US3637302A

US3637302A - Compact copying machine with multiple-function reciprocating carriage

Info

Publication number: US3637302A
Application number: US746127A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Hunt; Joseph M Rait
Original assignee: Pelorex Corp
Current assignee: Pelorex Corp
Priority date: 1968-07-19
Filing date: 1968-07-19
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25
Also published as: NL6904707A; SE345532B; DE1900427A1; JPS4818498B1; FR2013218A1; GB1215409A

Abstract

A copying machine of the Electrofax type having a stationary horizontal transparent support for receiving manuscript to be copied and a carriage mounted for horizontal movement beneath the transparency to effect optical scanning of the manuscript. The carriage supports means for feeding copy paper vertically past an image-receiving zone, a mirror which projects an image from the manuscript horizontally toward the image-receiving zone, lens means between the mirror and the image-receiving zone for focusing the image on the surface of the copy paper, a toner receptacle and means for feeding the copy paper therethrough after exposure thereof. Means are provided for moving the carriage horizontally in exact synchronism with vertical movements of the copy paper whereby a panoramic image from the manuscript is applied to the copy paper. The carriage-moving means includes a pulley mounted upon and rotated jointly with a paper feed roll and a traction cable wrapped about the pulley and adapted to be connected to opposite ends of the machine. Means are provided for tightening the cable whereby rotation of the pulley causes the pulley to rotate along the cable and thus move the carriage in synchronism with the paper feed roller.

Description

United States Patent Hunt et al.

[72] Inventors: Robert A. Hunt, Silver Creek; Joseph M.

Rait, Buffalo, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Pelorex Corp., Buffalo, NY.

[22] Filed: July 19, 1968 [21] Appl. No.: 746,127

[52] U.S. Cl.. ..355/8, 355/10 [5 l] Int. Cl. ..G03g 15/22 [58] Field of Search ..355/8, 52, 64, 65

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,966,261 7/1934 Petit et al ..95/15 3,45l,752 6/1969 Frank ..355/8 3,421,816 1/1969 Robertson et al ..355/8 Primary ExaminerSamuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner- Kenneth C. Hutchison Attorney-Christel & Bean [5 7] ABSTRACT A copying machine of the Electrofax type having a stationary horizontal transparent support for receiving manuscript to be copied and a carriage mounted for horizontal movement beneath the transparency to effect optical scanning of the manuscript. The carriage supports means for feeding copy paper vertically past an image-receiving zone, a mirror which projects an image from the manuscript horizontally toward the image-receiving zone, lens means between the mirror and the image-receiving zone for focusing the image on the surface of the copy paper, a toner receptacle and means for feeding the copy paper therethrough after exposure thereof. Means are provided for moving the carriage horizontally in exact synchronism with vertical movements of the copy paper whereby a panoramic image from the manuscript is applied to the copy paper. The carriage-moving means includes a pulley mounted upon and rotated jointly with a paper feed roll and a traction cable wrapped about the pulley and adapted to be connected to opposite ends of the machine. Means are provided for tightening the cable whereby rotation of the pulley causes the pulley to rotate along the cable and thus move the carriage in synchronism with the paper feed roller.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTED JANZS I972 SHEET 10F 3' INVENTORS ROBERT A. HUNT a By JOSEPH M. RAIT M? @W A TTOPNEYS PATENTED JAN25I972 SHEET 2 BF 3 IN V EN TORS ROBERTA. HUNT &

JOSEPH M. an r ATTORNEYS PATENTED ms m2 SHEEI 3 BF 3 A TTORNEYJ' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the reproduction of documents and the like by electrophotography and, more particularly, by processes of the type wherein the copy paper is rendered photosensitive by applying an electrostatic charge to the surface of the copy paper.

In .certain types of electrostatic copying processes and apparatus the manuscript to be copied is held in a stationary position and the surface thereof is exposed to optical scanning means which projects an image of the manuscript to an electrostatically sensitized copy sheet. In such apparatus the copy SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a relatively simple and compact copying machine wherein the manuscript to be copied is supported face down upon a transparent surface at the top of the apparatus and a carriage passes beneath the same to scan the material of the manuscript. Virtually all of the operating instrumentalities of the copying machine are mounted upon this carriage, that is, a mirror for projecting a scanned image from the manuscript, as the carriage moves in a plane parallel to the surface of the manuscript, lens means for directing this image horizontally to a sheet of sensitized copy paper, means for electrostatically sensitizing the sheet of copy paper, and

means for moving the sensitized copy sheet vertically past the projected field of the optical means at a speed exactly synchronized with the horizontal movement of the carriage.

