US3765757A - Transport arrangement for thin sheet material - Google Patents

Transport arrangement for thin sheet material Download PDF

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Publication number
US3765757A
US3765757A US00213613A US3765757DA US3765757A US 3765757 A US3765757 A US 3765757A US 00213613 A US00213613 A US 00213613A US 3765757D A US3765757D A US 3765757DA US 3765757 A US3765757 A US 3765757A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sheet
transport
mat
electrically conductive
contact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00213613A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Weigl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
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Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
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Publication of US3765757A publication Critical patent/US3765757A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
    • G03G15/6529—Transporting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/02—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B27/00—Photographic printing apparatus
    • G03B27/32—Projection printing apparatus, e.g. enlarger, copying camera
    • G03B27/52—Details
    • G03B27/58—Baseboards, masking frames, or other holders for the sensitive material
    • G03B27/585—Handling cut photosensitive sheets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D5/00—Liquid processing apparatus in which no immersion is effected; Washing apparatus in which no immersion is effected
    • G03D5/06—Applicator pads, rollers or strips
    • G03D5/067—Rollers
    • 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
    • G03G15/22—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20
    • G03G15/28—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 in which projection is obtained by line scanning

Definitions

  • a transport arrangement for an elongated relatively Oct. 16, 1973 thin web or continuous sheet of material comprises a means for transporting the material in contact with an electrically conductive body formed of an electrically conductive mat and a plurality of electrically conductive contact members extending from the mat and which are secured to the mat and are in elecrical contact with the mat.
  • the web or sheet is engaged by the conductive body at distal segments of the contact members thereby supporting and spacing the material from the mat while the material is transported.
  • the conductive body is positioned on a transport for movement therewith and imparts motion to the web or sheet. Alternatively, the conductive body is maintained stationary and the material is drawn across the body.
  • the web or sheet is spaced from the surfaces of the transport and other support surfaces thereby advantageously resisting the adhesion of a charged web or sheet to the surface of the transport surface. Additionally, the contact between the contact members and transported material provides countercharge with relatively firm, well defined local contact thereby avoiding sparking and attendant degradation of the sheet.
  • This invention relates to apparatus for the transport of a relatively thin web or sheet of material.
  • the invention relates more particularly to an improved transport apparatus which facilitates the handling and transport of a relatively thin web or sheet of material.
  • Sheet materials of this nature have a thickness on the order of 125 thousandths of an inch or less and are formed either of a dielectric material such as paper or plastic or of an electrically conductive material such as strips of metal.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an improved transport means which transports relatively thin sheets of dielectric material having electric charge accumulated thereon from location to location without degrading this sheet, a film, or a latent electrostatic image which may be formed thereon.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a transport arrangement for relatively thin sheets of material which accumulate an electric charge thereon and which facilitates the separation of the material from the transport arrangement.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide a transport arrangement for relatively thin sheet material which substantially reduces the disadvantageous effects resulting from contact potential existing between the sheet and a transport member or surface.
  • a further object of the invention is the provision of an improved transport means in an electrostatic charging system which is adapted for transferring counter charge to a film which is deposited on a relatively thin electric sheet.
  • a transport arrangement for an elongated relatively thin sheet of material comprises an electrically conductive mat and a plurality of electrically conductive contact members extending from and fixed to the mat and in electrical contact with the mat.
  • the mat is 'positioned with respect to the thin sheet for engaging the sheet at distal segments of the contact members thereby supporting and spacing the sheet from the mat while the sheet is transported.
  • Means are provided for imparting motion to the sheet material.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a sheet processing station having a thin-sheet transport arrangement in accordance with one embodiment of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a conductive mat which is positioned on transport bodies of the transport arrangement of FIG. l;v
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an electrostatic reproduction apparatus employing a transport arrangement constructed in accordance with features of this invention
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view of anelectrostatic reproduction apparatus constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is an alternative arrangement of the electrostatic reproduction apparatus of FIG. 5.
  • an exemplary form of processing stationl0 is shown to comprise a film coating station forvdepositing'a film of material such as dyed thermoplastic on a sheet 12 of. relatively thin material.
  • a film coating station forvdepositing'a film of material such as dyed thermoplastic on a sheet 12 of. relatively thin material.
  • the thickness of the sheet 12 is exaggerated.
  • the sheet is' moved continuously through the station and slurry is deposited from a hopper source 14 onto the sheet 12 as it is moved across the flat body 16 beneath the hopper.
  • the sheet material 12 is received from a supply table 18 and is transported through the processing station to a'receiving or stacking table 20'.
  • the sheet material 12 is formed of a material having a relatively small thickness which is on the order of thousandths of an inchbr less and is formed of a dielectric material suchas sheet paperderived from wood pulp or a plastic sheet material such as polypropylene.
  • the dielectric sheet material vl2 is moved along the surface of the supply table 18, along the processing surfacel6 and is transportedby the drums 22, 24 and 26. The contact of the sheet with these bodies has heretofore resulted in an accumulation of an electrostatic charge on the sheet 12.
  • the transported relatively thin sheet 12 is moved in contact with a plurality of upstanding electrical conductive contact members-which are in electrical contact with and secured to an electrically conductive mat.
  • a mat 40 is positioned on and is secured to the drum 22 for rotation therewith.
  • a mat 42 is positioned on and is secured to the drum 24 while a mat 44 is positioned on and is secured to. the drum 26.
  • Each of the mats is in electrical contact with the drum and is thus maintained at ground potential which in the usual caseis the electric potential of the machine elements.
  • a plurality of electrically conductive upstanding contact members are represented on each of the referredto mats by reference numeral 50.
  • contact members although relatively stiff exhibit a slight resiliency and the distal segments thereof can be deflected slightly. Transport of the sheet 12 is therefore accomplished by contacting the sheet 12 with these contact members 50 rather than contacting'the sheet 12 with I a smooth rolling surface as has been the case heretofore.
  • the flexibility of the contact members advantageously eliminates unevencontact of the sheet material 12 with the driving and guiding members since the distal segments of member 50 stretch out wrinkles in the sheet material which would-occur from time to time.
  • This arrangement spaces the sheet from asmooth surface and avoids the entrapment of air between the flexible sheet 12 and the drivingor guiding-surface.
  • the distal segmerits of the existing members 50 will transfer countercharge to the dielectric sheet with firm, welldefined local contact during the charging process as well as at the time of separation of the sheet-from the mat and contact members, thus assuring that a uniform charge or latent electrostatic image remains firmly and'uniformly attached to the .dielectric sheet, l
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate in greater detailvthe structural arrangement of one embodiment of amat and extending contact members.
  • the mats 40, 42 and. 44 are flexible and are woven for example of an electrically condu'ctive fiber such as stainless steel.
  • the material including its distal segments, is formed ofa metalized yarn or staple by electrostatic flocking oralternatively by mechanically interweaving these members intothe mat.
  • An assembled mat and contact members thus re-' Viss a rug having a pile or nap of raised contact members extending from the mat.
  • the mat and extending'contact members have a total thickness of about 0.6 inches and a contact member density of about I X l0'/in..
  • the mat and extending contact members may be formed of soft metalized or tin oxide coated fiberglass.
  • the brush or contact member material may initially be assembled after which the assembly of mat and contact members is made electrically conductive by vacuum aluminizing. or by electrolic-depositing of metal. Assembly of the mat and contact members can also be accomplished by weaving conductive materials comprising very fine stainless steel yarn or the like To be effective, more than of the fibers should be metallic or metalized.
  • a fabric mat having loops formed therein and constituting extending members is metallized and laminated to foam rubber for example. Electrical contact, however, is provided with the metallized fabric.
  • FIG. 4- An electrostatic reproduction apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 4-wherein a relatively thin sheet of dielectric material is supplied in the form of a continuous strip from a supply reel 60 to a take-up reel 62.
  • the strip 12 is coated with a photosensitive image retention material and a uniform electrostatic charge is established on this material.
  • the sheet is then exposed to a light pattern in order to form a latent electrostatic image. After formation of the latent electrostatic image, the sheet is transported to developing andfixing stations.
  • a means for establishing a uniform charge on thesurface 12 and for exposing, the surface to provide a latent electrostatic image comprises a corotron 64, a light source ineluding lamps 66 and 68, a light shield 69 and a strip lens a'sser'nbly 70.
  • a lamp and strip lens arrangement of this t'ype is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,584,950 and 3,584,952 the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinv by reference.
  • These elements are mounted on a transport 72 which during the image formation process travels toward the right as viewed in FIG. 4.
  • This assembly sequentially focuses image elements of a subject image 74, such as a document which is to beireproduced and which is positioned on a transparent body such as a plate of glass 76, on the photosensitive surface 12.
  • the corotron 64 during this transport establishes an electrostatic'charge on the surface immediately prior to the focusing and exposure of the subject image elements. During this process the movement of the sheet 12 may be halted until this imaging step is completed.
  • the assembly of the corotron and lamp and-lens assembly will'then return to its initial starting point in order to provide a sequential exposure.
  • the latent electrostatic imag ' which is thus formed on the sheet 12 is then transported to a developing station while a succeeding segment of the sheet 12 is simultaneously moved toward the imaging station and is positioned for exposure.
  • Development of the image on the sheet 12 is accomplished,e.g. by applying a polar liquid developer to the sheet with a coating roller 78 which is wetted from a reservoir 80.
  • the sheet 12 is then transported to a printing station where a record medium such as paper 82 is brought into contact with the developed image and this image is transferred to the paper 82.
  • a record medium such as paper 82 is brought into contact with the developed image and this image is transferred to the paper 82.
  • Means can be provided for fixing the image to the sheet of paper.
  • the strip of paper 82 hearing the transferred image is conveyed to a station, not illustrated,
  • the establishment of an electric charge on the sheet 12 of the reproduction apparatus of FIG. 4 is accomplished by the corotron 64.
  • the structure and method of operation of a corotron is well known in the art. Generally speaking, a relatively high electric potential is applied between the corotron members and a ground plane upon which the sheet 12 is supported in order to provide a high potential between the sheet 12 andthe corotron for depositing charge on the sheet.
  • a ground-plane is provided by the conductive mat and contact members 84. The contact members make firm contact with the sheet on its lower surface and effectively establish the sheet 12 at ground potential.
  • the rollers 86 and 88 provide motion of the endless belt 84 and transport the sheet 12.
  • FIG. 5 An alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the conductive mat and contact members are maintained stationary and wherein a relatively thin sheet is drawn across the stationary contact members is illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the sheet 12 comprises, for example, 15 percent by weight of phthalocy'anine dispersed in a binder film of polypropylene.
  • the phthalocyanine renders the film photoconductive and the sheet 12 is self-supporting.
  • a mat 40 is mechanically secured to a metal surface 90 by any suitable means.
  • the mat can be secured to the grounded surface90 by metal strips which are laid along edges of the mat and are bolted to its surface.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the reproduction apparatus of FIG. 5. Those elements of FIG. 6 performing functions similar to elements of FIG. 4 and 5 bear the same reference numerals.
  • the sheet 12 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 at the image formation station is drawn over a shallow tray 91 to which is coupled a vacuum pump 92 through a suitable conduit 94. A vacuum is formed in this tray and causes the sheet 12 to be stiffly stretched and maintained in-a uniform level plane. After exposure and the formation of a latent electrostatic image on the sheet, as was described with respect to FIG.
  • the drum rollers 96 and 98 each of which includes an electrically conductive mat and extending contact members in accordance with the inven tion are rotated in order to'transport that section of the sheet 12 bearing a latent'image to the developing station and to advance a successive segment of the. sheet '12 to the imaging station for exposure.
  • Th'etransport of claim 1 wherein means are provided'for establishing an electric charge on said sheet.
  • An electrostatic reproduction apparatus comprising: I a
  • said transporting means comprising a transport body, means operatively coupled to said body for imparting motionjto said body, said body having secured thereon an electrically conductive mat and a plurality of electrically conductive contact members secured to and in electrical contact with the mat and extending from said mat for supporting and transporting said sheet neardistal segments of said contact members at a spaced-apart location from said body adhere to 'said elements, the improvement for transporting said sheet throughapparatus comprisingz" a transport body, means operatively coupled to said body for imparting motionto saidbody, and an electrically conductive mar positioned on" said.
  • transportbody for movement therewith and including a plurality of electrically conductive contact members secured to said matand 'extending therefrom for engaging said 'sheet near. distal segments of said members for spacingsaid'sheet at ⁇ ! location apart from said body wher eby an acc'ummulation of static electric charge on said sheet is minimized and the sheet is readily separable from the transport.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Paper Feeding For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Advancing Webs (AREA)
US00213613A 1971-12-29 1971-12-29 Transport arrangement for thin sheet material Expired - Lifetime US3765757A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21361371A 1971-12-29 1971-12-29

Publications (1)

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US3765757A true US3765757A (en) 1973-10-16

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US00213613A Expired - Lifetime US3765757A (en) 1971-12-29 1971-12-29 Transport arrangement for thin sheet material

Country Status (12)

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US (1) US3765757A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS4878944A (enExample)
AU (1) AU5058672A (enExample)
BE (1) BE793551A (enExample)
BR (1) BR7209201D0 (enExample)
CA (1) CA1004289A (enExample)
DE (2) DE2264414A1 (enExample)
ES (1) ES410107A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2166151A1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1419978A (enExample)
IT (1) IT972846B (enExample)
NL (1) NL7217693A (enExample)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3867027A (en) * 1971-12-29 1975-02-18 Xerox Corp Transport arrangement for thin sheet material
US3879123A (en) * 1973-01-26 1975-04-22 Powell B J Copy machine
US3972609A (en) * 1974-05-04 1976-08-03 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Electrostatic copying machine
FR2313702A1 (fr) * 1975-03-13 1976-12-31 Hoechst Ag Procede et dispositif d'enregistrement d'informations sur une matiere photoconductrice
EP0010948A1 (en) * 1978-10-30 1980-05-14 Xerox Corporation Electrostatographic printing machine
WO1989001190A1 (en) * 1987-08-05 1989-02-09 Eastman Kodak Company Multi-mode electrophotographic reproduction apparatus
US5593151A (en) * 1994-12-19 1997-01-14 Xerox Corporation Self biasing electrostatic paper transport
US20060037989A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2006-02-23 Sms Demag Ag Device for transferring or threading beginnings of bands

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3451752A (en) * 1966-06-08 1969-06-24 Eastman Kodak Co Compact document copier
US3637303A (en) * 1968-06-21 1972-01-25 Canon Kk Electrophotographic copying machine having movable slit-exposure station
US3691993A (en) * 1970-11-23 1972-09-19 Ibm Apparatus for transferring developed image

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3451752A (en) * 1966-06-08 1969-06-24 Eastman Kodak Co Compact document copier
US3637303A (en) * 1968-06-21 1972-01-25 Canon Kk Electrophotographic copying machine having movable slit-exposure station
US3691993A (en) * 1970-11-23 1972-09-19 Ibm Apparatus for transferring developed image

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3867027A (en) * 1971-12-29 1975-02-18 Xerox Corp Transport arrangement for thin sheet material
US3879123A (en) * 1973-01-26 1975-04-22 Powell B J Copy machine
US3972609A (en) * 1974-05-04 1976-08-03 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Electrostatic copying machine
FR2313702A1 (fr) * 1975-03-13 1976-12-31 Hoechst Ag Procede et dispositif d'enregistrement d'informations sur une matiere photoconductrice
US4105323A (en) * 1975-03-13 1978-08-08 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Process and apparatus for recording deformation images
EP0010948A1 (en) * 1978-10-30 1980-05-14 Xerox Corporation Electrostatographic printing machine
WO1989001190A1 (en) * 1987-08-05 1989-02-09 Eastman Kodak Company Multi-mode electrophotographic reproduction apparatus
US5593151A (en) * 1994-12-19 1997-01-14 Xerox Corporation Self biasing electrostatic paper transport
US20060037989A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2006-02-23 Sms Demag Ag Device for transferring or threading beginnings of bands
US20080047998A1 (en) * 2003-02-06 2008-02-28 Sms Demag Ag Device for transferring or threading beginnings of a band

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7217693A (enExample) 1973-07-03
AU5058672A (en) 1974-07-04
IT972846B (it) 1974-05-31
JPS4878944A (enExample) 1973-10-23
ES410107A1 (es) 1976-03-16
BR7209201D0 (pt) 1973-09-20
DE2261011A1 (de) 1973-07-12
BE793551A (fr) 1973-06-29
CA1004289A (en) 1977-01-25
GB1419978A (en) 1975-12-31
DE2264414A1 (de) 1973-07-05
FR2166151A1 (enExample) 1973-08-10

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