Master plate feed and discharge device for duplicating apparatus

Claim 2

A master plate feed and discharge device for duplicating apparatus, comprising a. a master plate feed tray for holding a master plate; b. a master feed roller for feeding a master plate to a master cylinder from said feed tray; c. means provided on the master cylinder for automatically gripping a leading end portion of a master plate fed to the master cylinder; d. a master discharge roller disposed below the master feed roller; e. an actuation roller interposed between said master feed roller and said master discharge roller and adapted selectively to cooperate with the two rollers; and f. means for moving the actuation roller to a position in which it cooperates with the master feed roller when a master feed operation is performed and to a position in which it cooperates with the master discharge roller when a master discharge operation is performed; g. said actuation roller comprising a plurality of major diameter portions and minor diameter portions arranged alternately on the same axis, said major diameter portions being disposed for cooperation with the master feed roller and said minor diameter portions being disposed for cooperation with the master discharge roller.

Claim 3

In duplicating apparatus, in combination, a. a rotatable master cylinder including means for releasably gripping a master plate to hold the plate on the cylinder; b. means for supporting a master plate in position for advance to said cylinder; c. a driven plate feed roller for engaging and advancing a plate to the cylinder from said supporting means; d. a driven plate discharge roller for engaging and advancing a plate away from the cylinder, said feed and discharge rollers being disposed in spaced, axially parallel relation adjacent said cylinder; e. a third roller disposed intermediate said feed and discharge rollers in axially parallel relation thereto; f. means mounting said third roller for movement between positions in which said third roller respectively cooperates only with said feed roller, and only with said discharge roller, for advance of a plate therebetween; and g. means for moving said third roller between the aforesaid positions for selectively effecting feed of a plate to, and discharge of a plate from, said cylinder; h. said third roller comprising a plurality of first portions of equal diameter and a plurality of second portions of equal diameter smaller than the diameter of said first portions, said second portions being disposed in alternating relation with said first portions along a common axis; i. said feed roller comprising a plurality of coaxial roller segments spaced apart for register with said first portions of said third roller to grip a plate therebetween; and j. said discharge roller comprising a plurality of coaxial roller segments spaced Apart for register with said second portions of said third roller to grip a plate therebetween.

Claim 4

In duplicating apparatus, in combination, a. a rotatable master cylinder including means for releasably gripping a master plate to hold the plate on the cylinder; b. means for supporting a master plate in position for advance to said cylinder; c. a driven plate feed roller for engaging and advancing a plate to the cylinder from said supporting means; d. a driven plate discharge roller for engaging and advancing a plate away from the cylinder, said feed and discharge rollers being disposed in spaced, axially parallel relation adjacent said cylinder; e. a third roller disposed intermediate said feed and discharge rollers in axially parallel relation thereto; f. means mounting said third roller for movement between positions in which said third roller respectively cooperates only with said feed roller, and only with said discharge roller, for advance of a plate therebetween; and g. means for moving said third roller between the aforesaid positions for selectively effecting feed of a plate to, and discharge of a plate from, said cylinder; h. said third roller comprising a plurality of first portions of equal diameter and a plurality of second portions of equal diameter smaller than the diameter of said first portions, said second portions being disposed in alternating relation with said first portions along a common axis; i. said feed roller comprising a plurality of coaxial roller segments spaced apart for register with said first portions of said third roller to grip a plate therebetween; and j. said discharge roller comprising a plurality of coaxial roller segments spaced Apart for register with said second portions of said third roller to grip a plate therebetween.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said supporting means comprises a tray interposed between said feed roller and said third roller, for supporting a plate in position to be gripped between said feed and third rollers, and having an opening in register with said last-mentioned rollers for permitting the rollers to grip the plate.