Liquid developing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: a liquid applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for rotating said roller during the processing of copies and for stopping the rotation of said roller when copies are not being processed, wiper means mounted for engagement with said roller surface for removing excess developer liquid therefrom, pressure applying means mounted for engagement with said roller surface and forming therebetween a developing zone through which sensitized sheet material is passed for development, and circuit control means for moving both said wiper means and pressure applying means toward and away from said roller surface in response to the rotational and non-rotational movement, respectively, of said roller surface.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiper means and pressure applying means are sequentially moved into engagement with said roller surface upon the operation of said apparatus, said wiper means being moved into engaging relation with said rotating roller prior to said pressure applying means, whereby a uniform layer of developer liquid is applied thereby to said roller surface before said pressure applying means engages said roller surface.

Claim 4

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, a source of developer liquid for application to said applicator roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller forming a developing zone along a line of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into and out of engagement with said roller surface, and circuit control means for operating said apparatus between an operative condition and an inoperative condition, said circuit control means coupled to said moving means for causing said pressure applying means and wiper means to be moved into engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the operative condition, and out of engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the inoperative condition.

Claim 5

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, a source of developer liquid for application to said applicator roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller forming a developing zone along a line of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into and out of engagement with said roller surface, and circuit control means for operating said apparatus between an operative condition and an inoperative condition, said circuit control means coupled to said moving means for causing said pressure applying means and wiper means to be moved into engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the operative condition, and out of engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the inoperative condition.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further including means for dispensing developer liquid from said source to said roller surface said dispensing means being in communication with said source of liquid and being coupled to said circuit control means for operation thereby, said dispensing means being operated to dispense liquid developeR from said source upon said apparatus being operated to an operative condition, and to cease dispensing liquid upon the operation of said apparatus to an inoperative condition.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further including means for rotating said applicator roller, said means being coupled to and controlled by said circuit control means, whereby said roller is rotated upon placing said apparatus into an operating condition and said roller ceases to be rotated when said apparatus is in an inoperative condition.

Claim 8

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, a source of developer liquid for application to said applicator roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller forming a developing zone along a line of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into and out of engagement with said roller surface, and circuit control means for operating said apparatus between an operative condition and an inoperative condition, said circuit control means coupled to said moving means for causing said pressure applying means and wiper means to be moved into engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the operative condition, and out of engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the inoperative condition, wherein said means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into and out of engagement with said roller includes a cam member mounted for rotational movement, and coupled to each of said pressure applying and wiper means, whereby upon rotation of said cam member in a first direction said pressure applying and wiper means are moved into engagement with said roller surface, and upon rotation of said cam member in the opposite direction, said pressure applying and wiper means are moved out of engagement with said roller, wherein said cam member is driven rotatably by motor means, and wherein said circuit control means interconnects said motor means to a source of electrical power, said circuit control means including switch means movable to an on position, whereby said motor means is operated electrically to rotate said cam member in said first direction and to an off position, whereby said motor means is operated electrically to rotate said cam member in said opposite direction.