Speaking generally, the principal power-driven feed roll of the paper feed mechanism is driven by electric motor means and the arrangement for propelling the carriage along beneath the manuscript is driven directly from this powered paper feed roll. A pulley connected directly to the powered paper feed roll for rotation therewith has a cable wrapped around the same and the ends of the cable are anchored to opposite ends of the machine. Accordingly, rotation of the paper feed roll and the pulley fixed thereto causes the pulley in effect to roll along the cable. The effective diameter of the pulley and the effective diameter of the paper feed roll are the same. By this means paper feed movements resulting from the copy paper being pulled past the image zone of the lens means by the powered paper feed roll are exactly duplicated by movements of the pulley along the cable which produce horizontal movements of the carriage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through one form of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic skeletonized perspective view of the drive and transmission means of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a general top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line.44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing fragmentarily the control shaft biasing means of FIG. 4 and taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 but showing apparatus for applying a dry powdered toner to. the exposed copy paper instead'of the liquid toner contemplated in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first particularly to FIGS. I and 3, the general framework of the machine comprises longitudinal sidewalls l0 and II which are held in fixed spaced relationship by upper and lower end members designated 12 through 15 in FIG. 1; A

transparent panel 16 of glass or clear plastic extends across the frame of the machine at the top thereof as shown in FIG. I and the manuscript to be copied is placed face down upon the panel 16.

A carriage assembly is designated generally by the reference numeral 17 and is provided with rollers 18 at its four corners for rolling movement in channel tracks 19 which extend horizontally along the interior surfaces of the sidewalls l0 and l l.

A series of paper feed rollers are mounted upon carriage l7 and include a pair of upper feed rollers 21 and 22 and a pair of

lower feed rollers

23 and 24 which lie directly beneath the upper feed rollers so that the copy paper passes vertically downwardly between the two pairs of rollers. Copy paper is inserted between a pair of spaced copy

paper guide plates

27 and 28 which are mounted upon carriage 17 for longitudinal movement therewith. A sheet of copy paper29 is shown inserted between

guide plates

27 and 28 for introduction to the upper sides of rollers 21 and 22. v

The apparatus and method illustrated and described herein by way of example is of the type known in the art ,as the Electrofax method wherein the copy paper has a zinc oxide coating. However, the principles of the present invention apply equally to Xerographic copying and in fact to any copying method to which the principles inherent herein are adaptable.

From the rollers 21 and 22 the copy paper passes vertically downwardly to the rollers 23 and '24. The roller 24 primarily controls the speed of movement of the paper and, as will be seen later herein, the synchronized horizontal movement of carriage 17. To this end the roller 24 is the primary paper feed roller and is driven at a very slightly faster rate than thecorresponding upper drive roller 22 to insure that the paper is taut in the vertical space between the upper and lower pair of rollers.

From the rollers 21 and 22 the copy paper 29 passes through a corona discharge device 31 which sensitizes the paper by applying an electrostatic charge thereto according to copying principles which are common to the Electrofax copying method. Between corona discharge device 31 and

lower rollers

23 and 24 is the zone in which an image of the manuscript, which is designated 30 in FIG. 1, is applied to the copy paper. A mirror 33 disposed at a 45 angle reflects an image of the manuscript 16 through lens means 34 and to the surface of copy paper 29. A lamp 35 also mounted upon carriage 17 illuminates the surface of manuscript 30.

After exposure of the sensitized surface of the copy paper in this manner the same moves through a liquid developer or toner 37 contained in a tank 38 fixed to the underside of carriage l7 and then passes outwardly between a pair of

rollers

40 and 41 and onto a chute 42 for delivery.

As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, a drive motor 45 and reducer unit 46 operate a drive pulley 47 which is connected to pulleys 48 and 49 which are carried by

rollers

24 and 40 by a toothed belt 50. A second output pulley SI of the reducer 46 drives a pulley 52 fixed to upper drive roller 22 by means of a belt 53.

