 terminating in apex 50 thereby defining the leg which is adapted to enter into the recesses in the side rails of the xerographic plate.
  • Pawls 34 and 34' on each shuttle plate 18 are so mounted that they will properly engage the xerographic plate at the first terminal position, support the xerographic plate between the two terminal positions, and properly disengage from the xerographic plate at the second terminal position.
  • Stationary cam means may or may not be provided, as desired, to achieve desired movement of the pawls, specifically legs 44 thereof, in the two terminal positions.
  • means are provided in each terminal position to prevent the plate transporting mechanism from moving the plate in the wrong direction prior to its reversal of direction (i.e., since the plate will be held stationary, the pawls will be cammed out of plate engagement).
  • such means can be a portion of the means which position the xerographic plate on top of the development chamber.
  • the pawls will engage the appropriate slots in the xerographic plate whereby the plate will be transported from the first terminal position toward the second terminal position.
  • the pawls will contact the side walls of the storage box positioned therein and will be cammed out of engagement with the xerographic plate whereby the plate will be deposited within the storage box.
  • clips adjacent the slot in the lower front portion of the storage box will prevent the xerographic plate from being withdrawn therefrom after the plate transporting mechanism has reversed direction.
  • An exemplary storage box, having such retaining clips, is shown in FIGS. 4-7 of application Ser. No. 874,834.
  • a stationary mmber 52 Supported on side frame 51 of the Xerographic processing unit is a stationary mmber 52 carrying a ball bearing supporting member 54.
  • Each shuttle plate has rigidly mounted thereon a member 56 which rides on ball bearings 58 supported between members 54 and 56. In this manner, the shuttle plates are mounted on the side frames of the xerographic processing unit for traversing movement between the two terminal positions.
  • sprocket wheels 61 on opposed sides of the terminal positions have drive chains 60 passing about the periphery thereof.
  • the plate transporting mechanism of the present invention is caused to move between the two terminal positions by means of unidirectional motor 62 supported out of the plane of xerographic plate travel between the two terminal positions.
  • Unidirectional motor 62 drives the plate transporting mechanism by means of a drive chain passing about sprocket wheels mounted on a drive shaft connected to motor 62 and a drive shaft connected to at least one of the sprocket wheels in one of the two terminal positions.
  • unidirectional motor 62 causes drive chains 60 to move continuously in a clockwise direction with regard to the shuttle plate 18 actually depicted in FIG. 1. It should be understood, however, that counter-clockwise rotation is not critical since the plate transporting mechanism of the present invention can be made, with minor modifications, to operate with the drive chains moving in a counterclockwise direction.
  • Each shuttle plate 18 has a vertically extending slot 64 therein.
  • a pin 66 mounted on one of the links associated with each drive chain, is adapted to extend into slot 64 and be retained therein during traversing movement of the plate transporting mechanism.
  • pin 66 is adjacent the lowermost portion of slot 60 and the drive chain, as shown in FIG. 1, is moving in a clockwise direction, shuttle plate 18 on each side of the plate transporting path will be moved from right to left.
  • pins 66 engage the periphery of the sprocket wheels therein and, with continued rotation of the drive chains, are caused to move upwardly within slot 64.
  • support sheet feeding mechanism 70 advances the support sheet to essentially tangential, image-transfer contact with the lower image-bearing surface of the xerographic plate 12.
  • Support sheet feeding mechanism 70 driven by motor 78, is caused to stop in the position substantially as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 after the mechanism comes in contact with a switch (not shown) which deactuates motor 78.
  • the support sheet feeding mechanism is permitted to coast to the rest position, as shown, after motor 78 is deactuated.
  • gear segment 74 or pinion, having an upwardly extending arm 76 adapted to extend into the path of travel of rack 72 as the xerographic plate is advanced into the transfer station. Because it is permitted to coast to a stop, the support sheet feeding mechanism will not be in the same rest position during each support sheet feeding cycle. That is, arm 76 might vary in position by a fraction of an inch or more.
  • the plate transporting motor i.e. unidirectional motor 62
  • the plate transporting mechanism is being driven at a slightly faster rate than is the support sheet feeding mechanism.
  • the plate transporting mechanism can be driven at a rate of about 1.72 inches per second while the support sheet feeding mechanism is being driven at a rate of about 1.63 inches per second, of a difference of about 0.1 inch per second.
  • Clutch means associated with the support sheet feeding motor 78 permits the necessary slippage between motor 78 and support sheet feeding mechanism '70, whereby the support sheet feeding mechanism assumes the linear velocity of the plate transporting mechanism by virtue of rack 72 meshing with gear segment 74 as the plate transporting mechanism passes through transfer station 16.
  • the support sheet fed by mechanism 70 is properly positioned adjacent the imagebearing surface of the xerographic plate. Under wellknown electrostatic principles and using pre-transfer and transfer corotrons, the xerographic powder image is faithfully transferred to the adjacent surface of the support sheet. Thereafter, the image-bearing support sheet follows the path dictated by mechanism 70 which, after image transfer, is away from the path followed by the xerographic plate.
  • Mechanism 70 also feeds the image-bearing support sheet to fixing means where the xerographic powder image is permanently affixed to the support sheet surface.
  • the teeth on rack 72 are adapted to mesh with the corresponding grooves on gear segment 74 along the image transfer plane. i.e., along the plane passing along the lower or image-bearing surface of the xerographic plate.
  • the line along which the rack and the gear segment contact each other during image transfer i.e., the pitch line
  • the linear velocity of the support sheet feeding mechanism will, accordingly, be approximately, but not exactly, equal to the linear velocity of the plate transporting mechanism. Identical equalization of the linear velocities is in accordance with the description above.
  • rack 72 and gear segment 74 in the mechanism shown in FIGS. 35 are also positioned to contact each other along the image transfer plane.
  • FIGS. 3-5 In the embodiment where the support sheet feeding motor overdrives the plate transporting motor. the plate transporting mechanism of FIGS. 3-5 is utilized. With two exceptions, the plate transporting mechanism of FIGS. 3-5 is the same as that depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2: accordingly. like numerals have been utilized in FIG. 3 to represent like elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • vertical slot 64 has a horizontal leg 82, at the lower end thereof, extending toward trailing edge 26 of the shuttle plate. Additionally, adjacent the leading edge of the shuttle plate there is a downwardly depending leg 84 adapted to contact spring loaded arm 86 on mechanism 70 as the xerographic plate is advanced into the transfer station.
  • support sheet feeding mechanism 70 stops in the home position with the leading edge 88 of pinion 74 approximately 20 from the vertical.
  • the lower surface of leg 84 contacts the upper surface of pivotally mounted arm 86. This causes arm 86 to be depressed into the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4 whereby the end 90 of arm 86 remote from that end contacting leg 84 closes switch 92.
  • arm 84 moves past the position where it depresses arm 86 whereby arm 86 is free to rotate upwardly under urging of spring 94.
  • switch 92 which, in turn, actuates support sheet feeding mechanism motor 78. This action properly synchronizes the meshing of the teeth on pinion 74 with the corresponding grooves on rack 72.
  • the support sheet feeding mechanism is driven somewhat faster than is the plate transporting mechanism.
  • the support sheet feeding mechanism can be driven at a rate of about 1.60 inches 11 per second while the plate transporting mechanism is driven at a rate of about 1.50 inches per second; once again, a difference of about 0.1 inch per second.
  • rack 72 and pinion 74 properly mesh, the plate transporting mechanism will assume the linear velocity of the support sheet feeding mechanism which, as indicated above, is slightly faster. This means that the shuttle plates, and the xerographic plates supported thereby, will be moving somewhat faster than its driving means. Accordingly, pin 66 will gradually move toward end 96 of horizontal leg 82 of slot 64 during the period when the support sheet feeding mechanism motor 78 is overdriving unidirectional motor 62.
  • Appropriate microswitches can be provided to stop either the plate transporting mechanism or the support sheet feeding mechanism at any desired home position, for example, after a single cycle as described above. Additionally, means, associated with the support sheet feeding mechanism, are provided to withdraw a single support sheet from a supply of support sheets and advance the support sheet to the appropriate rest position, awaiting movement of the plate transporting mechanism of the present invention into the transfer station.
  • the present invention has been described with reference to presently preferred embodiments thereof and that other equivalent embodiments are presently contemplated.
  • the means by which the shuttle plates are secured to the side frames of the processing unit may be raised or lowered, in conjunction with the raising or lowering of the vertical slot and the drive chains, etc.
  • a mechanism for transporting a flat, powder imagebearing xerographic plate through an image transfer station wherein the powder image is transferred from the xerographic plate to the adjacent surface of a support sheet comprising means to engage a xerographic plate and to transport the xerographic plate through the transfer station, said engaging and transporting means including a pair of shuttle plates having opposed portions between which the xerographic plate is supported, a pair of pawls mounted on each of said shuttle plates for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of xerographic plate travel, each of said pawls having a leg at the end thereof remote from said shuttle plate for engaging corresponding recesses in the xerographic plate being transported thereby, each of said shuttle plates and said pawls mounted thereon defining a gap therebetween, means mounted on at least one of said shuttle plates within said gap adjacent thereto along the plane passing along the powder image-bearing surface of the xerographic plate for equalizing the linear velocity of said xerographic plate transporting mechanism and
  • said velocity equalizing means comprises a rack adapted to mesh with a gear segment on the support sheet feeding mechanism, and means permitting the motor driving said plate transporting mechanism or the motor driving the support sheet feeding mechainsm to overdrive the other of said motors.
