Wet developing device for diazo type copying machines

Claim 2

A wet developing device for diazo type copying machines comprising three rollers mounted in a row for rotation about axis parallel to one another, with the adjacent rollers being maintained in contact with each other and having substantially the same peripheral velocities at the points of contact, one of said rollers disposed at one end of the row being journalled by bearings fixedly secured at one position while the other two rollers are supported for movement toward or away from the adjacent rollers, means for applying pressure to the movable roller disposed at the other end of the row so that the three rollers press against each other, and means for applying developing fluid to the movable roller disposed at the middle of the row, said three rollers being arranged such that a photosensitive sheet may be passed between the end fixed end roller and the middle movable roller, said movable end roller having a smaller diameter than said fixed end roller whereby excess developing fluid is removed from the middle movable roller by the movable end roller cooperating therewith and collects in the area of contact between said movable end roller and said middle movable roller.

Claim 3

A wet developing device as in claim 1 including means for selectively causing the means for applying pressure to the movable end roller to stop applying said pressure.

Claim 4

A wet developing device for a diazo copying machine comprising a transfer roller, a central roller parallel to and abutting the transfer roller and a pressing roller parallel to and abutting the central roller, support means for journalling the transfer roller at a rotational axis fixed with respect to the support means and for journalling the central and pressing rollers for rotation about axes movable toward and away from the transfer roller, with the rollers having substantially the same peripheral velocities at the points at which they abut, means for applying regulatable pressure to the pressing roller to press it against the central roller and to thereby press the central roller against the transfer roller, and means for applying developing fluid to the central roller, at an area thereof which rotates from the transfer toward the pressing roller, whereby excess developing fluid applied to the central roller may be squeezed out between the central roller and the pressing roller and a sheet may be passed between the transfer roller and the central roller to contact developing fluid remaining on the area of the central roller which has contacted the pressing roller as the rollers are suitably rotated wherein the means for applying pressure to the pressing roller comprise a shaft journalled at the support means for rotation about an axis parallel to the roller axes and having radially extending support plates journalling a pressure applying roller parallel to and abutting the pressing roller, an arm extending radially out from the shaft and means acting on the arm to rotate the shaft about its axis to press the pressure applying roller against the pressing roller.

Claim 5

A wet developing device for a diazo copying machine comprising a transfer roller, a central roller parallel to and abutting the transfer roller and a pressing roller parallel to and abutting the central roller, support means for journalling the transfer roller at a rotational axis fixed with respect to the support means and for journalling the central and pressing rollers for rotation about axes movable toward and away from the transfer roller, with the rollers having substantially the same peripheral velocities at the points at which they abut, means for applying regulatable pressure to the pressing roller to press it against the central roller and to thereby press the central roller against the transfer roller, and means for applying developing fluid to the central roller, at an area thereof which rotates from the transfer toward the pressing roller, whereby excess developing fluid applied to the central roller may be squeezed out between the central roller and the pressing roller and a sheet may be passed between the transfer roller and the central roller to contact developing fluid remaining on the area of the central roller which has contacted the pressing roller as the rollers are suitably rotated wherein the means for applying pressure to the pressing roller comprise a shaft journalled at the support means for rotation about an axis parallel to the roller axes and having radially extending support plates journalling a pressure applying roller parallel to and abutting the pressing roller, an arm extending radially out from the shaft and means acting on the arm to rotate the shaft about its axis to press the pressure applying roller against the pressing roller.

