US3797931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sequence control apparatus for electrophotographic copying machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-23
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Granted: 1974-03-19
•
Expires: 1990-09-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling the sequential operation of several functions of a fully automatic electrophotographic copying machine. The copying machine has the capability of projecting an image of indicia on a moving document to a piece of copy paper which is moving in synchronism with the document, and of developing a visible image of the indicia on the copy paper. The disclosed apparatus controls, in response to sensing the leading edge of the document, the energization and de-energization of an illuminating lamp, an electrostatic charger, the commencement of feeding of copy paper, the moment of operation of a severing mechanism for severing a sheet of copy paper from a roll thereof and the feeding of a minimum length of copy paper, regardless of the length of the original document, to prevent pieces of copy paper less than that minimum length from being fed through the machine. The apparatus has features of adjustability which assure that sheets of copy paper will be severed from the roll having a length in exact accordance with the length of the original document, and which assure that the indicia on the original document will be reproduced on the sheet of copy paper in exact accordance with the position of the indicia on the document.
Inventors
- 👤 D Morrison
- 👤 W Ross
- 👤 J Miciukiewicz
- 👤 P Pollak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:57
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
In an electrostatic copier having document and copy sheet feed rollers for translating them along separate feed paths, a drive train for rotating the feed rollers, a lamp for scanning the indicia borne by the document as it passes through an alluminating station and for projecting an image thereof on a copy sheet as it passes through an imaging station, and an electrostatic charging device stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the imaging station, control apparatus comprising, in combination: A. sensing means located in the document feed path in advance of the illuminating station and operating to detect the passage of the leading and trailing edges of a document sheet; B. a control element mounted for movement between first and second positions under the control of said sensing means, said control element being operative 1. to assume said second position upon detection of the passage of the document''s leading edge, and 2. to return to said first position upon deteCtion of the passage of the document''s trailing edge; C. first means carried by said control element and movable therewith; D. second means associated with an initial feed roller in the copy sheet feed path, 1. said second means engaged by said first means while said control element assumes said second position to couple the initial feed roller to the drive train in order to feed copy paper; and E. third means having a normal position effective to maintain the lamp and charger de-energized, said third means being 1. coupled to said control element when in said first position so as to be retained in said normal position and further coupled to said control element so as to be restored to said normal position after a predetermined delay each time said control element returns to said first position, and 2. released for movement away from said normal position to initiate energization of the lamp and charger by movement of the control element from said first to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
In an electrostatic copier having document and copy sheet feed rollers for translating them along separate feed paths, a drive train for rotating the feed rollers, a lamp for scanning the indicia borne by the document as it passes through an alluminating station and for projecting an image thereof on a copy sheet as it passes through an imaging station, and an electrostatic charging device stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the imaging station, control apparatus comprising, in combination: A. sensing means located in the document feed path in advance of the illuminating station and operating to detect the passage of the leading and trailing edges of a document sheet; B. a control element mounted for movement between first and second positions under the control of said sensing means, said control element being operative 1. to assume said second position upon detection of the passage of the document''s leading edge, and 2. to return to said first position upon deteCtion of the passage of the document''s trailing edge; C. first means carried by said control element and movable therewith; D. second means associated with an initial feed roller in the copy sheet feed path, 1. said second means engaged by said first means while said control element assumes said second position to couple the initial feed roller to the drive train in order to feed copy paper; and E. third means having a normal position effective to maintain the lamp and charger de-energized, said third means being 1. coupled to said control element when in said first position so as to be retained in said normal position and further coupled to said control element so as to be restored to said normal position after a predetermined delay each time said control element returns to said first position, and 2. released for movement away from said normal position to initiate energization of the lamp and charger by movement of the control element from said first to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
to return to said first position upon passage of the document''s trailing edge; C. a drive element carried by said control element and movable therewith,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
to return to said first position upon passage of the document''s trailing edge; C. a drive element carried by said control element and movable therewith,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
said second means being released from said normal position to initiate energization of the lamp and charger by movement of the control element from said first position to said second position,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
said second means being released from said normal position to initiate energization of the lamp and charger by movement of the control element from said first position to said second position,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
to return to said first position upon deteCtion of the passage of the document''s trailing edge; C. first means carried by said control element and movable therewith; D. second means associated with an initial feed roller in the copy sheet feed path,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
to return to said first position upon deteCtion of the passage of the document''s trailing edge; C. first means carried by said control element and movable therewith; D. second means associated with an initial feed roller in the copy sheet feed path,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
released for movement away from said normal position to initiate energization of the lamp and charger by movement of the control element from said first to said second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
released for movement away from said normal position to initiate energization of the lamp and charger by movement of the control element from said first to said second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first means includes a drive member coupled to the copier drive train.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
a switch adapted to be actuated to de-energize the lamp and charger after a predetermined increment of rotation of said timing gear by said drive gear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
a switch adapted to be actuated to de-energize the lamp and charger after a predetermined increment of rotation of said timing gear by said drive gear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
engagement means carried by said fourth gear for engaging said latch to release said control element after a predetermined increment of rotation of said fourth gear by said third gear, whereby said control element is rendered nonresponsive to said sensing means signalling the passage of a document''s trailing edge until a minimum length of copy paper has been withdrawn from the supply roll.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
engagement means carried by said fourth gear for engaging said latch to release said control element after a predetermined increment of rotation of said fourth gear by said third gear, whereby said control element is rendered nonresponsive to said sensing means signalling the passage of a document''s trailing edge until a minimum length of copy paper has been withdrawn from the supply roll.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
a second actuator controlling the lamp and charger; and B. said actuating means comprises first and second bosses carried by said fifth gear,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
a second actuator controlling the lamp and charger; and B. said actuating means comprises first and second bosses carried by said fifth gear,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
said second boss operatively engaging said second actuator while said fifth gear is in said normal position to maintain the lamp and charger de-energized.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
said second boss operatively engaging said second actuator while said fifth gear is in said normal position to maintain the lamp and charger de-energized.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
9 words
switch actuators carried by said second driven gear, and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
9 words
switch actuators carried by said second driven gear, and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
move to a second position upon the detection by said sensing means of the passage of the document''s leading edge, and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
move to a second position upon the detection by said sensing means of the passage of the document''s leading edge, and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
control switches for the charger, lamp and severing mechanism selectively conditioned by said switch actuators upon rotation of said second driven gear by said drive gear.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
control switches for the charger, lamp and severing mechanism selectively conditioned by said switch actuators upon rotation of said second driven gear by said drive gear.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
return to said first position upon the detection by said sensing means of the passage of the document''s trailing edge;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
return to said first position upon the detection by said sensing means of the passage of the document''s trailing edge;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said drive member is operative A. to drivingly engage said second means to supply drive to the initial feed roller; B. to drivingly engage said second means to restore it to said normal position; and C. to latchably engage said second means to retain it in said normal position upon being restored thereto.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
said second means actuating the severing mechanism while being restored to said normal position. F. third means including a latch for engaging said control element each time it assumes said second position to retain it thereat, said third means
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
said second means actuating the severing mechanism while being restored to said normal position. F. third means including a latch for engaging said control element each time it assumes said second position to retain it thereat, said third means
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein A. said first means comprises a drive gear coupled to the copier drive train; B. said second means includes a driven gear drivingly coupled to the initial feed roller, said driven gear being engaged and rotated by said drive gear while said control element assumes said second position; and C. said third means includes
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
209 words
said clutch means including a. a control lever pivotally mounted for movement between said first and second positions, and b. a drive gear journalled on said control lever and continuously coupled to the drive train; C. first driven means coupled to the normally inoperative initial feed rollers and engaged by said clutch means while in said second position to couple the drive train to the initial feed rollers, thereby withdrawing copy paper from the supply roll, siad first driven means including a first driven gear engaged by said drive gear when said control lever is in said second position; and D. second driven means operatively coupled to the severing mechanism, the lamp and the charger, said second driven means being engaged by said clutch means upon its return from said second position to said first position to couple the drive train thereto, thereby initiating acutation of the severing mechanism to cut the copy paper into a sheet length corresponding to the length of the document sheet, and to initiate energization of the lamp and the charger as said clutch means moves from said first position to said second position and to initiate de-energization thereof when said clutch means returns to said first position, and, said second driven means including
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
209 words
said clutch means including a. a control lever pivotally mounted for movement between said first and second positions, and b. a drive gear journalled on said control lever and continuously coupled to the drive train; C. first driven means coupled to the normally inoperative initial feed rollers and engaged by said clutch means while in said second position to couple the drive train to the initial feed rollers, thereby withdrawing copy paper from the supply roll, siad first driven means including a first driven gear engaged by said drive gear when said control lever is in said second position; and D. second driven means operatively coupled to the severing mechanism, the lamp and the charger, said second driven means being engaged by said clutch means upon its return from said second position to said first position to couple the drive train thereto, thereby initiating acutation of the severing mechanism to cut the copy paper into a sheet length corresponding to the length of the document sheet, and to initiate energization of the lamp and the charger as said clutch means moves from said first position to said second position and to initiate de-energization thereof when said clutch means returns to said first position, and, said second driven means including
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said third means further includes A. detent means associated with said timing gear and engaged by said drive gear to retain said timing gear to said normal position; B. a boss carried by said timing gear for engaging said switch to maintain the lamp and charger de-energized while said timing gear is in said normal position; and C. a spring for rotating said timing gear to a reference position when said drive gear is disengaged from said detent means by movement of said control element to said second position, whereby to disengage said boss from said switch to enable energization of the lamp and charger,
