US3823317A - Thermocopying apparatus - Google Patents

Thermocopying apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3823317A
US3823317A US00305590A US30559072A US3823317A US 3823317 A US3823317 A US 3823317A US 00305590 A US00305590 A US 00305590A US 30559072 A US30559072 A US 30559072A US 3823317 A US3823317 A US 3823317A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
web
transfer
transporting
sheet
copy sheet
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
US00305590A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
G Ritzerfeld
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3823317A publication Critical patent/US3823317A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
    • B41M5/38207—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes characterised by aspects not provided for in groups B41M5/385 - B41M5/395
    • B41M5/38221—Apparatus features
    • 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
    • G03B27/02—Exposure apparatus for contact printing
    • G03B27/10—Copying apparatus with a relative movement between the original and the light source during exposure
    • 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
    • G03B27/02—Exposure apparatus for contact printing
    • G03B27/14—Details
    • G03B27/30—Details adapted to be combined with processing apparatus
    • G03B27/306—Heat development

Definitions

  • thermocopying arrangement includes a source of infrared radiation focused on a line between a rotary transparent tube and a pressure roller.
  • a transfer web having on one side a heat-responsive layer is transported through the line with the layer facing away from the source of radiation, and is wound up on a reel.
  • a master sheet is transported through the line in contact with the free other side of the transfer web, and a copy sheet web, or an individual copy sheet, is transported through the line in contact with the layer so that an image of the master sheet is formed on a copy sheet section, or on a copy sheet.
  • the master sheet and the copy sheet are separated from the transfer web which is wound up for further use.
  • the separated master sheet can be again fed by the machine operator to the line of focused infrared radiation together with the transfer web and a new copy sheet.
  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for thermocopying mirror images on copy sheets used as printing forms from a preferably transparent master sheet by means of infrared radiation.
  • German OS 1,572,298 which provides a holder for holding the master sheet, a transfer sheet, and a copy sheet for the copy to be made, or for making a printing form.
  • holder is required to prevent relative displacement of the three sheets, and to assure full contact between the three sheets and thereby a reliable transfer of a layer on the transfer sheet to the copy sheet or printing form, corresponding to the mirror image on the master sheet.
  • the arrangement of the prior art requires in addition to the manufacture of the holder for the three sheets, also a substantial amount of time for assembling the master sheet, the transfer sheet, and the copy sheet in a holder before each copying operation, while the three sheets have to be manually removed from the holder after the copying operation.
  • thermocopying apparatus It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art thermocopying apparatus, and to provide a thermocopying methodand apparatus which continuously operates and does not require holders for several sheets.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for producing a great number of copies, such as printing forms, from a master sheet.
  • Another object of the invention is to continuously use and wind up a transfer sheet web.
  • Another object of the invention is to transfer an image from the master sheet to a copy sheet by means of an intermediate transfer web passing together through a line of focused infrared radiation.
  • infrared radiation is focused on a line along which a rotary transparent tube and a pressure roller cooperate, the source of radiation being stationarily mounted within the rotary transparent tube.
  • a transfer web having a layer of dye material melting in heat is transported between the transparent tube and the pressure roller with the layer facing away from the source of radiation in the rotary A tube.
  • a preferably transparent master sheet is singly transported through the line in which the radiation is focused, while on the layer of the transfer web, a copy sheet web, or individual copy sheets, such as printing forms, are synchronously transported. Behind the focusing line, the master sheet and the printing form are separated from the transfer web, which is wound up on a reel.
  • a method according to the invention comprises focusing infrared radiation on a line, transporting a transfer web having on one side a radiation-responsive layer through the line with the layer facing away from the source of radiation, transporting a master sheet in contact with the other side of the transfer web through the line, transporting a copy sheet web, or a copy sheet in contact with the layer through the line whereby an image of the master sheet is produced on a copy sheet section or on an individual copy sheet by transferred layer portions, separating behind the line the master sheet and the copy sheet from the transfer web, and winding up the transfer web.
  • An apparatus comprises a transfer station including a source of radiation; first transporting means for transporting a master sheet through the transfer station; second transporting means for transporting through the transfer station a portion of a transfer web having on one side a radiation-responsive transferable layer, in a position in which the other side thereof is in contact with the master sheet and faces the source.
  • said second transporting means including a takeoff reel before the transfer station, and a windup reel for winding up the transfer web after passage through the transfer station; and third transporting means for transporting copy sheet means through the transfer station in a posi* tion abutting the layer of said transfer web.
  • a master sheet can be again supplied to the first transporting means for cooperation with another portion of the transfer web taken off the takeoff reel, and wound up on the windup reel.
  • the arrangement is perferably such that the transfer web is transported by transporting rollers preceding the transfer station between the rotary tube of a transfer station which houses the radiation source, and a corresponding pressure roller, and moves to a deflecting guide means and from there to the windup reel so that the transfer web is separated from the copy sheet web, or from an individual copy sheet. If individual copy sheets are used, an automatic feeding means for successively feeding copy sheets to a pair of transporting rol lers is provided, and the same transporting rollers receive the fed master sheet.
  • sensing means are provided for sensing the leading and trailing ends of a transported master sheet, and control punching means to punch the transfer web to indicate the ends of a copy sheet which is obtained by cutting the copy sheet web in accordance with sensed punched holes in the transfer web before the same is wound up.
  • a feeler is provided in the region of a pair of transporting rollers which transport the master sheet to the transfer station. Only when a master sheet is placed between the transporting rollers, a feeler switch controls a circuit to start the drive motor of the apparatus, and if second sheets are fed by feeding means, also i the feeding means.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly schematic, side elevation, partially in vertical section, illustrating an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic side elevation, partially in vertical section, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 3.
  • a master sheet 1 can be placed on a supply table 45, and is transported by a pair of transporting rollers 3 and 4.
  • a switch 44 When a switch 44 is depressed by the machine operator, current flows through a delay amplifier 32 and through a relay 63 so that a motor 5 is started, as best seen in FIG. 2.
  • Motor 5 drives, as shown in FIG.
  • a gear pulley 6 which drives through a gear belt 13 the gear pulley 7 of transporting roller 4, the gear pulley 8 of a pressure roller 19, a gear pulley 9 with another transporting roller 16 so that also transporting roller 3, transporting roller 15, and gear pulley 12 through gear belt 14, and thereby windup reel 17 are rotated so that a transfer web 24 is wound up on windup reel 12, and taken off the takeoff reel 28.
  • the driven pressure roller 19 pulls a print form web 30 from a supply reel 29.
  • the pressure roller 19 and the small rollers 20 and 21, support a cylindrical tube 18, which is preferably transparent, for rotation.
  • a stationary reflector 31 is mounted within the transparent rotary tube 18, and focuses the radiation of a source of infrared light onto a line along which pressure roller 19 cooperates with the outer surface of the tube 18.
  • a blower 27 is provided above a supporting table 34 which is located between the pair of rollers 18 and 19 and a pair of rollers 15, 16, and has a stripper edge 34a in the bight between the rollers 19 and 18. Underneath the stripping edge 34a, a receptacle 33 is provided for a master sheet which was fed on support table 45, has been transported by transporting rollers 3 and 4, and has passed through the transfer station 18 to 21, 31, 25.
  • a sensing means 22 is provided for sensing the leading edge of the master sheet 1 trans ported by transporting rollers 3 and 4 to the transfer station l8, I9, 25.
  • the response of the photoelectric sensing means 22 produces a signal amplified by amplifier 66 which controls a punch 23, see also FIG. 1, which punches a hole into a projecting marginal portion of the transfer web 24 which is taken off the reel 28 and passes between pressure roller 19 and the rotary tube 18 to the transporting rollers 16 and 15, and from there over a deflecting guide means 35 to a deflecting roller 36 and from there to the windup reel 17.
  • the defleeting guide means 35 separates the transfer web 24 from a copy sheet web supplied from supply reel 29 and transported by transporting rollers 15 and 16 to a cutting device.
  • other sensing means 37 see also FIG. 2 respond to a punched hole in the marginal portion of the transfer web 24, a signal is produced which is amplified in amplifier 67 and operates the electromagnetic cutting means 38 to cut the copy sheet web 30 at a point corresponding to a leading edge of the master sheet 1.
  • the print form web 30 is supplied from the supply reel 29, the master sheet 1, transfer web 24, and print form web 30 being transported at uniform speed by the pair of transporting rollers l5, 16 between pressure roller 19 and tube 18 in superimposed condition.
  • An endless gauze band 48 passes over the rotary tube 18 directly adjacent the same and under the master sheet 1, and also passes over a roller 47 biased by spring 46 to tension the endless gauze band 48.
  • the transported master sheet 1 has released the feeler switch 2, so that feeler switch 2 opens and interrupts the flow of current to motor 5, blowers 26, 27, and source of infrared radiation 25, as best seen in FIG. 2.
  • the respective master sheet 1 has been stripped by stripper edge 34a from the free side of the transfer sheet 24, and is collected in a receptacle 33.
  • the copy sheet web 30 has a radiated section 300 resting on the table 34. If the apparatus is started as described above for making another copy sheet, which may be used as a printing form, the transfer web 24 is separated behind the transporting rollers l5, 16 by the deflecting guide 35 from the copy sheet web 30, and is wound on the windup reel after passing over the guide roller 36.
  • the sensing means 37 which is provided in the region of the guide roller 36, is actuated by a punched hole in the marginal portion of the transfer web 24 and operates the electromagnetic cutting device 38.
  • the sensing means 22 and 37, and of the punching device 23 By exactly adjusting the positions of the sensing means 22 and 37, and of the punching device 23, a precise cutting of separate copy sheet sections or printing form sections 39 from the printing form web 30 is obtained.
  • the cut off copy sheets or printing forms 39 are received by a receptacle 40, and a pivotally mounted flap 4] guides waste portions 42 of copy sheet web 30 between copy sheets 39 into a receptacle 43.
  • Flap 41 is operated from the cutter 38 by means, not shown, which obtain a synchronous operation of flap 41 and cutter 38.
  • manual switch 44 only closes the circuit of motor 5 when the relay contact 64 is closed.
  • switch 44 is operated while relay contact 64 is open, motor 5 is directly connected to the voltage, as shown in FIG. 2, so that motor 5 starts, and
  • the cutting device 38 and flap 41 are operated to eject the last copy sheet section which is still in the appara tus.
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the apparatus in which precut copy sheets or printing forms are used instead of a continuous printing form web.
  • Copy sheets or printing forms 54 arestacked in a container, and a feedingroller 53 is driven by a gear pulley 31 to eject the uppermost copy sheet 54 into the bight between the transporting rollers 3 and 4 to which the transfer web 24 passes together with the mastersheet l, as explained above.
  • the master sheet 1 is singly fed by the machine operator, and the transfer web is taken off the takeoff reel 28 which is located directly above the feeding or'supply table 45 and somewhat below the stack of copy sheets 45 so that master sheet 1 abuts transporting roller 3, a fed copy sheet 54 abuts transporting roller 4, and transfer web 24 passes between master sheet 1 and the fed copy sheet 54, with its layer facing the respective copy sheet 54.
  • all three sheets are together transported to the bight be tween the pressure roller 19 and the rotary transparent tube 18 in which the layer of the transfer web is heated by the focused radiation of the source of infrared radiation 25 so that the above explained transfer of an image from the master sheet to the printing form 54 takes place.
  • a takeoff reel 56 supplies a protective web 57 directly to the pressure roller 19, and the protective web 57 is then wound up on a takeup reel 55. Since the copy sheets 54 are already cut, the cutting means 38 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are omitted.
  • An imprinted printing form 39 passes over the transfer web 24 on the deflecting guide 35, and is driven by the transporting rollers 15, 16 to fall into a receptacle 40.
  • the master sheet 1 is collected in receptacle 33 as described with reference to FIG. 1.
  • the sensing means 22 and 37, and the punch 23 of the embodiment of FIG. 1, are omitted in the embodiment of FIG. 3.
  • the master sheet 1 is located below, and the printing form 54 is located above the transfer web 24, whose layer abuts the printing form or copy sheet 54.
  • the master sheet After passage between tube 18 and pressure roller 19, the master sheet is stripped off the free side of the transfer web 24 by the stripper edge 34a and falls into the receptacle 33.
  • the printing form 54 is transported by the transporting rollers 15, 16 into the receptacle 40, while the transfer web 24, guided over the deflecton the shaft of motor 49, see FIG. 5, closes for a ing guide means 35, is wound up on the windup reel 17 which is driven by the gear belt 40 from pulley 11.
  • Relay 63 is energized throught the delay amplifier 32 and operates the respective relay contact 64 with a delay so that after a period of time, motor 5, source of radiation 25, and the motors of blowers 26 and 27 are disconnected from the voltage.
  • a finished printing form or copy sheet 54 is now lying on the supporting table 34 above the transfer web 24, and is transported by transporting rollers 15 and 16 to fall into the receptacle 40 when the transfer web 24 separates therefrom at the deflecting guide 35. This separation of the finished printing form 54 from the continuously wound up transfer web 24, takes place when the next following master sheet 1 is placed on the supply table 1 engaging feeler switch 2.
  • the motor 5 can be started by manual operation of switch 44 for ejecting the last printing form 39 into container 40.
  • thermocopying method and apparatus with a continuously wound up transfer web having a radiation-responsive layer
  • it is not intended to be limited the the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
  • Thermocopying arrangement with a transfer web comprising, in combination, a transfer station including a source of infrared radiation; first transporting means for transporting a master sheet throough said transfer station; second transporting means for transporting through said transfer station a portion of a transfer web having on one side a radiation responsive transferable layer in a position in which the other side thereof is in contact with said master sheet and faces said source, said second transporting means including a take off reel upstream of said transfer station, and a windup reel for winding up said transfer web downstream of said transfer station; third transporting means for transporting a continuous copy sheet web through said transfer station in a position abutting said layer on said one side of said transfer web, said transfer web having a marginal portion projecting laterally beyond said master sheet and said copy sheet web; first sensing means for sensing the leading and trailing ends of the transported master sheet; means controlled by said first sensing means for providing said marginal portion of said transfer web with markings spaced from each other according to the spacing of leading and trailing ends from each
  • said transfer station includes a driven rotary transparent tube having an outer surface in contact with said master sheet, a pressure roller cooperating with said tube along a line, and being in contact with said copy sheet web, and a reflector in said tube, said source being in said tube and being focused by said reflector in said line; and wherein said master sheet is transparent.
  • said first transporting means include first collecting means for said master sheet, said first collecting means including stripper means for stripping said master sheet off said transfer web following said transfer station, and a receptacle for receiving the stripped master sheet.
  • first transporting means include a pair of transporting rollers located underneath said takeoff reel; and wherein third transporting means include a supply reel located above said transfer station and having said copy sheet web wound up thereon.
  • said transfer station includes a rotary tube, and a presser roller above said tube cooperating with said tube and pressing said copy sheet web against said transfer web, and said transfer web against said master sheet; and comprising fourth transporting means for transporting a protective web between and in contact with said presser roller and said copy sheet web so that when the copy sheet web is not fed to said transfer station, said protective web is in contact with said layer of said transfer web.
  • said fourth transporting means include a takeoff roller and a windup roller located above said transfer station.
  • said third transporting means include a pair of transporting rollers following said transfer station and rotating at uniform speed; comprising a supporting table between said transfer station and said transporting rollers, said supporting table having a stripper edge adjacent said transfer station for stripping the master sheet from said transfer web which is transported with said copy sheet web by said transporting rollers.
  • said means for providing said marginal portions with markings comprise punching means for punching holes into said marginal portions.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Advancing Webs (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
US00305590A 1971-12-13 1972-11-10 Thermocopying apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3823317A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2162466A DE2162466A1 (de) 1971-12-13 1971-12-13 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur thermographischen erstellung von spiegelbilddruckformen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3823317A true US3823317A (en) 1974-07-09

Family

ID=5828195

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00305590A Expired - Lifetime US3823317A (en) 1971-12-13 1972-11-10 Thermocopying apparatus

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3823317A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4866847A (fr)
AT (1) AT326152B (fr)
BE (1) BE789229A (fr)
CH (1) CH552823A (fr)
DE (1) DE2162466A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2165465A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1369341A (fr)
IT (1) IT966069B (fr)
NL (1) NL7213502A (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4659927A (en) * 1984-05-31 1987-04-21 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image transfer apparatus and method
US5132537A (en) * 1990-04-19 1992-07-21 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image transfer apparatus and method
WO1995024311A1 (fr) * 1994-03-11 1995-09-14 Polaroid Corporation Machine de stratification optique
WO1998002294A2 (fr) * 1996-07-12 1998-01-22 John Wood Thermo-soupage de plastiques par rayonnement

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5595582A (en) * 1979-01-16 1980-07-19 Toshiba Corp Thermal transfer recorder

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4659927A (en) * 1984-05-31 1987-04-21 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image transfer apparatus and method
US5132537A (en) * 1990-04-19 1992-07-21 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image transfer apparatus and method
WO1995024311A1 (fr) * 1994-03-11 1995-09-14 Polaroid Corporation Machine de stratification optique
US5512126A (en) * 1994-03-11 1996-04-30 Polaroid Corporation Optical laminator
WO1998002294A2 (fr) * 1996-07-12 1998-01-22 John Wood Thermo-soupage de plastiques par rayonnement
WO1998002294A3 (fr) * 1996-07-12 1998-07-23 John Wood Thermo-soupage de plastiques par rayonnement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH552823A (de) 1974-08-15
IT966069B (it) 1974-02-11
FR2165465A5 (fr) 1973-08-03
GB1369341A (en) 1974-10-02
AT326152B (de) 1975-11-25
NL7213502A (fr) 1973-06-15
JPS4866847A (fr) 1973-09-13
DE2162466A1 (de) 1973-06-20
BE789229A (fr) 1973-01-15
ATA850272A (de) 1975-02-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0110204B1 (fr) Duplicateur à stencil permettant l'impression automatique ainsi que la perforation, le chargement et la sortie automatique du stencil
US4043665A (en) Copier document handler
US4268021A (en) Transportation arrangement for sheetlike recording carriers
US3753560A (en) Auxiliary sheet feeder
US2927210A (en) Copying machine
US3937454A (en) Sheet recirculator
CA1096926A (fr) Ejecteur de document sur photocopieur
US3599521A (en) Automatic film cutter
GB2108442A (en) Apparatus for applying a rubber sheet to a tyre making drum
US3823317A (en) Thermocopying apparatus
US3309960A (en) Photographic reproducing apparatus
US3215055A (en) Automatic copying machine
GB2032398A (en) Copy machine paper feed mechanism
US3469482A (en) Machine for cutting strip material
US3083010A (en) Blueprint folding machine
GB1145106A (en) Apparatus for electrostatic printing
US3727499A (en) Automatic roll-supplied copy material-feeding and cutting mechanism
US3215056A (en) Automatic copying machine
US3661453A (en) Electrostatic label printer
JP2820733B2 (ja) ラミネート装置
US4057014A (en) Tape printer and stripper assembly
US3472106A (en) Apparatus and method for reproducing long originals
US3572203A (en) Copying machine and feed apparatus therefor
US4000671A (en) Transport guide for pliable sheet material
US3674352A (en) Electrostatic label printer