Claim 9

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined amount of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, a source of developer liquid for application to said applicator roller surface, wiper means for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, pressure applying means mounted adjacent said roller for movement into and out of engagement with said roller surface, said pressure applying means and said roller forming a developing zone along a line of contact therebetween through which said sensitized sheet material is passed for development, means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into and out of engagement with said roller surface, and circuit control means for operating said apparatus between an operative condition and an inoperative condition, said circuit control means coupled to said moving means for causing said pressure applying means and wiper means to be moved into engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the operative condition, and out of engagement with said roller surface upon placing said apparatus into the inoperative condition, wherein said means for moving said pressure applying means and wiper means into and out of engagement with said roller includes a cam member mounted for rotational movement, and coupled to each of said pressure applying and wiper means, whereby upon rotation of said cam member in a first direction said pressure applying and wiper means are moved into engagement with said roller surface, and upon rotation of said cam member in the opposite direction, said pressure applying and wiper means are moved out of engagement with said roller, wherein said cam member is driven rotatably by motor means, and wherein said circuit control means interconnects said motor means to a source of electrical power, said circuit control means including switch means movable to an on position, whereby said motor means is operated electrically to rotate said cam member in said first direction and to an off position, whereby said motor means is operated electrically to rotate said cam member in said opposite direction.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said circuit control means comprises a plurality of contacts coupled mechanically to said cam member and electrically to said motor means, said contacts being operable by the rotation of the cam member a predetermined distance in said first direction, to cause said motor means to discontinue operation, thereby to prevent further rotation of said cam member in said first direction.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said contacts are of the elongated resilient type mounted at one end to support means located adjacent said rotating cam member, and at the other end to a cam follower, said follower being in engagement with said cam member for movement thereover as said cam member is rotated, and wherein said cam member includes a plurality of track portions over which said follower is movable, said contacts remaining in an operated condition to maintain said motor means operational so long as said follower is engaging a predetermined one of said track portions, but being moved to an unoperAted condition upon engagement of said follower with another one of said track portions, whereby the operation of said motor means is discontinued.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said contacts are operable by the rotation of said cam member in said opposite direction to discontinue the operation of said motor means upon said cam member returning to its initial position.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cam member is coupled to each of said pressure applying and wiper means by a corresponding arm member, a first one of said arm members being connected at a first end to said pressure applying means and a second one of said arm members being connected at a first end to said wiper means, said opposite ends of said arm members each being connected to respective follower portions mounted for movement on first and second track portions, respectively, on said cam member each said track portion including a passive section and an active section, whereby movement of a follower portion in said active section causes, through a respective arm member, movement of a corresponding pressure applying or wiper means toward or away from said roller surface, depending upon the direction of rotation of said cam member.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cam follower of said second arm member is moved over said active section of the track portion initially during the rotation of said cam member in said first direction and wherein the cam follower of said first arm member is moved over said active section of the track portion at a subsequent time during the rotation of said cam member in said first direction, whereby said wiper means is moved into engagement with said roller surface a predetermined time prior to said pressure applying means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said wiper means and pressure applying means are moved into engagement with said roller surface in sequence, said wiper means being moved into engagement with said roller surface a predetermined time prior to said pressure applying means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said circuit control means includes delay means for providing a predetermined delay between the engagement of said wiper means and said pressure applying means, thereby to permit said wiper means to uniformly distribute developer liquid over the surface of said roller prior to the engagement of the latter by said pressure applying means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for rotating said applicator roller in a predetermined direction, a source of developer liquid for application to said applicator roller surface, a wiper blade for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper blade mounted adjacent said roller on a support member, said support member being rotatable toward and away from said roller surface for engagement and disengagement, respectively, of said wiper blade, with said roller surface, a pressure blade mounted adjacent said roller on a support member, said support member being rotatable toward and away from said roller surface for engagement and disengagement, respectively, of said pressure blade with said roller surface, a cam member mounted for rotation adjacent said roller and coupled to each of said support members, means for rotating said cam member to provide movement of said blades through said support members, and control means for operating said apparatus, including electrical circuit means connected to said means for rotating said applicator roller and said means for rotating said cam member, said electrical circuit means including switch means actuable to on and off positions whereby upon actuation of said switch means to The on position, said applicator roller is caused to be rotated and said cam member is rotated to move said blades into engagement with said roller surface, and upon actuation of said switch to the off position the rotation of said applicator roller ceases and said blades are moved out of engagement with said roller surface.

Claim 18

Apparatus for developing sensitized sheet material by the application to said material of a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, said apparatus comprising: an applicator roller mounted for rotation, said roller having a surface adapted to carry a predetermined quantity of developer liquid, means for rotating said applicator roller in a predetermined direction, a source of developer liquid for application to said applicator roller surface, a wiper blade for removing excess developer liquid from the surface of said roller, said wiper blade mounted adjacent said roller on a support member, said support member being rotatable toward and away from said roller surface for engagement and disengagement, respectively, of said wiper blade, with said roller surface, a pressure blade mounted adjacent said roller on a support member, said support member being rotatable toward and away from said roller surface for engagement and disengagement, respectively, of said pressure blade with said roller surface, a cam member mounted for rotation adjacent said roller and coupled to each of said support members, means for rotating said cam member to provide movement of said blades through said support members, and control means for operating said apparatus, including electrical circuit means connected to said means for rotating said applicator roller and said means for rotating said cam member, said electrical circuit means including switch means actuable to on and off positions whereby upon actuation of said switch means to The on position, said applicator roller is caused to be rotated and said cam member is rotated to move said blades into engagement with said roller surface, and upon actuation of said switch to the off position the rotation of said applicator roller ceases and said blades are moved out of engagement with said roller surface.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further including means mounted adjacent said roller for dispensing developer liquid onto said wiper blade for application thereby to said roller surface, and pump means interconnecting said source and said dispensing means, and wherein said pump means is coupled to said control means, whereby upon operation of said switch means to said on position, said pump means is activated to pump developer liquid from said source to said dispensing means, and upon operation of said switch to said off position, said pump means is deactivated.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said wiper and pressure blade support members are connected to said cam member by means of arm members, each of said arm members being connected pivotally at a first end to said support member and connected at the opposite end to said cam member, whereby rotational movement of said cam member is translated through said arm members to said blade support members.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said electrical circuit means includes contact means operated in accordance with the rotation of said cam member, and wherein said cam member is rotated by means of motor means coupled electrically to said contact means and said switch means, whereby upon the actuation of said switch means said motor means is energized to rotate said cam member in a first direction, said contact means being operable in response to the rotation of said cam member a predetermined distance in said first direction to deenergize said motor means, thereby preventing further rotation of said cam member.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said wiper blade is moved into engagement with said roller surface a predetermined time prior to said pressure blade.