US3761719A

US3761719A - Sequencer apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3761719A
Application number: US00248515A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Stoever
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1972-04-28
Filing date: 1972-04-28
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

Apparatus for sequentially producing a plurality of output control signals to control the operations of particular work stations of an electrographic apparatus, respectively, includes a plurality of light actuable photocells, each such photocell being: (a) disposed in a predetermined fixed spaced relationship with respect to the other photocells, and (b) adapted when actuated by light to produce an output control signal. The apparatus further includes a source of light; a rotatable light conductive member disposed with respect to the light source to sequentially conduct light from the source to illuminate different positions of a predetermined path; a plurality of light pipes defining light conducting paths, each such pipe being movable to selectable positions relative to the predetermined path and adapted when illuminated to conduct light to a particular photocell to actuate such photocell; and at least one mechanism coupled to the pipes for varying pipe position relative to the predetermined path to thereby adjust the timed sequence of the output signals produced by the photocells.

Description

United States Patent [191 Stoever Sept. 25, 1973 SEQUENCER APPARATUS [57] ABSTRACT lnvemorl Hans 0H0 Slower, Rochester, Apparatus for sequentially producing a plurality of out- [73] Assigneez Eastman Kodak company put control signals to control the operations of particu- Rochester, NY. lar work stations of an electrographic apparatus, re-

spectively, includes a plurality of light actuable photol l Filedi p 1972 cells, each such photocell being: (a) disposed in a pre- [21] AppL No; 248,515 determined fixed spaced relationship with respect to g the other photocells, and (b) adapted when actuated by light to produce an output control signal. The appara- 250/227 250/219 DR, 350/9 R tus further includes a source of light; a rotatable light [51] Int. Cl. G02b 5/14 [58] Field of Search 250/227, 231 R, 231 SE, 250/219 DR; 350/96 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,224,279 12/1965 Galli .1 250/227 3,399,347 8/1968 Martens....

2,938,666 5/1960 Rand 250/227 Primary Examiner lames W. Lawrence Assistant ExaminerD. C. Nelms Alt0rneyW. H. J. Kline et a1.

conductive member disposed with respect to the light source to sequentially conduct light from the source to illuminate different positions of a predetermined path; a plurality of light pipes defining light conducting paths, each such pipe being movable to selectable positions relative to the predetermined path and adapted when illuminated to conduct light to a particular photocell to actuate such photocell; and at least one mechanism coupled to the pipes for varying pipe position relative to the predetermined path to thereby adjust the timed sequence of the output signals produced by the photocells.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures (IO 2o\ 22 40 ,'42 54 Am I i 1\ x B l w -l6o :2 E13 /24u 52 56 L l L A ,2

32 1Q 24 U 33 kii' it 34/ mar/212i u a *l b llb 3O 280 SEQUENCER APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned U. S. Patent application Ser. No. 19,999 entitled, MACHINE PROGRAMMER by Hickey et al., filed on Mar. 16, l970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,109.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field Of The Invention This invention relates to sequencer apparatus for sequentially producing output control signals which control work stations of electrographic apparatus.