  • said velocity equalizing means comprises a rack adapted to mesh with a gear segment in the support sheet feeding mechanism, and an L-shaped slot in at least one of said shuttle plates, said L-shaped slot having a first leg perpendicular to the image bearing surface of the xerographic plate and a second leg parallel to the image-bearing surface of the xerographic plate, said second leg extending toward the trailing edge of said xerographic plate transporting mechanism said slot adapted to receive a pin freely movable therein, said pin being operatively connected to the drive means associated with said plate transporting mechanism whereby, during image transfer, the velocities of said plate transporting mechanism and the support sheet feeding mechanism are equalized by the movement of said pin within said second leg in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the xerographic plate.
  • the mechanism of claim 1 further including means supported by said plate transporting mechanism for initiating movement of the support sheet feeding mechanism as the plate transporting mechanism is advanced into the transfer station.
  • Means for transferring a xerographic powder image from a flat xerographic plate to the adjacent surface of a support sheet in an image transfer station comprising means to transport a flat powder image-bearing xerographic plate through the transfer station, said transporting means including a pair of shuttle plates having opposed portions between which the xerographic plate is supported, a pair of pawls mounted on each of said said shuttle plates for rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of xerographic plate travel, each of said pawls being mounted on said shuttle plate at an acute angle thereto, each of said pawls having a leg at the end thereof remote from said shuttle plate for engaging corresponding recesses in the xerographic plate being transported thereby, each of said shuttle plates and said pawls mounted thereon defining a gap therebetween and means for moving said xerographic plate at a first linear velocity through the transfer station; means for feeding a support sheet into image transfer adjacency in the transfer station, said support sheet feeding means including means for moving the support
  • the linear velocity equalizing element mounted on said plate transporting means comprises a rack and the linear velocity equalizing element mounted on said support sheet feeding means comprises a gear segment, said rack and said gear segment positioned to mesh with each other as the xerographic plate and the support sheet are advanced through the transfer station.
  • said means for moving said xerographic plate at a first linear velocity includes a first motor
  • said means for moving the support sheet at a second linear velocity during image transfer includes a second motor
  • said velocity equalizing means including means permitting said first motor or said second motor to overdrive the other of said motors.
  • each shuttle plate has a slot therein, each slot having spaced ends connected together by an elongated passageway, at least one sprocket wheel at each of two terminal positions, endless drive chain means passing around and engaging said sprocket wheels, means to drive said drive chain in one direction only, a pin securely mounted on each endless drive chain associated with said drive chain means, each pin adapted to extend into the slot in the shuttle plate adjacent thereto whereby contact of said pin against one of the surfaces of said slot causes the xerographic plate to be transported along the path through the transfer station; said velocity equalizing means including means permitting said plate transporting means to overdrive said support sheet feeding means, said overdrive permitting means comprising a leg on each of said slots, each leg being parallel to the image-bearing surface of the xerographic plate and extending toward the trailing edge of said xerographic plate transporting means, each of said legs adapted to receive said pin adjacent thereto as said support sheet feeding
  • the image transfer means of claim 9 further including means for actuating the motor associated with said support sheet feeding means whereby said plate transporting means and said support sheet feeding means move in synchronization through the transfer station.
  • said actuating means comprises an arm on said support sheet feeding means extending into the path of travel of said plate transporting means, said arm adapted to be contacted by said plate transporting means as said plate transporting means enters the transfer station.
  • said actuating means comprises an arm on said plate transporting means, said arm adapted to contact a switch associated with said support sheet feeding means whereby the motor associated with said support sheet feeding means is activated.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
  • Discharging, Photosensitive Material Shape In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Combination Of More Than One Step In Electrophotography (AREA)
US75995A 1970-09-28 1970-09-28 Xerographic plate transporting mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3672760A (en)

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US7599570A 1970-09-28 1970-09-28

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3920991A (en) * 1972-10-24 1975-11-18 Diagnostic Instr Inc Ionographic film processor and associated method
US4118116A (en) * 1977-06-20 1978-10-03 Hipoint Research, Inc. X-ray processing system

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3920991A (en) * 1972-10-24 1975-11-18 Diagnostic Instr Inc Ionographic film processor and associated method
US4118116A (en) * 1977-06-20 1978-10-03 Hipoint Research, Inc. X-ray processing system

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JPS5426898B1 (enExample) 1979-09-06
CA939555A (en) 1974-01-08
GB1359888A (en) 1974-07-17

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