US3921973A

US3921973A - Apparatus for separating superimposed flexible sheet materials

Info

Publication number: US3921973A
Application number: US477454A
Authority: US
Inventors: Takaich Kitagawa; Yoshitaka Miyoshi; Takaji Washio; Tatsuo Aizawa
Original assignee: Mita Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 1971-01-27
Filing date: 1974-06-07
Publication date: 1975-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-25

Abstract

An apparatus for separating superimposed flexible sheet materials which comprises a first segment roller consisting of divided segments, a second segment roller rotatable independently of said first segment roller and adapted to nip the superimposed sheet materials together with said first segment roller, said first segment roller rotating at a peripheral speed faster than that of the second segment roller, and a separating member secured rotatably between the segments of said first segment roller and including an engaging portion which engages with the forward ends of the superimposed sheet materials and is moved along the periphery of said first segment roller by the proceeding of the engaged sheet materials, whereby one sheet material of the engaged sheet materials which is in contact with the second segment roller is separated from the other sheet material in contact with the first segment roller as a result of the disengagement of the forward end of said one sheet material from the engaging portion by the difference in peripheral speed between said segment rollers. The separating apparatus is used especially with a copying machine.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Kitagawa et al.

( Nov. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SUPERIMPOSED FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIALS [75] Inventors: Takaich Kitagawa, lbaraki;

Yoshitaka Miyoshi, Nara; Takaji Washio, Toyonaka; Tatsuo Aizawa, Osaka. all of Japan [73] Assignee: Mita Industrial Company, Ltd., Osaka. Japan i 21 Filed: June 7, 1974 l l Appl. No.1 477,454

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 220,302, Jan. 24, I972.

Primary Examiner-Evon Cv Blunk Assistant ExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr. Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Sherman & Shalloway [57} ABSTRACT An apparatus for separating superimposed flexible sheet materials which comprises a first segment roller consisting of divided segments, a second segment roller rotatable independently of said first segment roller and adapted to nip the superimposed sheet materials together with said first segment roller, said first segment roller rotating at a peripheral speed faster than that of the second segment roller. and a separating member secured rotatably between the segments of said first segment roller and including an engaging portion which engages with the forward ends of the superimposed sheet materials and is moved along the periphery of said first segment roller by the proceeding of the engaged sheet materials, whereby one sheet material of the engaged sheet materials which is in contact with the second segment roller is separated from the other sheet material in contact with the first segment roller as a result of the disengagement of the forward end of said one sheet material from the en gaging portion by the difference in peripheral speed between said segment rollers. The separating appara tus is used especially with a copying machine.

22 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 1 of7 3,921,973

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 2 of7 3,921,973

Fig. 4

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of? 3,921,973

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet4 of7 3,921,973

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 5 of7 3,921,973

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 6 of7 3,921,973

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 7 of? 3,921,973

Fig. /5

Fly. /4

sll

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SUPERIMPOSED FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIALS This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 220,302, filed .Ian. 24, I972, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating superimposed flexible sheet materials, and more specifically, to an apparatus for automatically separating superimposed sheets of paper from each other in a business machine such as copying machines.

In a diazo-type copying machine for example, an original and copying paper are introduced into an exposing zone in the superimposed state, and the original is separated from the copying paper thus exposed. Only the exposed copying paper is fed to a developing zone, and the developed copy is obtained. Various devices have been proposed previously in order to separate the superimposed original and copying paper automatically from each other. All of such prior devices comprise a pre-operating or shifting mechanism for shifting the forward ends of the superimposed original and copying paper by a distance necessary for a separating operation and a separating mechanism for separating the original from the copying paper by a suitable member.

For example, in the copying apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 33235/70, a curved detouring passage is formed in proximity to the delivery outlet of an exposing portion, and a pair of shift rollers having different peripheral speeds are provided at the outlet of this detouring passage. By this pair of shift rollers, the advancing of the copying paper discharged from the exposing portion in a state being superimposed with the original, and the copying paper is made to travel straight on the detouring passage. This permits the shifting of the forward ends of the original and the copying paper by a distance necessary for a separating operation. Then, the original and the copying paper whose ends have been shifted are fed into an automatically separating apparatus, thereby to separate the original from the copying paper.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 27874/65 proposes an apparatus wherein two pairs of rollers having different peripheral speeds are provided in a spacedapart relationship in the direction of the outlet of an exposing zone, and a curved passage is provided beneath a passage between these two pairs of rollers. Furthermore, a pick-up guide plate is provided above said passage between two pairs of rollers in opposition to the curved passage, so that when the forward end of either of the superimposed original and copying paper is made to go ahead, the pick-up guide separates the forward end of the other paper that lags behind.

Thus, the prior apparatus for separating superimposed sheets of paper is adapted to shift the forward ends of the superimposed sheets by a distance necessary for a separating operation, and to separate the superimposed sheets by a separating mechanism such as a separating member utilizing this difference in distance. Hence, the prior apparatus requires the provision of a mechanism for shifting the forward ends of the superimposed sheets of paper and a mechanism for separating the superimposed papers so shifted, separately in a passage for transferring the papers. This complicates the apparatus, and the paper transferring passage should be made longer. In addition to this dissatisfaction, the independent provision of the shifting zone and the separating zone in the transfer passage is restricted in the design for the apparatus in that superimposed 2 sheets of paper whose ends have been shifted in the shifting zone must be fed exactly and precisely into the desired position of the separating zone while maintaining the shifted state. Moreover, if the superimposed sheets are in a curved state, not a plane one, it becomes a cause of failure of separating operation.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel separating apparatus free from the above-mentioned defects, in which a zone for shifting the superimposed sheets of paper and a zone for separating the superimposed sheets of paper whose ends have been shifted are not required to be provided separately, and the superimposed sheets of paper are fed into a single separating zone while their ends are maintained in a registered state and the separation of the superimposed sheets can be achieved therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for separating superimposed flexible sheet materials, which is far simpler in structure and more compact than the prior apparatus of this kind.

According to this invention, there is provided an apparatus for separating superimposed flexible sheet ma terials which comprises a first segment roller consisting of divided segments, a second segment roller rotatable independently of said first segment roller and adapated to nip the superimpost d sheet materials together with said first segment roller, said second segment roller rotating at a predetermined peripheral speed and said first segment roller rotating at a peripheral speed faster than that of the second segment roller, and a separating member including an engaging portion which engages with the forward ends of the superimposed sheet materials and is moved along the periphery of said first segment roller by the proceeding of the engaged sheet materials, and being secured rotatably between the segments of said first segment roller, whereby one sheet material of the engaged sheet materials which is in contact with the second segment roller is separated from the other sheet material in contact with the first segment roller as a result of the disengagement of the forward end of said one sheet material from the engaging portion by a difference in peripheral speed between said first and second segment rollers.

The separating apparatus of this invention is especially effective for separating an original and a copying paper in a copying machine, such as a diazo-type copying apparatus, in which the original and the copying paper are used in an intimately contacted state, and therefore, the following description will be directed chiefly to the application of the separating apparatus to copying machines. It should however be noted that the apparatus of this invention is also useful for separating superimposed flexible sheet materials in other machines, for example, the sorting and separating of slips.

The present invention will be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals in order to avoid any duplication of description.

FIG. I is a side elevation showing the basic structure of one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially-broken-away elevation along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially-broken-away top plan along the line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 51: through 5d are explanatory views for illus trating the operation of separating superimposed sheet l'flLlItfflillt-il FIG. 6 is an arrangement of the apparatus of this invention for use in separating superimposed sheet materials;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a diazotype copying machine to which the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 has been applied;

FIG. 8a is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention which is used in conjunction with a detouring passage forming member;

FIG. 8b is an explanatory view for illustrating the necessary parameters for performing the separation of the superimposed sheet materials;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a diazo-type copying machine to which the apparatus shown in FIG. 8a has been applied;

FIGS. 10 to 13 each are a partly-broken-away elevation showing embodiments of the first segment roller and the second segment roller.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation showing another example of the separating nail member; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 though 4. segment rollers 1 are secured in a spaced-apart relationship to a drive shaft 2 fitted to a machine frame 19 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through a bearing 2. Facing the first segment rollers. a segment roller 4 is secured to a drive shaft 5 fitted to the machine frame 19 through a bearing 5'.

The first segment roller 1 and the second segment roller 4 form a nip 3 (FIG. ll for transferring superimposed flexible sheet materials but are rotatable independently of each other. To achieve this. each of the segments of the segment roller 1 is alternated with each of the segments of the segment roller 4 and they do not come into contact with each other but are arranged so that they have a common contacting surface. At this time. the individual segments may project somewhat from the common surface. The peripheral speed of the second segment roller 4 is made equal to the feeding speed of flexible sheet materials, and the peripheral speed of the first segment roller 1 is made larger than this.

One of the critical features of this invention is that a separating member 6 is rotatably fitted loosely between the segments of said first segment roller 1, and an engaging portion ll (FIGS. 1 and 4) for engaging the forward ends of the superimposed sheets to be fed to the nip position 3 of said segment rollers l and 4 is provided at the forward end of this separating nail member 6. and said first and second segment rollers 1 and 4 and the separating member 6 are provided in a cooperating relationship such that when the forward ends of the superimposed sheets are engaged with said engaging portion 11. the separating member 6 revolves to move the forward ends of said superimposed sheets along the periphery of said first segment roller I, and by a difference in peripheral speed between said first and second segment rollers l and 4, the forward end of one of the superimposed sheet materials is disengaged from said engaging portion 1] thereby to separate the superimposed sheets from each other.

To achieve this. a receiving core 8 is loosely fitted to the drive shaft 2 between the segments of the first segment roller 1. The receiving core 8 and the drive shaft 2 are rotatable relative to each other. but to prevent the LII revolution ofthe receiving core 8. the receiving core 8 is secured to one ends of two core fixing plates 7 facing each other with a small distance therebetween. The other ends of the receiving core fixing plates 7 are integrated with a spacer 9. and are fixed to stationary shaft 10 secured to the machine frame 19. The separating member 6 is loosely fitted between two facing receiving core fixing plates 7.

The engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6 is always at the same position as the nipping position 3 of the segment rollers l and 4 when it is in an inoperating condition, and is adapated to be engaged with the forward ends of the superimposed sheets to be fed to the nip surface. To achieve this, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. the separating member 6 is provided such that its center of gravity G (FIG. 1) is located beneath said receiving core 8, and the separating member 6 can freely revolve about the receiving core 8. In order that the separating member 6 is stable at the position shown in FIG. 1. a loose hole 13 of the separating member 6 to be fitted loosely into the receiving core 8 has a flat surface 12 on the side opposite to the engaging portion 11, and another flat surface is provided opposite thereto above the receiving core 8. By this structure. the flat outer surface of the receiving core 8 comes into contact with the flat inner surface 12 of the loose hole 13, and the separating member 6 is stabilized in the state shown in FIG. 1, that is, in the state where the en gaging portion 11 is crossing the nip position 3.

The loose hole 13 of the separating member 6 consists of an elongated hole (elliptical hole) which somewhat extends in the direction of the diameter of the separating member 6, and it is preferred that the diameter of the second quadrant portion 14 of the core 8 should be somewhat shorter than the diameter each of the outer portions of the receiving core 8. This construction enables the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6 to project fully outwardly of the segment roller 1 so as to cross the nip position of the segment roller 1 and 4, and to effect the exact engagement of the forward ends of the superimposed sheets nipped by the segment rollers l and 4. When the forward ends of the superimposed sheets are engaged with the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6 and revolves along the circumference of the segment roller 1, the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6 exactly projects outwardly of the segment roller 1, and ensures the escaping of one sheet material of the superimposed sheets (sheet material on the outer side) from the engaging portion 11.

The engaging portion 11 provided on the forward end of the separating member 6 may, for example, be a recess provided in the circumferential direction at the forward end of the separating member. The inner recess surface of of this recess may be perpendicular to the direction of diameter. and the outer recess surface forms an angle of for example 5 to 45 to the inner recess surface. The suitable angle of the outer recess surface can be experimentally determined so that one sheet material of the superimposed sheets engaged with the engaging portion 1 1 readily escapes incident to the revolution, and the separated other sheet material can escape readily when it reaches an upper limit position of the engaging portion 11 or a position past the upper limit position.

A projection 15 is provided at substantially right angles to the longitudinal direction of the separating member 6. and a revolving arm 16 whose forward end comes into engagement with the projection 15 is secured to the stationary shaft of the fixing plates 7. When it is desired to stop the separation of the superimposed sheets, the revolving arm 16 is revolved in the a direction to revolve the projection clockwise, whereby the engaging portion ll of the separating member 6 is revolved inwardly, and the engaging portion 11 can be removed from the nip position 3.

Above the first segment roller 1, a drive shaft 18 is secured to the machine frame 19 through a bearing 18, and to the drive shaft 18 is fixed a sheet transferring roller 17 which rotates clockwise. The forward end of the separating member 6 which revolves about the segment roller 1 while holding the other sheet material of the superimposed sheets in engagement, comes into contact with the sheet transferring roller I7 above the segment roller 1, is then revolved counterclockwise, and returned to the position shown in FIG. 1. At this time, the other sheet material engaged with the engaging portion 1 l of the separating member 6 comes out of 1 the engagement, and is delivered to a different position by a frictional force between it and the sheet transferring roller 17. The sheet transferring roller 17 may consist of separated segments, and in this case, the sheet transferring roller 17 must be provided at a position at which it comes into engagement with the forward end of the revolving separating member 6.

The materials of the segment rollers l and 4 and the contacting surface should be selected so that the frictional force (B) between the segment roller 1 and the sheet material, the frictional force (C) between the segment roller 4 and the sheet material, and the frictional force (A) between the sheet materials satisfy the following relation A B A C Preferably, the driving system for each roller should be one shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, a sprocket 48 is fixed to the drive shaft 5 of the second segment roller 4, and a sprocket 53, to the drive shaft 18 of the sheet transferring roller 17. When the distance between the feed nip position 3', and the nip position 3 of the segment rollers l and 4 is shorter than the length of the superimposed sheets in the direction of movement, a friction clutch consisting of a friction plate 50 fixed to the shaft, a loosely fitted sprocket 49, an elastic member 51, and a control screw 52 is preferably provided in the drive shaft 2 of the segment roller 1 in order to reduce the excessive elongating force of the sheet material. Power from a power source is transmitted to each sprocket by means of a chain.

The separating operation of the apparatus of this invention will be readily understood by reference to FIGS. 50 through 5d.

Superimposed sheets consisting of one sheet material (for example, the original) 21 and the other sheet material (for example, copying paper) are fed to the nip position 3 between the first segment roller 1 and the second segment roller 4, and the forward ends of the superimposed sheets come into engagement with the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6. By this engagement, the separating member 6 begins to revolve in the same direction as the first segment roller 1, that is, counterclockwise (FIG. 5a).

The forward ends of the superimposed sheets are assuredly held by the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6, and the superimposed sheets move along the periphery of the first segment roller 1. Since the peripheral speed of the first segment roller 1 is larger than that of the second segment roller 4, the distance of movement of the sheet material 2] is smaller than the movement distance of the sheet material 20. Thus, the forward end of the sheet material 2] begins to come out of the engaging portion ll of the separating member 6 gradually (FIG. 5b). Since at this time, the flat surface 12 of the loose hole 13 of the separating member 6 revolves while being in contact with the small diameter portion 14 of the second quadrant of the receiving core 8, the engaging portion ll of the separating member 6 projects sufficiently outwardly of the segment roller 1 to permit easy escape of the sheet material 21.

Subsequently, the forward end of the sheet material 20 moves along the periphery of the first segment roller 1 while being assuredly engaged with the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6, and the forward end of the sheet material 2] completely comes out of the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6 to effect the separation of the superimposed sheets (FIG. 5c). Since the loose hole 13 is an elongated hole and the flat surface 12 moves in contact with the peripheral portion of the receiving core 8, the separating member 6 as a whole is withdrawn in the direction of the center of the first segment roller 1 to bring the other sheet material 20 engaged with the engaging portion 11 into intimate contact with the circumferential surface of the segment roller 1 and to prevent the escape of the sheet material 20 due to its own toughness.

The separating member 6 further revolves, and its forward end meshes with the sheet transferring roller 17. The peripheral speed of the sheet delivery roller 17 is preferably larger than that of the first segment roller. Hence, the separating member 6 which has meshed with the sheet transferring roller 17 rapidly revolves counterclockwise. By the rapid revolution of the separating member 6, the forward end of the sheet 20 is disengaged from the engaging portion 11, and delivered to the discharge side or to another treating zone by the frictional force between the sheet 20 and the roller 17 (FIG. 5d). The separating member 6 returns to the position shown in FIG. 5a, and when superimposed sheet materials are freshly supplied, the above cycle is repeated. Thus. the separation of superimposed sheet materials from each other can be readily performed in a single separating zone.

The present invention can be practiced, for example, by the apparatus of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, superimposed sheets composed of a sheet 20 and a sheet 21 each having a length of l in the advancing direction is placed on a conveyor belt 25 driven by a pair of

rollers

23 and 24, and fed to the nip position 3 between the first segment roller 1 and the second segment roller 4. If the roller 24 which nips the superimposed sheets are not provided on the conveyor belt 25 or has a very weak nipping power on the superimposed sheets, the length of the superimposed sheet in the advancing direction is not particularly limited.

In order, however, to provide a distance difference on the periphery of the roller 1 for disengaging the forward end of the sheet 21' from the engaging portion, the distance (1,) between the nip position 3 between the segment rollers l and 4 and the supply nip position 3' should have the following relation to the length (l) of the suprimposed sheets This applies to the assured nipping of the

sheet materials

20 and 21 at the supply nip position 3' with the provision of roller 24' on the conveyor belt 25. The sheet material 21' separated from the engaging portion 11 is received by a sheet receiver 26. The other sheet which has advanced along the circumference of the segment roller 1 and has been disengaged from the engaging portion II by means of the roller 17 and separated from the surface of the segment roller 1 is delivered along a guide 27 to the discharge side or to another processing zone.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 6 can, for example, be applied as a separating device of a diazo-type copying machine as shown in FIG. 7. In the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the separating apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is disposed between an exposing zone E consisting of a cylinder glass 34 including a light source 33, and an endless belt 32 placed over a roller 28, the cylinder glass 34.

rollers

29, 30 and 31 and adapted to transfer superimposed sheets in intimate contact with the cylinder glass. and a developing zone D consisting of a receptacle 38 for a developer solution and a pair of developing rollers 37.

Superimposed sheets consisting of the original 21 and a copying paper 20 on a table are nipped by a pair of drive feed rollers 36, placed on the conveyor belt 32 driven by the

roller

28 or 29, and fed between the cylinder glass 34 and the conveyor belt 32, followed by contact exposure. The superimposed sheets consisting of the exposed copying paper 20' and the original 21' are discharged from the exposing zone E through the nip position 3', placed on a conveyor belt 25 drived by a pair of

rollers

23 and 24, and fed to the nip position 3 between the first segment roller 1 and the second segment roller 4. By the operation of the separating device of the present invention. the separation of the original 21 from the exposed copying paper 21' is performed. The separated original 21' is discharged into a receiver 26 outside the copying machine by means of segment roller pair. On the other hand. the exposed copying paper 20' separated is fed between a pair of developing rollers 37 via a guide 27 by means of transferring roller 17, and is developed upon coating of a developer solution. The developed copy 20" is discharged on a copy receiver.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. a detouring passage-forming member is provided between the nip position of the segment roller pair and the supply nip position of the superimposed sheets thereby to form a detouring passage by which the superimposed sheets are curved and made to detour and supplied to the nip position of said segment roller pair and the other sheet material (sheet material on the side of the center of the curved surface) of the superimposed sheets are maintained in the stretched state. Thus. by the cooperative action of the separating device and the detouring passage. difierence in moving distance necessary for escape of the forward end of the sheet material (sheet material outside) from the engaging portion is provided between the nip position of the superimposed sheets and the nip surface of the segment roller pair.

According to this embodiment, the separating apparatus can be provided in proximity to the supply nip position of the superimposed sheet irrespective of the length of the superimposed sheets in the moving direction. This enables the superimposed sheets to be fed assuredly to the separating apparatus, and makes the entire apparatus very small sized.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 8a, first segment roller 1 and second segment roller 4 are provided apart from a pair of feed rollers 24 and 24' with a small distance therebetween, and a detouring passage-forming material 39 is disposed between this pair of feed rollers 24 and 24' and the segment rollers l and 4. Superimposed sheets consisting of

flexible sheet materials

20 and 21 are fed to the nip position 3' of a pair of

feed rollers

24 and 24. The superimposed sheets are moved by a pair of rollers 24 and 24'. The forward ends advance along the detouring passage formed by the detouring passage-forming member, and the superimposed sheets are fed to the nip position 3 between the segment rollers 1 and 4. The forward ends of the superimposed sheets come into engagement with the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6, to revolve the separating member 6 counterclockwise. Since the peripheral speed of the first segment roller 1 is larger than that of the second segment roller 4, the moving speed of the sheet moving in contact with the periphery of the segment roller 1 is quickened as compared with the sheet 21 contacting the segment roller 4. The sheet 20 moving along this curved detouring passage is maintained in a stretched condition between the supply nip position 3' and the nip position 3 of the segment rollers as a result of increased speed of movement. Thus, a difference in distance which satisfies the following equation is provided between the forward ends of the superimposed sheets moving along the periphery of the segment roller 1:

n 12 1 wherein I is a difference in moving distance between the forward end of one sheet material and that of the other necessary for disengaging one sheet material from the engaging portion of the separating member, 1 is the length of a detouring passage formed between the supply nip position and the nip position of the segment rollers, and I, is the length of a passage over which the sheet material passes in the stretched stage between the supply nip position and the nip position of the segment rollers. The length I, is within the range of 1 1, I, where I, is the straight line distance between the supply nip position and the nip position of the segment rollers. Usually, it is preferred for flexibility of the separating operation that I, is larger than 1',

The size of each member and the moving speed of the superimposed sheets necessary for the superimposed sheets will be readily understood by reference to FIG. 8b.

In FIG. 8b, the symbols have the following meanings.

v The feed speed of the superimposed sheet materials, and the moving speed of one sheet material 21',

1-,: the moving speed of the other sheet material 20' moving in contact with the first segment roller,

R: the effective radius of the first segment roller,

wthe angle of revolving of the first segment roller until the escape of the forward end of the sheet material 21' from the engaging portion of the separating member, 1,1 1 as described hereinabove.

The following relation holds good among v v w, R, J2, 3

The angle of revolution (to) of the first segment roller necessary for separating the superimposed sheets is generally in the range of 1r- (Tr/l 2) 180 to l5), preferably 2/3 1r- (17/6) (120 to especially preferably (17/2) (rr/4)(90 to It is seen from the above equation that in order to enlarge the moving speed difference between the ends of the sheets which is necessary for separation, it is advantageous that r /v is made small, that is, the moving speed of the sheet material moved by the first segment roller is enlarged, or the effective radius of first segment roller is made large. Incidentally, v and v may be approximately made the peripheral speed of the first segment roller 1 and the peripheral speed of the second segment roller 4 if slippage between the sheet and the roller is ignored.

The moving distance difference 1 between the ends of the sheets which is necessary for the separation of the superimposed sheets is 1 1,. Since is larger than 1,, 1 cannot exceed I 1,. But as 1;, is directly proportional to the angle ((0) of revolution of the first segment roller within the range of 1 1 -1 Hence, even when the moving distance difference between the sheet ends cannot be obtained at a prescribed position of the first segment roller because of slippage between the sheet and the roller, the moving distance difference between the sheet ends gradually increases with the progress of revolution of the first segment roller, and therefore the moving distance difference required for separation is always provided to ensure the success of the separating operation. In other words, the separating apparatus of this invention allows a very large flexibility of the separating action.

The above relative equation can be applied to all of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 by defining the above-mentioned moving distance differences as 1 The combination of the separating apparatus and the detouring passage-forming member shown in FIG. 80 can be applied especially conveniently to a copying machine requiring compactness. In FIG. 9, the separating apparatus and the detouring passage-forming member shown in FIG. 8a are disposed between an exposing zone E consisting ofa cylinder glass 34 including a light source 33, and an endless belt 32 placed over a roller 28, the cylinder glass 34,

rollers

29, 30 and 31 and adapted to transfer superimposed sheets in intimate contact with the cylinder glass, and a developing zone D consisting of a receptacle 38 for a developer solution and a pair of developing rollers 37.

The superimposed sheets consisting of the original 21 and a copying paper 20 are nipped by a pair of drive feed rollers 36, placed on the conveyor belt 32 driven by the

roller

28 or 29, and fed between the cylinder glass 34 and the conveyor belt 32, followed by exposure. The superimposed sheets consisting of the exposed copying paper 20' and the original 21 are discharged from the exposing zone E via the nip position 3. Then, the superimposed sheets advance over a curved detouring passage formed by the member 39, and are fed to the nip position 3 of the segment rollers l and 4. By the operation of the separating apparatus of this invention, the original 21 is separated from the exposed copying paper 20' as described above. The separated original 21 is discharged into are receiver 26 outside the apparatus by means of the segment rollers. On the other hand, the exposed copying paper 20' so separated is fed between a pair of developing rollers 37 through a guide 27 by means of the transferring roller 17, and the development of the exposed copying paper is completed upon coating the developer solution. The developed copy 20" is discharged into a copy receiver. According to this apparatus, the discharging nip position 3' of the superimposed sheets in the exposing zone can be made extremely near the nip position 3 of the separating apparatus, and thus, the apparatus can be made compact.

Various modifications of me separating apparatus of this invention are possible within the range in which they do not deviate from the essence of the present invention.

For example, any rollers which are rotatable independently of each other and are capable of forming a nip for transferring superimposed flexible sheet materials can be used as the first and second segment rollers. Modifications of the segment rollers are shown, for instance. in FIGS. 10 to 13.

In FIG. 10, the first segment roller consists of a plurality of segments 1' having an annular recess a on the outer surface which are secured to a drive shaft 2. Between the respective segments l', a receiving core 8 secured to one end of a fixed plate is disposed in a state loosely fitted in to the drive shaft 2. Facing the first segment roller 1', a second segment roller 4 is secured to the drive shaft 5. The first and the second segment rollers l' and 4' are arranged in relative positions such that the second segment roller 4 somewhat bites into the annular recess a of the first segment roller 1'. This arrangment enables the segment rollers to be revolved independently of each other, and the superimposed sheets to be nipped with the segment roller pair.

The same effect can be achieved by forming arc-like recesses b on the outer peripheral surface of the first segment roller 1 secured to the drive shaft 2, and forming arc-like bulges c so that the bulges c of the second segment roller slightly bite into the recesses b of the first segment roller 1'', as shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 12, the first segment roller 1 fixed to the drive shaft 2 and the second segment roller 4 fixed to the drive shaft 5 may be provided such that the separated rollers face each other with a slight clearance therebetween which is smaller than the thickness of the superimposed sheets. This enables the first and second segment rollers to rotate independently of each other and to nip the superimposed sheets.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a segment roller 1 consisting of a plurality of segments with a receiving core 8 and a separating member 6 therebetween is secured fixedly to a drive shaft 2, and an idle roller 1" is fitted loosely to the drive shaft 2 at a position between the segmetns of the segment rollers I through a bearing f so that it is rotatable relative to the drive shaft 2. On the other hand, facing the first segment roller 1, an idle roller 4" is fitted loosely to the drive shaft 5 through a bearing 2, and facing the idle roller 1". the second segment roller 4 is secured fixedly to the drive shaft 5. The first and second segment rollers l and 4 are arranged in relative positions such that the first segment roller 1 comes into contact with the idle roller 4' and the second segment roller 4 comes into contact with the idle roller 1". in this case also, it is possible to rotate the first segment roller 1 and the second segment roller 4 independently of each other, and superimposed sheets can be assuredly nipped with these rollers.

The separating member 6 may be any which is loosely and rotatably fitted between the segments of the first segment roller, and has an engaging portion for bringing the forward ends of the superimposed sheets into engagement therewith. For example, the separating member may be of an arm-like structure or a rotary body. as shown in F165. 1 to 4. The engaging portion provided in the separating member may be one or more in number.

The separating member 6 may, for example, be of the structure shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the separating member 6 consists of a circular or elliptical plate both ends of which include engaging portions 11 and ll face to face for engaging the forward end of the superimposed sheets. The engaging portions 11 and 11' may consist of notches opened in opposite directions to each other, and the shape of the notches may be those described in detail in FIGS. l to 4.

Stopping

members

40 and 40 for stopping the separating member 6 in the state shown in FIG. 14 are provided apart from the engaging portions 1 l and 11' by a small distance in the direction of rotation of the separating member 6.

The separating member 6 is fitted loosely and rotatably to the drive shaft 2 between the segments la and lb of the first segment roller 1 secured to the drive shaft 2. At this time, one side surface of the separating member 6 and the side surface of the segment 1a opposite thereto together form a frictional surface 47. An elastic member 46 is disposed between the other side surface of the separating member 6 and the segment lb opposite thereto. This permits the separating member 6 to urge the segment la with a relatively weak force. and to rotate it with the revolution of the segment la.

Facing the segments 1a and lb of the first segment roller, the second segment roller 4 secured to the drive shaft 5 is disposed so that they are rotated independently of each other and nip the superimposed sheets assuredly.

In order to render the separating member 6 stationary at the position shown in FIG. 14, a rotatable Llever 41 is loosely fitted to a shaft 42 secured to the frame, through a bearing 45. L-lever 41 includes a forward end 44 which meshes with said stopping

members

40 and 40 of the separating member 6 and stops the rotation of the separating member 6 at a prescribed position and an end portion 43 which meshes with the forward ends of the superimposed sheets to revolve the L lever 41 and disengage the forward end 44 of the L- lever 41 from the stopping members 40 and 40' of the separating member 6.

A sheet pick'up guide 27 is disposed across, and on the upper left side (first quadrant) of, the separating member 6 and the segment rollers 1a and lb. ln prox- 12 imity to the sheet pick-up guide 27', a sheet transferring roller 17 is provided.

The forward ends of superimposed flexible sheets, while pressing the end portion 43 of the L-lever 41, is fed to the nip position 3 between the first segment roller l and the second segment roller 4, and engaged with the engaging portion 11 of the separating member 6. By the pressing of the end portion 43, the engagement between the forward end of the L-lever 41 and the stopping member 40 of the separating member 6 is released. Thus, the separating member 6 begins to rotate counterclockwise in engagement with the forward ends of the superimposed sheets, and by the operation described in detail hereinabove, the forward end of one of the sheet materials is removed from the engaging portion 11.

The other sheet material engaged with the engaging portion 1 l of the separating member 6 is pick up by the sheet pick-up guide extending across the rotating surface of the engaging portion 11, and the forward end of the sheet material is removed from the engaging portion 11. The sheet material moves along the guide 27, and fed to a sheet discharging zone or other treating zone by means of the sheet transferring roller 17.

After the forward end of the sheet material has been removed from the engaging portion 11, the separating member 6 continues its rotation by a relatively small frictional contact with the segment roller la, but by the engagement of the forward end 44 of the L-lever 41 with the stopping member 40 of the separating member 6, comes to a halt at the position shown in FIG. 14.

The separating apparatus of this invention can be used in various embodiments other than those described above. For example, the first and second segment rollers may have any desired relative positions, for instance, the positions reverse to those shown in the drawings, or the positions in the transverse direction.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for separating superimposed sheet materials comprising a first segmenet roller formed of spaced segments fixed to a rotating shaft; a second segment roller disposed to form a nip position with said first segment roller to receive said sheet materials and rotating at a peripheral speed slower than the peripheral speed of rotation of said first segment roller; and at least one separating member, said separating member having mounting means including a hole for loosely and rotatably mounting said separating member on said shaft of the first segment roller on the space between said segments to rotate independently of the rotation of said shaft; said loose mounting means including means for causing said separating member to move radially with respect to said shaft, said separating member having an engaging portion positionable at said nip position for receiving the leading edges of the sheet materials and movable along the periphery of said first segment roller with engagement by the leading edges of the sheet materials, such that the sheet material contacting said second segment roller is shifted behind the sheet material contacting said first segment roller to gradually remove the leading edge of the sheet material contacting said second segment roller from said engaging portion of said separating member whereby the sheet materials are separated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes feeding means for feeding the superimposed sheet materials to said first and second segment rollers at a speed equal to the speed of said second segment roller,

and a detouring passage-forming member located between said feeeding means and said nip position between said first and second segment rollers. said passage-forming member maintaining the sheet contacting said second segment roller in a detouring condition and permitting the sheet material in contact with said first segment roller to be in a stretched state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes means for feeding the sheet materials in a nipped state to said first and second segment rollers, the distance from the nip position of said feeding means to said nip position between said first and second segment rollers being larger than the length of the sheet materials, and means located between said two nip positions for feeding the sheet materials without nipping.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating member is a plate-like member having said engaging portion at one end and a substantially elliptical hole at the other end, and further comprising a core member secured rotatably to said shaft of said first segment roller and loosely inserted in said elliptical hole.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a part of the outer surface of said core member and a part of said hole in said separating member are flat, said flat surfaces contacting each other when said engaging portion of said separating member is at said nip position between said first and second segment rollers.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the inner surface of said hole and the outer surface of said core have a shape such that as said separating member further rotates from the position of separating the sheet materials, said engaging portion is withdrawn by a cam action of both surfaces in the direction of the center of said first segment roller.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said separating member includes a projection substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said separating member, and further comprising a rotating arm secured to a stationary shaft and movable to engage said projection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating member is a circular or elliptical member having engaging portions at diametrically opposite portions and is secured rotatably to said shaft of said first segment roller, and further comprising a lever for stopping said member in a condition such that one of said engaging portions is disposed at said nip position between said first and second segment rollers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, which further includes a sheet material pick-up guide extending across the rotat ing surface of said engaging portion of said separating member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second segment roller is formed of spaced segments and said segments of said first segment roller are arranged alternately with said segments of said second segment roller so that said segments of said first and second segment rollers contact a common surface but do not contact each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said segments of said first segment roller have annular cavities on the outer periphery, and said second segment roller is formed of spaced segments aligned with and extending into said cavities.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said segments of said first segment roller have arc-like cavities on the outer periphery thereof, and said second segment roller is formed of spaced segments having arc-like bulges on 14 the outer periphery thereof aligned with and extending into said arc-like cavities.

13. The apparatus of claim I, wherein said second segment rollerjs formed of spaced segments and each of said segments of said first segment roller faces one of said segments of said second segment roller with a clearance therebetween slightly smaller than the thickness of the sheet materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second segment roller is formed of spaced segments and further comprising a shaft driving said second segment roller, an idle roller secured rotatably to said shaft of said second segment roller at a position facing said segments of said first segment roller, and another idle roller secured rotatably to said shaft of said first segment roller at a position facing said segments of said second segment roller.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating member is mounted on said shaft by means of an elongated hole.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said engaging portion of said separating member is generally aligned with the elongated axis of said hole.

17. A copying apparatus comprising a cylinder glass containing a light source. an endless belt moving along the periphery of said cylinder glass to bring superimposed original and copying sheets into intimate contact with said cylinder glass; a first segment roller formed of spaced segments fixed to a rotating shaft; a second segment roller disposed to form a nip position with said first segment roller to receive said original and copying shets and rotating at a peripheral speed slower than the peripheral speed of rotation of said first segment roller; at least one separating member, said separating member having mounting means including a hole for loosely and rotatably mounting said separating member on said shaft of the first segment roller in the space between said segments to rotate independently of the rotation of said shaft; said loose mounting means including means for causing said separating member to move radially with respect to said shaft, said separating member having an engaging portion positionable at said nip position for receiving the leading edges of the original and copying sheets and movable along the periphery of said first segment roller with engagement by the leading edges of the original and copying sheets, such that the sheet contacting said second segment roller is shifted behind the sheet contacting said first segment roller to gradually remove the leading edge of the sheet contacting said second segment roller from said engaging portion of said separating member to separate the sheets; and developing means receiving said copying sheet.

18. The copying apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising a detouring passage-forming member for maintaining the superimposed original and copying sheets in a detouring condition and permitting the copying sheet or the original sheet in contact with said first segment roller to be in a stretched state, said detouring passage-forming member being disposed between the point of delivery of the superimposed original and copying sheets by said endless belt from the periphery of said cylinder glass and said nip position between said first and second segment rollers.

19. The copying apparatus of claim 17 wherein the distance from the point of delivery of the superimposed original and copying sheets by said endless belt from the periphery of the cylinder glass to said nip position between said first and second segment rollers is larger 16 imposed original and copying sheets without nipping, the distance from the nip position of said feeding means to said nip position between said first and second segment rollers being larger than the length of said superimposed original and copying sheets.

21. The copying apparatus of claim 17, wherein said separating member is mounted on said shaft by means of an elongated hole.

22. The copying apparatus of claim 21, wherein said engaging member is generally aligned with the elongated axis of said hole.

patent 3,921,973 Dated November 25, 1975 Inventor(s) Takaich Kitagawa et al.

It is certified that error appears in the ahove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 12, line 49, delete "on", insert in Column 13, line 43, delete "opposite portions", insert opposite positions Signcd and Scaled this twenty-fourth D a y of February 1 9 76 SE AL] A nest.

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Offire ('mnmissimu-r uj'Parems and Trademark:

Claims

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes feeding means for feeding the superimposed sheet materials to said first and second segment rollers at a speed equal to the speed of said second segment roller, and a detouring passage-forming member located between said feeeding means and said nip position between said first and second segment rollers, said passage-forming member maintaining the sheet contacting said second segment roller in a detouring condition and permitting the sheet material in contact with said first segment roller to be in a stretched state.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, which further includes a sheet material pick-up guide extending across the rotating surface of said engaging portion of said separating member.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said segments of said first segment roller have arc-like cavities on the outer periphery thereof, and said second segment roller is formed of spaced segments having arc-like bulges on the outer periphery thereof aligned with and extending into said arc-like caVities.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second segment roller is formed of spaced segments and each of said segments of said first segment roller faces one of said segments of said second segment roller with a clearance therebetween slightly smaller than the thickness of the sheet materials.

17. A copying apparatus comprising a cylinder glass containing a light source, an endless belt moving along the periphery of said cylinder glass to bring superimposed original and copying sheets into intimate contact with said cylinder glass; a first segment roller formed of spaced segments fixed to a rotating shaft; a second segment roller disposed to form a nip position with said first segment roller to receive said original and copying shets and rotating at a peripheral speed slower than the peripheral speed of rotation of said first segment roller; at least one separating member, said separating member having mounting means including a hole for loosely and rotatably mounting said separating member on said shaft of the first segment roller in the space between said segments to rotate independently of the rotation of said shaft; said loose mounting means including means for causing said separating member to move radially with respect to said shaft, said separating member having an engaging portion positionable at said nip position for receiving the leading edges of the original and copying sheets and movable along the periphery of said first segment roller with engagement by the leading edges of the original and copying sheets, such that the sheet contacting said second segment roller is shifted behind the sheet contacting said first segment roller to gradually remove the leading edge of the sheet contacting said second segment roller from said engaging portion of said separating member to separate the sheets; and developing means receiving said copying sheet.

19. The copying apparatus of claim 17 wherein the distance from the point of delivery of the superimposed original and copying sheets by said endless belt from the periphery of the cylinder glass to said nip position between said first and second segment rollers is larger than the length of said superimposed original and copying sheets, and further comprising means for feeding said superimposed original and copying sheets without nipping between said point of delivery and said nip position.

20. The copying apparatus of claim 17, which further includes feeding means for receiving and nipping the superimposed original and copying sheets delivered by said endless belt from the periphery of said cylinder glass, and means located between the nip position of said feeding means and said nip position between said first anD second segment rollers for feeding said superimposed original and copying sheets without nipping, the distance from the nip position of said feeding means to said nip position between said first and second segment rollers being larger than the length of said superimposed original and copying sheets.