2. Description Of The Prior Art In electrographic apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus, an endless photoconductive member such as a drum or an endless web moves through a series of work stations which are sequentially actuated in a proper timed relationship to form a toner image on the photoconductive member from an original document. Thereafter, the toner image is transferred to a copy sheet. It is important that the operation of each work station be exactingly synchronized with the image formed on the moving photoconductive member so that the work operations performed onsuch image at each work station takes place in a proper timed sequence. If any one operation is advanced or retarded, even slightly, with respect to movement of the image on the photoconductive member, the resulting image transferred to the copy sheet may be incomplete or improperly registered thereon. In U. S. Patent application Ser. No. l9.999 entitled. MACHINE PRO- GRAMMER filed Mar. 10, I970 in the name of Hickey et ahapparatus is described for sequentially producing output control signals to particular work stations with such control signals being in proper times relation to movement ofa photoconductive web. This apparatus comprises a rotatable cylinder divided into a plurality of light-tight sectors, each of which has a lamp. The apparatus further includes a plurality of photocells disposed around the periphery of the cylinder and which are sequentially energized by the illumination of light from the lamps in each sector. Although such apparatus has performed satisfactorily in providing output control signals in proper timed relationship, it is diffi'cult to precisely adjust the timed sequence of such output signals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sequencer apparatus for producing output control signals in a selected timed sequence.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sequencer apparatus which sequentially produces output control signals for controlling the work operations of work stations of an electrographic apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus and which is adapted to precisely adjust the timed relationship of such output control signals.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, there is provided apparatus for sequentially producing output control signals which includes a source of light; and a plurality of light actuable photocells disposed in a predetermined fixed spaced relationship with respect to each other, the photocells being adapted when actuated by light from the source to produce output control signals respectively. The apparatus further includes means including a light conductive rotatable member adapted to conduct light from the source to illuminate different positions of a predetermined path; a plurality of light pipes defining a plurality of light conducting paths movable to selectable positions relative to the predetermined path for conducting light from the source to particular photocells causing their actuation; and means coupled to said light pipes for moving the light pipes to selected positions relative to said predetermined path whereby the output control signals will be produced in a selected timed sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away and partially in schematic form, of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side sectional elevational view taken along the lines 22 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in connection with an electrophotographic apparatus such as disclosed in the aforementioned U. S. Patent application Ser. No. 19,999 to Hickey et al. Because such electrophotographic apparatus are well known in the art, conventional elements thereof have not been shown since it will be understood that apparatus not specifically shown or described may take various forms known in the art.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a sequencer apparatus 10 which produces a plurality of output control signals in a predetermined timed relationship with respect to each other. The apparatus 10 includes a housing having fixed parallel support frames; a top frame 11a and a bottom frame 11b (see FIG. 2); a source of light embodied by a high intensity incandescent lamp 12 which is fixedly secured to the frame 11a; and a rotatable assembly 14' comprising a shaft 18 which extends through an opening 15 in the frame 11b. One end of the shaft 18 is disposed between the frames 11a and 11b. The shaft 18 is: (a) an opening 13 which receives the lamp 12; and (b) offset light conducting rotors or

arm portions

16a and 16b formed of a light conductive material, which, when the member 14 rotates, are adapted to permit light from the lamp 12 to illuminate predetermined positions of an inside surface 240 of a cylindrical assembly 24. The surface 24a may be considered to define a predetermined path and the upper arm portion 16a as it rotates conducts light to illuminate an upper circular portion of such path, whereas the lower arm portion 16b as it rotates illuminates a lower circular portion of such path. The assembly 24 will be described in more detail hereinafter. The shaft 18 may be directly driven by the drive member of an electrographic apparatus which may, for example, correspond to the shaft 45 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the aforementioned Hickey et al patent application. In

accordance with the invention, the angular position of the shaft 18 corresponds to the position of the image relative to the work stations of an electrographic apparatus.

Fixedly secured to the top frame 11a are a plurality of photocells which may correspond to those photocells shown in said Hickey et al patent application. For convenience of illustration, only two photocells, and 22, are shown. The

photocells

20 and 22 are adapted, when actuated by high intensity light from the lamp 12, to produce output control signals for controlling work stations, such as described fully in the Hickey et al patent application.

The assembly 24 comprises a movable top member 26 and a movable bottom member 28. The bottom member 28 includes a tongue or rail 28a which is disposed within a circular groove 30 formed in the frame 11b. As shown in FIG. 2, the top left hand portion of the member 28 is provided with a threaded segment portion 33 which extends around only a portion of the periphery of the member 28. The threads 33 are operatively engaged by a rotatable screw 32 such that when the screw 32 rotates in one direction the member 28 will move in one direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise) relative to the predetermined path defined by the surface 240 and when the screw 32 rotates in the other direction, the member 28 will rotate in the opposite direction relative to the predetermined path. The top member 26 has a similar construction to the bottom member 28 and includes at its bottom surface a tongue or rail 26a which is received by a circular groove 38 provided in portion of the top surface of the member 28. The rail 26 overlaps the remaining portion of the member 28 as shown in the right hand side of FIG. 2. A second screw 40 is operatively engaged to a threaded segment portion 42 provided in the top left hand portion of the member 26 such that when the screw 40 rotates in one direction, the member 26 rotates in one direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise) about the predetermined path and when the screw 40 rotates in the opposite direction, the member 26 rotates in the opposite direction about the predetermined path. The

members

26 and 28 are adapted to be rotated independently of each other. It will be understood that the

screws

32 and 40 may be selectively rotated either manually or under the control of a motor control system which may take various forms well known in the art. Each of the

members

26 and 28 is provided with a cylindrical opening shown with a radial orientation in FIG. 2, which opens onto the surface 24a: bottom member 28 has an opening 50 which receives a flexible light pipe 52 and top member 28 has an opening 54 which receives a flexible light pipe 56.

The light pipe 52 defines a light conductive path such that when the pipe 52 is illuminated by light from the source 12 conducted by the arm portion 16b of the shaft 18, the pipe 52 conducts light to illuminate and actuate the photocell 20. Similarly the light pipe 56 when illuminated by light from the arm portion 16a conducts light along a light conductive path to illuminate and actuate the photocell 22. As is clear from FIG. 1, either

member

26 or 28 may be a considerable distance relative to the predetermined path, changing the alignment of the opening of the corresponding light pipes in the predetermined path. Because the pipes are flexible, they may be bent to still permit light from the lamp 12 to illuminate corresponding photocells. Thus, precise adjustments of the timed sequence of output control signals may be effected by apparatus in accordance with the invention.

In operation, the

screws

32 and 40 are selectively rotated to positions wherein the

members

26 and 28 and consequentially the

light pipes

52 and 56 are positioned (and if need be bent) with reference to the predetermined path 24a so that these pipes conduct light to the

photocells

20 and 22 causing them to produce output control signals in a precise timed sequence.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for sequentially producing output control signals to operate work stations of electrographic apparatus in a selected timed sequence which includes means for receiving a light source, comprising:

a. a plurality of light actuable photocells disposed in fixed spaced relationship relative to each other, each of said photocells being adapted when illuminated by light from said source to produce an output control signal;

b. means defining a predetermined path;

c. a rotatable light conductive means disposed relative to the light source for sequentially illuminating different positions of the predetermined path;

d. a plurality of movable light pipes disposed in selectable positions relative to the predetermined path, each said pipe defining a light conductive path for conducting light from a particular selected position relative to the predetermined path when illuminated by said light from the source to illuminate a particular photocell; and

e. means coupled to said light pipes for moving said pipes to select their positions relative to the predetermined path whereby the output control signals will be produced in a selected timed sequence, to sequentially operate work stations.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pipe moving means includes at least two movable membe'rs which are independently movable to selectable positions relative to the predetermined path, each said member being coupled to at least one of said light pipes.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rotatable light conductive means includes a rotatable member having two light conducting arm portions disposed relative to the light source so that said arm portions cause the sequentially illumination of different light pipes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sequentially producing output control signals to operate work stations of electrographic apparatus in a selected timed sequence which includes means for receiving a light source, comprising: a. a plurality of light actuable photocells disposed in fixed spaced relationship relative to each other, each of said photocells being adapted when illuminated by light from said source to produce an output control signal; b. means defining a predetermined path; c. a rotatable light conductive means disposed relative to the light source for sequentially illuminating different positions of the predetermined path; d. a plurality of movable light pipes disposed in selectable positions relative to the predetermined path, each said pipe defining a light conductive path for conducting light from a particular selected position relative to the predetermined path when illuminated by said light from the source to illuminate a particular photocell; and e. means coupled to said light pipes for moving said pipes to select their positions relative to the predetermined path whereby the output control signals will be produced in a selected timed sequence, to sequentially operate work stations.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pipe moving means includes at least two movable members which are independently movable to selectable positions relative to the predetermined path, each said member being coupled to at least one of said light pipes.