US3778154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which an original and copying material pass through a copying machine
Assignee: Kalle GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an electronic method of automatically controlling the speed of a motor used to pass an original and copying material, on which an image of said original is to be produced, through the exposure zone of a copying machine, successive originals continuously passing through the machine in a manner such that a succeeding original gives rise to a speeddetermining signal before a preceding original has left the exposure zone, which comprises storing a signal until the preceding original has left the exposure zone, interrogating the said signal for the purpose of controlling the speed of the motor for the period during which the said succeeding original is passed through the exposure zone, and cancelling the interrogated signal. This invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method.
Inventors
- 👤 W Dennhardt
- 👤 H Schroter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/72; G03B27/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which a succeeding original and copying material pass through the copying zone of a continuously operable copying machine having a motor drive for originals and copying material, said apparatus comprising, successively disposed in the path of travel of the said original upstream of the copying zone: at least one photosensitive measuring unit means, arranged to measure the translucency of the said original, at least one first switching element means which is adaPted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated: a. switches on a first step-by-step switching system, and b. connects the photosensitive measuring unit means to a storage unit for a brief period by way of the said step-bystep switching system whereby the signal derived from said measuring unit means is stored, at least one second switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated switches on a second step-by-step switching system whereby the stores signal is passed through an amplifier to a device for controlling the speed of the motor during the passage of the said original and copying material through the copying zone, and at least one third switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated switches on a third step-by-step switching system, whereby a stored signal relating to the preceding original is cancelled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
247 words
An apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which a succeeding original and copying material pass through the copying zone of a continuously operable copying machine having a motor drive for originals and copying material, said apparatus comprising, successively disposed in the path of travel of the said original upstream of the copying zone: at least one photosensitive measuring unit means, arranged to measure the translucency of the said original, at least one first switching element means which is adaPted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated: a. switches on a first step-by-step switching system, and b. connects the photosensitive measuring unit means to a storage unit for a brief period by way of the said step-bystep switching system whereby the signal derived from said measuring unit means is stored, at least one second switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated switches on a second step-by-step switching system whereby the stores signal is passed through an amplifier to a device for controlling the speed of the motor during the passage of the said original and copying material through the copying zone, and at least one third switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated switches on a third step-by-step switching system, whereby a stored signal relating to the preceding original is cancelled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the storage unit comprises at least four capacitors and each of the three step-by-step switching systems comprises a series of at least four pairs of contacts which are each connected to one of the capacitors, each capacitor being connected to those pairs of contacts of the first and second step-by-step switching systems which are in the same positions in the corresponding series, but to the next pair of contacts of the series in the case of the third step-by-step switching system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which, in the initial position in each step-by-step switching system, contact wipers in the three step-by-step switching systems connect pairs of contacts which are in the same positions in corresponding series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which, for the purpose of synchronizing the three step-by-step switching systems, one of the pairs of contacts in each of said systems is connected respectively to one of three lamps, the pairs of contacts connected to the lamps being in the same positions in their corresponding series, and a manually operable switching means is present which is so arranged that when actuated it prevents connection between the photosensitive measuring unit means and the storage means, short-circuit the capacitors of the storage means, so that one pole of a voltage source is applied to each pair of contacts of the three step-by-step switching systems, and applies to other pole of the voltage source to each of the lamps, and manually operable setting keys are provided by means of which the contact wipers are individually displaceable to their alternative contacts.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which an original and copying material pass through the copying zone of a copying machine having a motor drive for original and copying material, said apparatus comprising, successively disposed in the path of travel of the original upstream of the copying zone: at least one photosensitive measuring unit means, arranged to measure the translucency of the original, at least one first switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the original and which when so actuated: a. switches on a first step-by-step switching system, and b. connects the photosensitive measuring unit means to a storage unit for a brief period by way of the said step-by-step switching system whereby the signal derived from said measuring unit means is stored, at least one second switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the original and which when so actuated switches on a second step-by-step switching system whereby the stored signal is passed through an amplifier to a device for controlling the speed of the motor during the passage of original and copying material through the copying zone, and further comprising a third switching element means disposed in The path of travel of the original downstream of the copying zone, which latter switching element means is adapted for actuation by the trailing edge of the original and which when so actuated switches on a third step-by-step switching system whereby the stored signal is cancelled.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which an original and copying material pass through the copying zone of a copying machine having a motor drive for original and copying material, said apparatus comprising, successively disposed in the path of travel of the original upstream of the copying zone: at least one photosensitive measuring unit means, arranged to measure the translucency of the original, at least one first switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the original and which when so actuated: a. switches on a first step-by-step switching system, and b. connects the photosensitive measuring unit means to a storage unit for a brief period by way of the said step-by-step switching system whereby the signal derived from said measuring unit means is stored, at least one second switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the original and which when so actuated switches on a second step-by-step switching system whereby the stored signal is passed through an amplifier to a device for controlling the speed of the motor during the passage of original and copying material through the copying zone, and further comprising a third switching element means disposed in The path of travel of the original downstream of the copying zone, which latter switching element means is adapted for actuation by the trailing edge of the original and which when so actuated switches on a third step-by-step switching system whereby the stored signal is cancelled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which, in the initial position in each step-by-step switching system, contact wipers in the three step-by-step switching systems connect pairs of contacts which are in the same positions in corresponding series.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which, for the purpose of synchronizing the three step-by-step switching systems, one of the pairs of contacts in each of said systems is connected respectively to one of three lamps, the pairs of contacts connected to the lamps being in the same positions in their corresponding series, and a manually operable switching means is present which is so arranged that when actuated it prevents connection between the photosensitive measuring unit means and the storage means, short-circuits the capacitors of the storage means, so that one pole of a voltage source is applied to each pair of contacts of the three step-by-step switching systems, and applies to other pole of the voltage source to each of the lamps, and manually operable setting keys are provided by means of which the contact wipers are individually displaceable to their alternative contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the storage unit comprises at least three capacitors and each of the three step-by-step switching systems comprises a series of at least three pairs of contacts, each pair of contacts being connected to one of the capacitors and each capacitor being connected to those pairs of contacts in the three step-by-step switching systems which are in the same positions in the different series.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which a succeeding original and copying material pass through the copying zone of a continuously operable copying machine having a motor drive for originals and copying material, said apparatus comprising, successively disposed in the path of travel of the said original upstream of the copying zone: at least one photosensitive measuring unit means, arranged to measure the translucency of the said original, at least one first switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and when so actuatd: a. switches on a first step-by-step switching system and b. connects the photosensitive measuring unit means to a storage unit for a brief period by way of the said step-by-step switching system whereby the signal derived from said measuring unit is stored, at least one second switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated switches on a second step-by-step switching system whereby a. the stored signal is passed through an amplifier to a device for controlling the speed of the motor during the passage of the said original and copying material through the copying zone, and b. a stored signal relating to the preceding original is cancelled.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for automatically controlling the speed at which a succeeding original and copying material pass through the copying zone of a continuously operable copying machine having a motor drive for originals and copying material, said apparatus comprising, successively disposed in the path of travel of the said original upstream of the copying zone: at least one photosensitive measuring unit means, arranged to measure the translucency of the said original, at least one first switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and when so actuatd: a. switches on a first step-by-step switching system and b. connects the photosensitive measuring unit means to a storage unit for a brief period by way of the said step-by-step switching system whereby the signal derived from said measuring unit is stored, at least one second switching element means which is adapted for actuation by the leading edge of the said original and which when so actuated switches on a second step-by-step switching system whereby a. the stored signal is passed through an amplifier to a device for controlling the speed of the motor during the passage of the said original and copying material through the copying zone, and b. a stored signal relating to the preceding original is cancelled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the storage unit comprises an analogue-digital controlled flip-flop circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which at least one further switching element is disposed in the path of travel of the original upstream of the photosensitive measuring unit, which switching element is adapted to disconnect the photosensitive measuring unit from the storage unit when the trailing edge of the original passes said further switching element or elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including means for continuously applying a voltage corresponding to the lowest speed of the motor to the means for controlling the speed of this motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including a time-Delay unit which is controllable by the second switching element and by means of which the driving motor can be switched to a pre-set idling speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the photosensitive measuring unit means comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements distributed across the path of the original and including a discriminator connected between the photosensitive measuring unit and the storage unit for the purpose of selecting that signal corresponding to the greatest translucency of the original.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the photosensitive elements are in staggered relation to one another parallel to the direction of movement of the original.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including filters disposed in the path of a beam of light used for measuring the translucency of the original.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including a dispersion film located between the light source used for measuring the translucency and the path of the original.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which a copying light source is arranged for use as the light source for measuring translucency.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, including UV-light-conducting fiber optics for directing the light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including potentiometers for suiting the particular sensitivity of the copying material and for calibrating the control apparatus, whereby the passage through zero and also the gain of the amplifier can be adjusted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the storage unit comprises at least four capacitors, the first step-by-step switching system comprises a series of at least four pairs of contacts, and the second step-by-step switching system comprises a series of at least four contacts for interrogation and a series of at least four contacts for cancellation and also two contact wipers which are mechanically interconnected but electrically separate from one another.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which each pair of contacts of the first series and each contact of a series for interrogation and of a series for cancellation are connected to one of the capacitors, each capacitor being connected to that pair of contacts of the first series and to that contact for interrogation which are in the same positions in the series, but to the next contact in the said series for cancellation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which, in the initial position, a contact wiper of the first step-by-step switching system bears on that one of the pairs of contacts of the system that corresponds to the contacts of the second step-by-step switching system on which contact wipers of the second step-by-step switching system bear.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
175 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, in which for the purpose of synchronizing the two step-by-step switching systems, one of the pairs of contacts in the first system and one of the contacts in the second system are each connected to one of two lamps, the pair of contacts of the first system, connected to a first of these lamps corresponding to the contact of the second system connected to the second lamp, and a manually operable switching means is provided which upon actuation prevents connection between the photosensitive measuring unit means and the storage means, short-circuits the capacitors of the storage means so that one pole of a voltage source is applied to each pair of contacts of the first step-by-step switching system and to each contact of the second step-by-step switching system, and applies the other pole of the voltage source to each of the two lamps, and including manually operable setting keys, by means of which the contact wipers in the two step-by-step switching systems are displaceable to their alternative contacts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |