Continuous feed copying machine with an electronic flash illumination system

Claim 1

Duplicating apparatus of the type wherein both original and copy documents are carried in continuous, non-stop movement respectively through an exposure position and an image position, and including means for projecting an image from said exposure position to said image position, comprising: means for continuously carrying an original document along a first carrier path to traverse said exposure position; means for continuously carrying light sensitive sheets cut to a predetermined size along a second carrier path spaced from said first carrier path and with the same velocity as said original document whereby a respective one of said light sensitive sheets is within said image position simultaneously with said original document within said exposure positiOn; means for determining the presence of said respective light sensitive sheet within said image position, said means including means for projecting a light beam to said image position, said light beam having an energy spectrum different than the energy spectrum for sensitizing said light sensitive sheets, and means for receiving light reflected from a light sensitive sheet at said image position and generating an output signal; means responsive to said output signal for generating a trigger signal indicating that said respective light sensitive sheet is within said image position; and means for exposing the original document at said exposure position with an instantaneous light flash and actuated by said trigger signal whereby said respective light sensitive sheet receives said projected image at said image position.