Reference will now be had to the means for moving carriage l7 longitudinally in accurate synchronism with the rotation of paper feed roller 24. A pair of

pulleys

55 and 56 are fixed to the shaft of paper feed roller 24 for rotation jointly with roller 24 and traction cables 57 and 58 are wrapped around

pulleys

55 and 56, respectively. Corresponding ends of the cables 57 and 58 are fixed to the end of the stationary frame portion of the machine, as indicated at 59 and 60 in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the opposite ends of the two cables are attached to a vertical spindle 61 mounted at the opposite end of the machine frame. The cables 57 and 58 are attached to spindle 61 in such manner that clockwise rotation of spindle 61, as viewed from above, tightens cable 58 by wrapping the same around the spindle and loosens cable 57, whereas counterclockwise rotation of spindle 61 tightens cable 57 and loosens cable 58. Pulley 55 and traction cable 57 effect forward operating longitudinal movements of carriage 17, that is, movements from left to right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, whereas pulley 56 and cable 58 effect return movements.

Pulley 55 is of such size that its effective diameter with respect to cable 57 is substantially identical with the effective peripheral paper feeding diameter of roller 24. Accordingly, when cable 57 is taut, as during operating strokes of carriage l7, downward movements of copy paper 29 as controlled by rotation of paper feed roll 24 are exactly duplicated by synchronized horizontal movements of carriage 17 which are produced by pulley 55 in effect rolling along cable 57.

As will presently appear, such forward movements of carriage 17 occur when spindle 61 is in a counterclockwise'position of adjustment. When spindle 61 is in a clockwise position of adjustment, cable 57 is loosened and cable 58 is taut, and since the latter is wrapped oppositely on pulley 56 from the direction of wrapping of cable 57 or pulley 55, return movements of the carriage are effected. In the present instance, pulley 57 is greater in diameter than pulley 55 whereby more rapid return strokes are produced.

The energizing circuit for motor 45 includes a normally closed microswitch 64 which is mounted on the stationary framework of the machine and a cam plate 65 fixed to carriage 17 engages and opens microswitch 64 at the end of a return stroke of carriage 17. The parts are shown in this position of rest between operating cycles in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A normally open microswitch 66 is fixed to the opposite end of the machine framework as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and microswitch 66 is connected in parallel with microswitch 64. Referring particularly to FIG. 4, to start a cycle of operation the operator rotates spindle 61 in a counterclockwise direction by means of a manipulating knob 67 which brings an operating pin 68, which is fixed to a block 69 carried by spindle 61, into engagement with an operating member 70 of microswitch 66 to close the latter. This establishes an energizing circuit for motor 45 in parallel with microswitch 64 and thus energizes the motor until operator 65 releases microswitch 64 which then closes until the completion of an operating and return cycle of movement.

When the operator thus initiates a cycle of operation by counterclockwise rotation of spindle 61 a projection 75 of block 69 latches into a notch 76 in an arm 77 which is biased in a clockwise direction by an extension spring 78. This retains spindle 61 in its counterclockwise limit of movement as illustrated in FIG. 3 and this movement of spindle 61 also tightens cable 57 to produce synchronized longitudinal forward movement of carriage 17, that is, movement from left to right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3.

When a forward stroke approaches completion a projecting member 80 carried by carriage 17 engages arm 77 to move the same in a counterclockwise direction and release the projection 75, whereupon spindle 61 automatically rotates in a clockwise direction under the impetus of a biasing extension spring 81 which loosens cable 57 and tightens return cable 58 for a return stroke of movement of carriage 17. This movement of spindle 61 also permits microswitch 66 to open but the operating circuit for motor 45 is maintained through normally closed microswitch 64 until the return stroke of movement of carriage 17 is completed, whereupon member 65 opens microswitch 64 as previously described.

The foregoing arrangement is such that the completed copy is ultimately delivered after the carriage has made a full copying and return stroke so that the copy is released from the

final rollers

40 and 41 at the carriage position illustrated in FIG.'1, and the copy at this point actually protrudes from the lefthand end of the machine by an inch or so for convenient grasping. It will be noted that at the time when reaches its extreme right-hand position, as viewed in FIG. 1, that is, at the completion of the scanning, the trailing endportion of the copy paper is still engaged by the

rollers

21, 22, 23 and 24 even though the leading end of the copy paper has passed through tank 38 and is engaged by

rollers

40 and 41.

During the ensuing return movement of the carriage from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 1, the copy paper completes its passage through tank 38 and, as stated above, is released by passage of its trailing end from

rollers

40 and 41 at substantially the completion of the return movement of the carriage.

The principles of the present invention are equally applicable to electrophotographic copying processes and apparatus wherein a dry toner is employed instead of the liquid toner previously described. The chemical constituents of wet and dry toners employed in Electrofax copying processes are well known in this art. FIG. 6 shows a dry toner arrangement which may be substituted for the wet toner tank 38 of the previous embodiment. FIG. 6 is generally schematic and the paper feed rollers and the corona discharge element are designated by the same numerals as in the previous embodiment. From the

lower rollers

23 and 24 the exposed copy paper passes to a table to the bottom of which a tank or reservoir for dry toner, designated 91, is attached.

Conventional dry toners usually incorporate iron filings or ferromagnetic powder mixed with resin particles and a magnetic roller 92 picks up this mixture of dry particles, designated 93, and brushes the same against the exposed surface of copy paper 29. The paper is then subjected to heat, as is conventional, by means of a heat-radiating device 94 and a fan 95 may be provided for directing the heat against the surface of the copy paper.

A further improvement of the present invention involves the dry toner per se. In conventional dry toners, as stated above, iron filings and resin particles are mixed and the resin toner particles, being higher in the triboelectric series, acquire a positive charge and the iron particles a negative charge. Dry toners present a problem in maintaining thorough admixture of the iron and resin particles and for maintaining the proper balance or proportion between those particles.

The present invention contemplates a novel dry toner wherein the individual ferromagnetic or iron particles are encapsulated with the resin material which comprises the toner per se. Thus the encapsulated iron particles serve their electromagnetic function through the encapsulating'plastic film and the plastic material is applied directly to the electrostatic image on the exposed zinc oxide coated copy paper. In this way the problem of uniform admixture of iron and plastic particles is completely eliminated and the proportions of these particles are absolutely constant. Furthermore, initial and direct contact of the toner with the surface of the copy paper is by the plastic film which is the active toning agent.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in this art in the light of the teachings of the foregoing disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.

We claim:

1. In an electrophotographic copying machine, a stationary support having a horizontal transparent plate adapted to receive manuscript to be copied in facedown position thereon, a carriage mounted for horizontal movement relative to said support beneath said transparent plate to effect linear panoramic scanning of said manuscript, said carriage having an image-receiving zone, roller means mounted on said carriage for feeding copy paper through said carriage past said image-receiving zone, optical means mounted on said carriage for receiving a panoramic image from said manuscript and projecting the same to said imagereceiving zone, means driven directly from said paper feed roller means for moving said carriage horizontally through forward and return strokes inaccurate synchronism with movements of said copy paper the carriage to reproduce an image of said manuscript on said copy paper and return the carriage to initial position means mounted on said carriage adjacent to said image-receiving zone containing electrophotographic toner material, and means for directing said copy paper emerging from said image-receiving zone directly into surface contact with said toner material and for delivering the same from the machine at the conclusion of the return stroke of said carriage.

2. A copying machine according to claim 1 wherein copy paper is fed vertically past said image-receiving zone and wherein said optical means projects said panoramic image horizontally to said vertically moving copy paper at said image-receiving zone.

3. A copying machine according to claim 1 wherein said copy paper feeding roller means is motor driven and wherein said carriage-moving means comprises a drive wheel fixed to said paper feed roller means for rotation therewith.

4. A copying machine according to claim 1 wherein said optical means comprises a mirror positioned to reflect said panoramic image toward said image-receiving zone.

5. in an electrophotographic copying machine, a support having a horizontal transparent plate adapted to receive manuscript to be copied in facedown position thereon, a carriage mounted for horizontal movement relative to said support beneath said transparency to effect linear panoramic scanning of said manuscript, roller means for feeding copy paper through said carriage past an image-receiving zone, optical means on said carriage for receiving a panoramic image from said manuscript and projecting the same to said imagereceiving zone, means driven from said paper feed roller means for moving said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with movements of said copy paper to reproduce an image of said manuscript on said copy paper, said feed roller comprising a pulley, a traction cable having a portion thereof wrapped around said pulley and its ends extending to opposite ends of said machine, and means for tightening said cable whereby rotation of said pulley causes the pulley to rotate along said cable and thereby move said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with said copy paper feed roller.

6. In an electrophotographic copying machine, a support having a horizontal transparent plate adapted to receive manuscript to be copied in facedown position thereon, a carriage mounted for horizontal movement relative to said support beneath said transparency to effect linear panoramic scanning of said manuscript, roller means for feeding copy paper'through said carriage past an image-receiving zone, optical means on said carriage for receiving a panoramic image from said manuscript and projecting the same to said imagereceiving zone, means driven from said paper feed roller means for moving said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with movements of said copy paper to reproduce an image of said manuscript on said copy paper, said roller means being motor driven and said carriage moving means comprising a drive wheel fixed to said paper feed roller means for rotation therewith, said drive wheel comprising a pulley, a traction cable having a portion thereof wrapped around said pulley and its ends extending to opposite ends of said machine, and means for tightening said cable whereby rotation of said pulley causes the pulley to rotate along said cable and thereby move said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with said copy paper feed roller.

7. A copying machine according to claim 6 wherein copy paper is fed vertically past said image-receiving zone and wherein said optical means projects said panoramic image horizontally to said vertically moving copy paper at said image-receiving zone.

8. A copying machine according to claim 7 wherein copy paper is fed vertically past said image-receiving zone and wherein said optical means projects said panoramic image horizontally to said vertically moving copy paper at said image-receiving zone.

Claims

1. In an electrophotographic copying machine, a stationary support having a horizontal transparent plate adapted to receive manuscript to be copied in facedown position thereon, a carriage mounted for horizontal movement relative to said support beneath said transparent plate to effect linear panoramic scanning of said manuscript, said carriage having an image-receiving zone, roller means mounted on said carriage for feeding copy paper through said carriage past said image-receiving zone, optical means mounted on said carriage for receiving a panoramic image from said manuscript and projecting the same to said imagereceiving zone, means driven directly from said paper feed roller means for moving said carriage horizontally through forward and return strokes in accurate synchronism with movements of said copy paper to reproduce an image of said manuscript on said copy paper and return the carriage to initial position means mounted on said carriage adjacent to said image-receiving zone containing electrophotographic toner material, and means for directing said copy paper emerging from said image-receiving zone directly into surface contact with said toner material and for delivering the same from the machine at the conclusion of the return stroke of said carriage.

5. In an electrophotographic copying machine, a support having a horizontal transparent plate adapted to receive manuscript to be copied in facedown position thereon, a carriage mounted for horizontal movement relative to said support beneath said transparency to effect linear panoramic scanning of said manuscript, roller means for feeding copy paper through said carriage past an image-receiving zone, optical means on said carriage for receiving a panoramic image from said manuscript and projecting the same to said image-receiving zone, means driven from said paper feed roller means for moving said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with movements of said copy paper to reproduce an image of said manuscript on said copy paper, said feed roller comprising a pulley, a traction cable having a portion thereof wrapped around said pulley and its ends extending to opposite ends of said machine, and means for tightening said cable whereby rotation of said pulley causes the pulley to rotate along said cable and thereby move said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with said copy paper feed roller.

6. In an electrophotographic copying machine, a support having a horizontal transparent plate adapted to receive manuscript to be copied in facedown position thereon, a carriage mounted for horizontal movement relative to said support beneath said transparency to effect linear panoramic scanning of said manuscript, roller means for feeding copy paper through said carriage past an image-receiving zone, optical means on said carriage for receiving a panoramic image from said manuscript and projecting the same to said image-receiving zone, means driven from said paper feed roller means for moving said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with movements of said copy paper to reproduce an image of said manuscript on said copy paper, said roller means being motor driven and said carriage moving means comprising a drive wheel fixed to said paper feed roller means for rotation therewith, said drive wheel comprising a pulley, a traction cable having a portion thereof wrapped around said pulley and its ends extending to opposite ends of said machine, and means for tightening said cable whereby rotation of said pulley causes the pulley to rotate along said cable and thereby move said carriage horizontally in accurate synchronism with said copy paper feed roller.