Claim 6

A wet developing device for a diazo copying machine comprising a transfer roller, a central roller parallel to and abutting the transfer roller and a pressing roller parallel to and abutting the central roller, support means for journalling the transfer roller at a rotational axis fixed with respect to the support means and for journalling the central and pressing rollers for rotation about axis movable toward and away from the transfer roller, with the rollers having substantially the same peripheral velocities at the points at which they abut, means for applying regulatable pressure to the pressing roller to press it against the central roller and to thereby press the central roller against the transfer roller, and means for applying developing fluid to the central roller, at an area thereof which rotates from the transfer toward the pressing roller, whereby excess developing fluid applied to the central roller may be squeezed out between the central roller and the pressing roller and a sheet may be passed between the transfer roller and the central roller to contact developing fluid remaining on the area of the central roller which has contacted the pressing roller as the rollers are suitably rotated wherein the central roller is made of resilient rubberlike material and the diameter of the pressing roller is less than the diameter of the transfer roller, whereby the pressure per unit area of contact and the squeezing action between the pressing and the central roller are greater than the pressure per unit area of contact and the squeezing action between the transfer and the central roller and hence excess squeezed fluid may collect at the area of contact between the pressing and the central roller but not at the area of contact between the transfer and central roller where a sheet is passed.

Claim 7

A wet developing device for a diazo copying machine comprising a transfer roller, a central roller parallel to and abutting the transfer roller and a pressing roller parallel to and abutting the central roller, support means for journalling the transfer roller at a rotational axis fixed with respect to the support means and for journalling the central and pressing rollers for rotation about axis movable toward and away from the transfer roller, with the rollers having substantially the same peripheral velocities at the points at which they abut, means for applying regulatable pressure to the pressing roller to press it against the central roller and to thereby press the central roller against the transfer roller, and means for applying developing fluid to the central roller, at an area thereof which rotates from the transfer toward the pressing roller, whereby excess developing fluid applied to the central roller may be squeezed out between the central roller and the pressing roller and a sheet may be passed between the transfer roller and the central roller to contact developing fluid remaining on the area of the central roller which has contacted the pressing roller as the rollers are suitably rotated wherein the central roller is made of resilient rubberlike material and the diameter of the pressing roller is less than the diameter of the transfer roller, whereby the pressure per unit area of contact and the squeezing action between the pressing and the central roller are greater than the pressure per unit area of contact and the squeezing action between the transfer and the central roller and hence excess squeezed fluid may collect at the area of contact between the pressing and the central roller but not at the area of contact between the transfer and central roller where a sheet is passed.

Claim 8

A wet developing device as in claim 4 wherein the means for applying developing fluid to the central roller comprise a developing fluid reservoir, an absorbent member having a portion immersed in the rEservoir and a portion contacting the central roller, and resilient means pressing the portion of the absorbent member contacting the central roller against the central roller.

Claim 9

A wet developing device as in claim 5 wherein the means for applying pressure to the pressing roller comprise a shaft journalled at the support means for rotation about an axis parallel to the roller axes and having radially extending support plates journalling a pressure applying roller parallel to and abutting the pressing roller and disposed at the side thereof opposite the side abutting the central roller, an arm extending radially out from the shaft and spring means attached to the free end of the arm to urge the pressure applying roller against the pressing roller.

Claim 10

A wet developing device as in claim 6 including means for regulating the force applied by the spring means on the arm to thereby regulate the pressure applied by the pressure applying roller on the pressing roller.

Claim 11

A wet developing device as in claim 7 wherein the means for regulating the force applied to the shaft arm comprise a solenoid connected to the spring means and having an energized state in which it causes the spring means to apply force on the arm to press the transfer, central, pressing and pressure applying rollers together, and having a deenergized state in which it releases the spring means.

Claim 12

A wet developing device as in claim 4 wherein the means for applying pressure to the pressing roller comprise a shaft journalled at the support means for rotation about an axis parallel to the roller axes and having radially extending support plates journalling at least one pressure applying roller parallel to and abutting the pressing roller and disposed at the side thereof Opposite the side abutting the central roller, an arm extending radially out from the shaft and spring means attached to the free end of the arm to urge the pressure applying roller against the pressing roller.

Claim 13

A wet developing device as in claim 9 including means for regulating the force applied by the spring means on the arm to thereby regulate the pressure applied by the pressure applying roller on the pressing roller.