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said detent means comprises a cutout formed in the toothed periphery of said timing gear.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said third means further includes A. a switch actuator for said switch engaged by said boss; and B. a stop engaged by said switch actuator after the latter is released by said boss upon rotation of said timing gear by said spring away from said normal position,
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a switch whose actuator is engaged by the document to close said switch for the time required for a document sheet to pass a given point in the document feed path, said apparatus further includes: A. a solenoid actuated during the period of closure of said switch to position said control element to said second position; and B. a spring acting to return said control element to said first position upon deactuation of said solenoid.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an electrostatic copier having feed rollers for translating document and copy sheets along separate feed paths, a drive train for rotating the feed rollers, a lamp for scanning the indicia borne by the document as it passes through an illuminating station and for projecting an image thereof on a copy sheet as it passes through an imaging station, an electrostatic charging device stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the imaging station, a supply roll from which copy paper is withdrawn by normally inoperative initial feed rollers, and a severing mechanism stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the charging device for cutting the copy paper into sheet lengths, sequence control apparatus comprising, in combination: A. sensing means located in the document feed path in advance of the illuminating station and operating to detect the passage of the leading and trailing edges of a document sheet; B. a control element mounted for movement between first and second positions under the control of said sensing means, said control element being operative
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an electrostatic copier having feed rollers for translating document and copy sheets along separate feed paths, a drive train for rotating the feed rollers, a lamp for scanning the indicia borne by the document as it passes through an illuminating station and for projecting an image thereof on a copy sheet as it passes through an imaging station, an electrostatic charging device stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the imaging station, a supply roll from which copy paper is withdrawn by normally inoperative initial feed rollers, and a severing mechanism stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the charging device for cutting the copy paper into sheet lengths, sequence control apparatus comprising, in combination: A. sensing means located in the document feed path in advance of the illuminating station and operating to detect the passage of the leading and trailing edges of a document sheet; B. a control element mounted for movement between first and second positions under the control of said sensing means, said control element being operative
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
80 words
The sequence control apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said sensing means comprises a switch which is closed for the time required for a document sheet to pass a given point in the document feed path, said apparatus further includes: A. a solenoid actuated during the period of closure of said switch to position said control element to said second position; and B. a spring acting to return said control element to said first position upon deactuation of said solenoid.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
137 words
The sequence control apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said drive element is a first gear and said first means includes: A. a shaft drivingly connected to the copy paper initial feed rollers; B. a second gear journalled on said shaft and drivingly engaged by said frist gear when said control element assumes said second position; C. a spring for angularly orienting said second gear to a reference position when said first and second gears are disengaged, D. a first abUtment carried by said second gear, and E. a second abutment angularly keyed on said shaft in adjustably spaced relation to said first abutment when said second gear assumes said reference position and engaged thereby to couple drive to the initial feed roller after a predetermined increment of rotation of said second gear by said first gear.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sequence control apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein A. said second abutment is carried by a third gear secured on said shaft, and B. said third means includes
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
The sequence control apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said third means further includes A. a pivotally mounted lever journalling said fourth gear; B. resilient means interconnecting said control element and said lever such that said lever is movable with said control element,
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
81 words
The sequence control apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said second means includes A. a fifth gear positioned for engagement by said first gear when said control element assumes said first position; B. detent means on said fifth gear engaged by said first gear to establish a normal angular position, therefor; C. referencing means establishing a reference angular position for said fifth gear; D. a spring for rotating said fifth gear to said reference position upon disengagement by said first gear,
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sequence control apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein A. said switch actuators include
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an electrostatic copier having feed rollers for translating document and copy sheets along separate feed paths, a drive train for rotating the feed rollers, a lamp for scanning the indicia borne by the document as it passes through an illuminating station and for projecting an image thereof on a copy sheet as it passes through an imaging station, an electrostatic charging device stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the imaginG station, a supply roll from which copy paper is withdrawn by normally inoperative initial feed rollers, and a severing mechanism stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the charging device for cutting the copy paper into sheet lengths, sequence control apparatus comprising, in combination: A. a sensing means located in the document feed path to detect the passage of the leading and trailing edges of the document; B. clutch means controlled by said sensing means, said clutch means being operative to
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an electrostatic copier having feed rollers for translating document and copy sheets along separate feed paths, a drive train for rotating the feed rollers, a lamp for scanning the indicia borne by the document as it passes through an illuminating station and for projecting an image thereof on a copy sheet as it passes through an imaging station, an electrostatic charging device stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the imaginG station, a supply roll from which copy paper is withdrawn by normally inoperative initial feed rollers, and a severing mechanism stationed in the copy sheet feed path in advance of the charging device for cutting the copy paper into sheet lengths, sequence control apparatus comprising, in combination: A. a sensing means located in the document feed path to detect the passage of the leading and trailing edges of the document; B. clutch means controlled by said sensing means, said clutch means being operative to
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) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |