US3684367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic reproduction apparatus
Assignee: Cellophane SA France
•
Filing: 1969-08-21
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1989-08-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is an electrophotographic reproduction apparatus including a novel copy sheet feeding arrangement, and a novel structure for effecting the automatic return of the original to permit production of a number of copies without the necessity of handling the original for each copy. The copy sheet feeding arrangement includes a drive roller mounted on lever arms with the shaft of the roller resting on pivoted supports and the supports permit the roller to selectively contact the copy sheet ream. The automatic return structure includes a cam which is rotated to selectively control power to an electromagnetic switching unit that controls the automatic feed of the original back through the copy machine for the desired number of copies.
Inventors
- 👤 Pavle Vassitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
402 words
Electrophotographic reproduction apparatus comprising means forming a first feed path for an original document to be copied including an image area; means forming a separate second feed path for an image receiving copy sheet including an imaging station; an optical system for projecting an image from said original documeNt at said image area to said copy sheet at said imaging station; original document driving means for moving said original document along said first path and through said image area; supply means for supporting a supply of said copy sheets; supply roller means movable to engage said supply of copy sheets and move one of said copy sheets along said second path; copy sheet driving rollers disposed in said second feed path upstream of said imaging station and spaced from said supply roller means to engage a single copy sheet simultaneously therewith; first switch means disposed in said first path adjacent and upstream of said image area; second switch means disposed in said second path adjacent said imaging station and between said copy sheet driving rollers and said imaging station; and means responsive to said first and second switch means for controlling said copy sheet driving rollers, said second switch means being actuated by the leading edge of said copy sheet to stop said copy sheet driving rollers and said first switch means being actuated by the leading edge of said original document to start said copy sheet driving rollers whereby the leading edge of said original document enters said image area simultaneously with the leading edge of said copy sheet entering said imaging station, said supply means including a tray to receive a ream of copy sheets and pivotally mounted pins operating to assure alignment of said copy sheets in said tray, pivoted lever means engaging said pins, paper control fingers mounted on said lever means engaging said copy sheets and maintaining alignment of said copy sheets when said pivotally mounted pins are pivoted out of engagement with said copy sheets in said tray, said paper control fingers preventing the feeding of several copy sheets simultaneously from the ream in said tray, and said supply roller means including supply rollers mounted on said levers and arranged upon downward pivotal movement of said levers to engage an upper sheet of the ream of copy sheets in said tray, said supply rollers being driven from said copy sheet driving rollers through a slip clutch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
402 words
Electrophotographic reproduction apparatus comprising means forming a first feed path for an original document to be copied including an image area; means forming a separate second feed path for an image receiving copy sheet including an imaging station; an optical system for projecting an image from said original documeNt at said image area to said copy sheet at said imaging station; original document driving means for moving said original document along said first path and through said image area; supply means for supporting a supply of said copy sheets; supply roller means movable to engage said supply of copy sheets and move one of said copy sheets along said second path; copy sheet driving rollers disposed in said second feed path upstream of said imaging station and spaced from said supply roller means to engage a single copy sheet simultaneously therewith; first switch means disposed in said first path adjacent and upstream of said image area; second switch means disposed in said second path adjacent said imaging station and between said copy sheet driving rollers and said imaging station; and means responsive to said first and second switch means for controlling said copy sheet driving rollers, said second switch means being actuated by the leading edge of said copy sheet to stop said copy sheet driving rollers and said first switch means being actuated by the leading edge of said original document to start said copy sheet driving rollers whereby the leading edge of said original document enters said image area simultaneously with the leading edge of said copy sheet entering said imaging station, said supply means including a tray to receive a ream of copy sheets and pivotally mounted pins operating to assure alignment of said copy sheets in said tray, pivoted lever means engaging said pins, paper control fingers mounted on said lever means engaging said copy sheets and maintaining alignment of said copy sheets when said pivotally mounted pins are pivoted out of engagement with said copy sheets in said tray, said paper control fingers preventing the feeding of several copy sheets simultaneously from the ream in said tray, and said supply roller means including supply rollers mounted on said levers and arranged upon downward pivotal movement of said levers to engage an upper sheet of the ream of copy sheets in said tray, said supply rollers being driven from said copy sheet driving rollers through a slip clutch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said supply means includes a control rod for pivoting said pins away from said copy sheets and pivoting said lever means such that said paper control fingers and said supply rollers engage the ream of copy sheets in said tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said copy sheet driving rollers drive said copy sheet at a faster speed than said supply rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said supply means includes a metal brush of light, electrically conductive material disposed between said supply rollers and said copy sheet driving rollers and movable to engage said copy sheets to eliminate static electricity therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means defining said first path further defines a recycling portion and a return portion therein and includes shutter means for controlling the travel of said original document having a first position for directing said original document to said recycling portion of said first path to recycle said original document through said apparatus when it is desired to produce a plurality of copies and a second position for directing said original document to said return portion of said first path when the final of any desired number of copies is completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said shutter means is biased towards said second position and includes a switch, a cam operating said switch and electromagnetic means for overcoming said bias and positioning said shutter in said first position in response to the closing of an electrical circuit through said switch operated by said cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 and further comprising recycling control structure including a rotatably mounted spur gear rigidly connected with said cam and having gaps therein, a pivotally mounted L-shaped control member hAving a pair of legs alternatively engaging the gaps of said spur gear, and means urging said spur gear in rotation with said legs by engagement with said gaps limiting the rotational movement of said spur gear to the distance of one gap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said control structure includes a solenoid controlling the pivotal movement of said L-shaped member, said solenoid being controlled by a switch in said first path for said original document whereby said shutter means is fixed when said original document passes through a portion of said first path adjacent said shutter means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2137028A
Cited
US2927503A
Cited
US2826412A
Cited
US3484164A
Cited
US3441345A
Cited
US3330179A
Cited
US3361113A
Cited
US3397627A
Cited
US3416860A
Cited
US3493299A
Cited
US3427106A
Cited
US3475093A
Cited
US3560716A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |