US3685908A

US3685908A - Copying machine

Info

Publication number: US3685908A
Application number: US47462A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward A O'mara
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1970-06-18
Filing date: 1970-06-18
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22
Also published as: DE2130522A1; CA930788A

Abstract

A copying machine in which a light-sensitive intermediate sheet and an original document are fed into intimate copying contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the original document. A semi-reflecting surface is positioned between a light source and a supporting surface and cooperates with the light source and the supporting surface for reflex exposure of the intermediate sheet and the original document. The semi-reflecting surface is formed to cooperate with the supporting surface to transport the original document and the intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between the supporting surface and the semi-reflecting surface.

Description

[15] 3,685,908 51 Aug. 22, 1972 United States Patent OMara 3,580,677 5/1971 Seelenbinder.........355/l08 X [54] COPYING MACHINE l [72] mentor d A o Mara Maplewood Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Alan A. Mathews [73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufactur- Attorney-Kinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt & Delahunt Saint Paul, Minn.

ing Company,

June 18, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT A copying machine in which a light-sensitive intermediate sheet and an original document are fed into [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.2 47,462

intimate copying contact with the leading edge of the M5 6 l/O /7 52 5 5 75 3 03 l 2 n mm m m "7 H m 5 3 "H m5 5 "m m m l 0 W d UIF 1 2 00 555 [ll 5 References Cited mediate sheet and the original document. The semireflecting surface is formed to cooperate with the sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS porting surface to transport the original document and mm .1 w e mfl fee eVr. hoL. m C S we nwm m om Ci a 6 e m a g m m .1 m .I M a m mm 2, w i h n Sum m S l m D. C u d 9 m m e m m r a emmin .m ww 'mfl tbb.m X7777 4000 2 111 l6/// /9555 5 555 5 333 m m mm 1m nut u u a Q j m w mm c 6 m am .mo.mmm LRLSF 39640 65666. 99999 11111 3056 I 7 673 779 10029 000532 32332 P'A'TENTEDms 22 I972 COPYING MACHINE The present invention relates to a copying machine having exposure means for reflex exposure of a lightsensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document.

In reflex exposure copying machines a light-sensitive intermediate sheet is first completely desensitized at background areas by exposure in reflex position, i.e., by light passing through the sheet to the printed original held in contact therewith. The sheet is only partially desensitized at areas corresponding to the radiation-absorptive image areas of the original. Heating the thus exposed sheet in face-to-face contact with a suitably coated copy-sheet then produces on the latter a visible reproduction of the image areas by interreaction between the residual sensitizing component of the exposed sheet and the reactant-containing surface of the copy-sheet. Such machines are of recent origin in the art and the copying machine of US. Pat. No. 3,318,219 is illustrative.

To increase the differential desensitization of the intermediate sheet it has been found advantageous to provide a semi-reflecting surface between the light source and the intermediate sheet in intimate contact with the intermediate sheet as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,908,571. Light rays that pass through the semireflecting surface and the intermediate sheet and are reflected from the white background areas of the original document are again reflected when they strike the semi-reflecting surface thereby intensifying the quantity of light that strikes the areas of the intermediate corresponding to the unimaged areas of the original document. The chemical process in these areas is thus intensified to increase the differential desensitization and thereby to increase the contrast in the copy-sheet. Reflex copying machines utilizing such a semi-reflecting surface have generally provided it as an integral part of the supporting surface below which the light source is positioned and above which means are provided for pressing the intermediate sheet in an original document into intimate contact with each other and with the supporting surface.

In the copying machine of the present invention a semi-reflecting surface is provided between a light source and a supporting surface to increase the differential desensitization of the intermediate sheet and it is formed to cooperate with the supporting surface to transport an original document and an intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith into reflex exposure position between the semi-reflecting surface and the support surface upon relative movement between the surfaces. The intermediate sheet and the original document are fed into intimate contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the original document to aid in feeding original documents of varying weights and surface proparties and to facilitate separation of an original document from an intermediate sheet after exposure.

A copying machine according to the present invention is provided with exposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document including a light source and a supporting surface. A feed is provided for transporting an original document and an intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith into position for reflex exposure with the original document contacting the supporting surface and the intermediate sheet between the original document and the light source and with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the original document. The feed includes a semi-reflecting surface between the light source and the supporting surface formed to cooperate with the supporting surface to transport an original document and an intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith between the semi-reflecting surface and the supporting surface upon relative movement between the surfaces.

The novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal elevation view of a copying machine made in accordance with the present invention with parts thereof in section; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the transport of an intermediate sheet and an original document.

Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated a reflex copying machine, generally designated 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention. The machine includes a cabinet 12 providing an enclosure for the working elements of the machine 10.

An exposure drum 14 is rotatably supported generally centrally of the machine 10. Its exterior peripheral surface provides a support surface for an intermediate sheet and an original document 15 in intimate contact therewith during exposure and it is preferably covered with a white reflective unpolished material. A drive (not shown) is provided for continuously rotating the exposure drum l4 (clockwise as viewed in the drawing) when the machine 10 is in operation. Unless otherwise noted the remaining illustrated elements are generally symmetrical from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the exposure drum 14 and bisecting the exposure drum.

An elongated cylindrical exposure lamp 16 is supported externally of the exposure drum 14 with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and an elliptical reflector 18 is provided to illuminate a predetermined arcuate extent of the exposure drum surface. The reflector 18 is louvered and an air duct is provided to a fan 20 which draws air from around the lamp and expells it from the machine 10 to provide a cooling of the area surrounding the lamp 16.

A semi-reflecting surface 22 between the lamp 16 and the support surface of the exposure drum 14 is provided by a flexible semi-reflecting sheet supported to conform to the illuminated predetermined extent of the support surface of the exposure drum 14. The semireflecting sheet 22 is normally rectangular and has a width corresponding to the length of the exposure drum 14. Its ends are retained in clamps 24 and 25, one of the clamps 25 being stationarily supported in the machine and the other clamp 24 being biased by a spring 26 at each of its ends to produce a resilient pressure between the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the support surface of the exposure drum 14, which pressure is uniform along the length of the exposure drum 14. To provide the proper contact between the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the exposure drum 14 the sheet 22 is supported between its ends by three stationary rods 28, 29

and 30 with heir axes parallel to the axis of the exposure drum 14. To move an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith between the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the support surface of the exposure drum 14 it is necessary that the frictional forces between the intermediate sheet material 34 and the semi-reflecting sheet 22 be significantly less than the frictional forces between the leading edge of the intermediate sheet material 34 and the support surface of the exposure drum 14. The frictional force between the leading edge of the intermediate sheet and the support surface is significant because the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extends beyond the leading edge of the original document to aid in pulling the original document between the semi-reflecting sheet 22 and the exposure drum 14 (see FIG. 2). With this arrangement original documents having widely varying weights and surface properties can be properly fed for copying. A rough surfaced white paper may be used as the support surface of the exposure drum 14. A suitable material for the semi-reflecting surface 22 is then a polyester film filled with a white pigment to have a light transmissivity in the range of -70 percent and preferably having a transmissivity of about 60 percent.

At the front of the machine and within the cabinet 12 a support 32 is provided for a supply roll of the lightsensitive intermediate sheet material 34. Below the support 32 a pair of nip rollers 36 and 37 are supported and are appropriately driven to feed the free end of the intermediate sheet material 34 from the supply roll onto an inclined guide 39. A knife 41 is supported to one side of the intermediate guide 39 and it is moved by solenoids (not shown) to sever the intermediate supply strip after a desired length intermediate sheet has been fed past the knife 41 by the intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37.

A horizontal original document guide 43 extends from the front of the machine to a position adjacent the exposure drum 14 where it is also adjacent the intermediate guide 39. A gate 45 at the front of the machine above the guide 43 normally blocks the original document path onto the guide 43 and an electromagnet 47 is supported above the gate 45 to lift the gate upon activation of the electromagnet 47. A pair of feed rollers 49 and 50 are positioned one to each side of the document path along the guide 43 to provide an original document feed to the exposure drum 14. An insertion roller 52 is supported above the original guide 43 between the gate 45 and the document feed rollers 49 and 50 and it is continuously driven when the machine is in operation to provide insertion of an original document to the feed rollers 49 and 50.

The original document feed path from the original feed rollers 49 and 50 to the juncture of the original document and intermediate guide paths is made slightly longer than the intermediate guide paths from the knife 41 to that juncture. The intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37 are driven at the same time and at the same peripheral velocity as the original document feed rollers 49 and 50 preferably by the same drive so that the leading edge of the intermediate sheet will arrive at the juncture of the intermediate and original guide paths before the original document and lead the original document throughout exposure. An idler roller 54 is supported adjacent the juncture of the intermediate and original document guide paths and contacts the exposure drum 14 to feed an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith from their juncture to the contact between the exposure drum l4 and the semi-reflecting sheet 22.

The first separator knife 56 is supported at the end of a pivotal arm 57 to normally direct sheets exiting from between the semi-reflecting surface 22 and the exposure drum 14 between a pair of horizontal original exit guides 60 and 61. A solenoid 58 is connected to the pivotal arm 57 and upon actuation draws the separator knife 56 toward the exposure drum 14 into the path of the sheets leaving the exposure area. Actuation of the solenoid 58 is suitably timed with relation to the feed of the intermediate sheet and the original document 15 so that the separator knife 56 is moved toward the exposure drum 14 as the leading edge of an intermediate sheet approaches it and it is deactivated to move the separator knife 56 away from the exposure drum 14 prior to the leading edge of the original document reaching the separator knife 56. Thus, the separator knife 56 will divert the intermediate sheet generally vertically downward by engaging the leading edge thereof and it will move across the document path before the original document 15 reaches it so that it will guide the original document between the original document exit guides 60 and 61 toward the front of the machine 10.

A pair of continuously driven intermediate feed rollers 63 and 64 are positioned to feed an intermediate sheet diverted by the separator knife 56 generally vertically downward. A stationary inclined guide 66 cooperates with an endless belt 67 extending around intermediate feed roller 64 and two other feed rollers 70 and 73 to guide a diverted intermediate sheet to a juncture with an upwardly inclined receptor sheet guide 68. The endless belt 67 may be defined by a plurality of 0- rings running in grooves in the rollers 64, 70 and 73 and spaced along the lengths of the rollers to provide a guide surface for the sheets.

A tray 77 is provided for supporting a stack of receptor sheets 76 and includes a base wall 79 that is pivoted adjacent the front of the machine 10 and an end wall 80 that is slidable with respect to the base wall 79 to abut one end of a stack of receptor sheets 76 supported on the base wall 79. The base wall 79 of the tray 77 is spring biased to engage the uppermost receptor sheet of the stack with a receptor sheet feed wheel 82 positioned above the end of the tray adjacent the receptor sheet guide 68. A stationary vertical wall 84 is posi tioned between the feed wheel 82 and the receptor sheet guide 68 to abut the end of the stack of receptor sheets 76. Formed with the vertical wall 84 are horizontal tabs 85, one at each edge of the tray, that overhang the opposed edges of the stack of receptor sheets 76. The horizontal tabs 85 aid in single feeding the receptor sheets 76 by causing the uppermost sheet to buckle between the tabs 85 and separate from the remaining sheets in the stack upon movement thereof by the feed wheel 82. The receptor sheet feed wheel 82 is driven through a single turn clutch (not shown) in timed relation with the movement of the first separator knife 56 to single feed the uppermost sheet in the stack of receptor sheets along the receptor guide 68 such that the leading edge of the receptor sheet reaches the juncture of the intermediate sheet guide path and the receptor sheet guide path slightly behind the leading edge of the intermediate sheet to align the receptor sheet with the latent image contained on the intermediate sheet.

To determine the length of the intermediate supply strip fed prior to severance by the knife 41 the slidable end wall 80 of the receptor sheet tray 77 may be coupled to appropriate electrical circuitry such that when it is moved against the end of a stack of receptor sheets 76 selected circuitry will be activated to feed a length of intermediate sheet slightly longer than the receptor sheet 76 in the tray 77. Thus, by appropriate choice of the length of receptor sheets 76 corresponding to the length of the original document to be copied the length of the intermediate sheet 34 which is fed is also determined. Alternatively, a dial on the front of the machine may be provided to select the appropriate length of intermediate sheet 34 which is fed prior to severance.

Adjacent the juncture of the intermediate guide path and the receptor sheet guide path a roller 71 forms with roller 70 a receptor-intermediate feed to feed the exposed intermediate sheet and the receptor sheet in intimate contact therewith along an upwardly inclined path with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet leading the corresponding edge of the receptor sheet. A further roller 74 cooperates with a feed roller 73 to provide a second portion of the receptor-intermediate feed to a heat developer 88. A plurality of O-rings 75 spaced across the length of rollers 71 and 74 cooperate with the O-ring 67 passing around rollers 64, 70 and 73 to provide a guide surface for the receptor sheet and the intermediate sheet between the feed roller pairs 70, 71 and 73, 74.

The heat developer 88 comprises a drum 90 which is continuously rotated (clockwise as viewed in the drawing) during operation of the machine and a stationary heater 92 extending around a major portion of the periphery of the drum 90. The heater 92 comprises an extruded aluminum shell with cylindrical heating elements extending parallel to the axis of the drum to provide sufficient heating to transfer the images from the intermediate sheet to the receptor paper during movement of the composite through the heat developer 88. The aluminum shell and the developer drum 90 cooperate to transport an intermediate sheet and a receptor sheet in intimate contact therewith from the second pair of receptor-intermediate feed rollers 73 and 74 through the heat developer 88.

At the exit from the heat developer 88 a second separator knife 94 is supported at the end of a pivotal arm 95 to normally direct sheets leaving the heat developer 88 between the upper and lower receptor guides 98 and 99 and toward the front of the machine 10. A solenoid 96 is connected to the pivotal arm 95 to move the second separator knife 94 into the path of sheets leaving the heat developer 88. Actuation of the solenoid 96 is timed with respect to the intermediate sheet leaving the heat developer 88 by means of a switch (not shoyvn) in the feed path to move the second separator knife 94 into the path of the sheets leaving the heat developer 88 as the leading edge of an intermediate sheet approaches it. As the leading edge of the intermediate sheet contacts the second separator knife 94 the solenoid 96 is deactivated and the separator knife 94 diverts the intermediate sheet downward while the receptor sheet 76 with visible images thereon is separated from the intermediate and continues along the normal path between the upper and lower receptor guides 98 and 99. A pair of

receptor exit rollers

102 and 103 are provided along a guide path between guides 98 and 99 to move the receptor sheet to the front of the machine 10 where it may then be removed through a suitable access opening.

Two pairs of

rollers

105, 106 and 108, 109 are positioned to feed the diverted intermediate sheet toward the back of the machine 10 to a waste area. A plurality of O-rings 107 extend around the upper two rollers 105 and 108 and a second set of O-rings 110 extend around the lower rollers 106 and 109 to define a guide surface between the roller pairs 105, 106 and 108, 109.

In use, a supply roll of intermediate sheet material 34 is mounted on the support 32 and the free end portion of the supply strip is threaded between the intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37 to position the leading edge of the intermediate supply strip in line with the cutter knife 41. A stack of receptor sheets 76 is placed in the tray 77 and the tray end wall 80 is moved against the end of the stack of receptor sheets 76. An on button (not shown) on the front of the machine is pushed to start rotation of the exposure drum 14, the heat developer drum 90 and the continuously rotating rollers and to activate the developer heater 92. When the heat developer 88 has reached the appropriate temperature the electromagnet 47 at the front of the machine lifts the gate to permit insertion of an original document 15. An original document 15 is manually moved along the original guide 43 until it reaches the insertion roller 52 which feeds the original document 15 to the original document feed rollers 49 and and holds it against them until the copy cycle is initiated.

The operator then presses a copybutton (not shown) on the front of the machine to start the copy cycle. The exposure lamp 16 is activated and an electric clutch (not shown) causes the intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37 and the original document feed rollers 49 and 50 to rotate thereby moving both the original document 15 and the free end of the intennediate supply strip simultaneously toward the exposure idler roller 54. Because of the difierence in path lengths the intermediate supply strip reaches the juncture of the intermediate and original feed paths before the original document 15 and leads the original document. The intermediate and the original document in intimate contact therewith then move between the idler roller 54 and the exposure drum l4 and between the semireflecting sheet 22 and the supporting surface of the exposure drum 14.

By proper selection of the length of the receptor sheets 76 or by properly setting a selector dial, when a sufficient length of the intermediate sheet material 34 has been fed to at least match the trailing edge of the original document, the cutter knife 41 moves across the intermediate feed path to sever a sheet of the intermediate material 34 from the supply strip. At the same time the drive to the intermediate feed rollers 36 and 37 and to the original document feed rollers 49 and 50 is deactivated and the intermediate sheet and the original document 15 in intimate contact therewith are transported by the supporting surface of the exposure drum 14 and the semi-reflecting sheet 22 past the exposure lamp 16 to expose the inter-mediate.

As the intermediate sheet approaches the first separator knife 56 the solenoid 58 is activated to move the first separator knife 56 into the path of the intermediate sheet. When the leading edge of the intermediate sheet has been diverted downward the solenoid 58 is deactivated to separate the original document which continues along the normal path between the original exit guides 60 and 61 toward the front of the machine where it may be removed.

The diverted intermediate sheet is fed downward by feed rollers 63 and 64 between the inclined guide 66 and the O-rings 67. As the intermediate sheet is fed downard the receptor feed wheel 82 is actuated to feed the uppermost receptor sheet 76 into inu'mate contact with the exposed intermediate sheet with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet leading the corresponding edge of the receptor sheet 76. The intermediate sheet and receptor sheet are then fed to the heat developer 88 by the two pairs of feed rollers 70, 71 and 73, 74 between the guides defined by the O-rings 67 and 75. The heat developer drum 90 then transports the intermediate and the receptor sheet in intimate contact therewith between its periphery and the shell of the heater 92 where visible images are produced on the receptor sheet 76.

As the intermediate sheet approaches the second separator knife 94 the solenoid 96 is activated and moves the second separator knife 94 into the path of the intermediate. When the leading edge of the intermediate sheet has been diverted the solenoid 96 is deactivated and moves the separator knife 94 to separate the receptor sheet which continues along the normal path between the receptor guides 98 and 99. The

receptor exit rollers

102 and 103 then move the imaged receptor sheet to the front of the machine for removal. The diverted intermediate sheet is fed by the pairs of discard

rollers

105, 106 and 108, 109 and it is guided by the O-

rings

107 and 110 to a disposal area at the back of the machine 10.

Having thus described the present invention, What is claimed is:

1. In a copying machine having exposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document, including a light source and a supporting surface, the improvement comprising:

first feed means for transporting an original document and an intermediate sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the original document to produce an intermediate sheet-original document combination, and

second feed means for transporting a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into position for reflex exposure with the original document contacting said supporting surface and the intermediate sheet between the original document and said light source and leading the original document, said second feed means including a semireflecting surface between said light source and said supporting surface formed and supported to cooperate with said supporting surface to transport an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between said surfaces, means for creating a generally uniform contact pressure between said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface to engage the leading edge of the intermediate sheet in a said intermediate sheet-original document combination and to press a said combination together to maintain the leading edge relationship in a said combination, and means for moving said supporting surface relative to said semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into said position for reflex exposure.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said semi-reflecting surface comprises a flexible sheet material.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said supporting surface comprises the peripheral surface of a drum and wherein said means for causing relative movement between said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface includes means for rotating said drum about its axis.

4. The machine of claim 1 including means for separating the original document from the intermediate sheet after reflex exposure of the intermediate sheet by deflecting the leading edge of the intermediate sheet out of the path along which it is transported by said feed means.

5. The machine of claim 1 including means for supporting an elongated supply strip of the light-sensitive intermediate sheet material, wherein said feed means include means for transporting an original document and a free end portion of an intermediate supply strip into intimate contact with the leading edge of the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip extending beyond the leading edge of the original document, and including means for severing the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip from the supply after a predetermined length has been fed to provide an intermediate sheet.

6. A copying machine comprising:

exposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document, including a light source and a supporting surface,

means for supporting an elongate supply strip of the intermediate sheet material,

first feed means for transporting an original document and a free end portion of the intermediate supply strip into intimate contact with the leading edge of the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip extending beyond the leading edge of the original document to produce an intermediate sheet-original document combination,

means for severing the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip from the supply after a predetermined length has been fed by said first feed means to provide an intermediate sheet, second feed means for transporting a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into position for reflex exposure with the original document contacting said supporting surface and the intermediate sheet positioned between the original document and said light source and leading the original document, said second feed means including a semi-reflecting surface between said light source and said supporting surface formed to cooperate with said supporting surface to transport an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith between said surface upon relative movement between said surfaces, means for creating a generally uniform contact pressure between said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface to engage the leading edge of the intermediate sheet in a said intermediate sheet-original document combination and to press a said combination together to maintain the leading edge relationship in a said combination, and means for moving said supporting surface relative to said semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into said position for reflex exposure,

third feed means for transporting an original document and an exposed intermediate sheet from said reflex exposure position,

first separating means for separating an original document from a said exposed intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith,

fourth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and a copy-sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the copy-sheet,

heating means for imaging a copy-sheet in contact with an exposed intermediate sheet,

fifth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and a copy-sheet in intimate contact therewith past said heating means to image the copy-sheet, and

second separating means for separating an exposed intermediate sheet from an image copy-sheet in intimate contact therewith.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein said semi-reflecting surface comprises a flexible sheet material.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said supporting surface comprises the peripheral surface of a drum and wherein said means for causing relative movement between said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface includes means for rotating said drum about its axis.

9. The machine of claim 6 wherein said first and second separating means each include means for deflecting said intermediate sheet out of the path along with it is transported by said third and fifth feed means respectively by engaging and deflecting the portion of the leading edge of the intermediate sheet that extends beyond the original document and the copy-sheet respectively.

Claims

1. In a copying machine having exposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document, including a light source and a supporting surface, the improvement comprising: first feed means for transporting an original document and an intermediate sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the original document to produce an intermediate sheet-original document combination, and second feed means for transporting a said intermediate sheetoriginal document combination into position for reflex exposure with the original document contacting said supporting surface and the intermediate sheet between the original document and said light source and leading the original document, said second feed means including a semi-reflecting surface between said light source and said supporting surface formed and supported to cooperate with said supporting surface to transport an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between said surfaces, means for creating a generally uniform contact pressure between said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface to engage the leading edge of the intermediate sheet in a said intermediate sheet-original document combination and to press a said combination together to maintain the leading edge relationship in a said combination, and means for moving said supporting surface relative to said semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into said position for reflex exposure.

5. The machine of claim 1 including means for supporting an elongate supply strip of the light-sensitive intermediate sheet material, wherein said feed means include means for transporting an original document and a free end portion of an intermediate supply strip into intimate contact with the leading edge of the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip extending beyond the leading edge of the original document, and including means for severing the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip from the supply after a predetermined length has been fed to provide an intermediate sheet.

6. A copying machine comprising: exposure means for reflex exposure of a light-sensitive intermediate sheet material and an original document, including a light source and a supporting surface, means for supporting an elongate supply strip of the intermediate sheet material, first feed means for transporting an original document and a free end portion of the intermediate supply strip into intimate contact with the leading edge of the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip extending beyond the leading edge of the original document to produce an intermediate sheet-original document combination, means for severing the free end portion of the intermediate supply strip from the supply after a predetermined length has been fed by said first feed means to provide an intermediate sheet, second feed means for transporting a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into position for reflex exposure with the original document contacting said supporting surface and the intermediate sheet positioned between the original document and said light source and leading the original document, said second feed means includIng a semi-reflecting surface between said light source and said supporting surface formed to cooperate with said supporting surface to transport an intermediate sheet and an original document in intimate contact therewith between said surfaces upon relative movement between said surfaces, means for creating a generally uniform contact pressure between said supporting surface and said semi-reflecting surface to engage the leading edge of the intermediate sheet in a said intermediate sheet-original document combination and to press a said combination together to maintain the leading edge relationship in a said combination, and means for moving said supporting surface relative to said semi-reflecting surface to frictionally drive a said intermediate sheet-original document combination into said position for reflex exposure, third feed means for transporting an original document and an exposed intermediate sheet from said reflex exposure position, first separating means for separating an original document from a said exposed intermediate sheet in intimate contact therewith, fourth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and a copy-sheet into intimate contact with the leading edge of the intermediate sheet extending beyond the leading edge of the copy-sheet, heating means for imaging a copy-sheet in contact with an exposed intermediate sheet, fifth feed means for transporting an exposed intermediate sheet and a copy-sheet in intimate contact therewith past said heating means to image the copy-sheet, and second separating means for separating an exposed intermediate sheet from an image copy-sheet in intimate contact therewith.

9. The machine of claim 6 wherein said first and second separating means each include means for deflecting said intermediate sheet out of the path along which it is transported by said third and fifth feed means respectively by engaging and deflecting the portion of the leading edge of the intermediate sheet that extends beyond the original document and the copy-sheet respectively.