Method and apparatus for registering, feeding and separating original and copy sheets in a duplicator

Claim 2

An improved copyboard for feeding original and copy sheets of film to an exposure station in a microfiche duplicator having a frame supporting a loading station and a sheet separation station spaced on either side of said exposure station, said copyboard comprising: a generally rectangular carriage assembly rectilinearly movable on said frame between said loading station and said separation station; a radiation-transmissive plate carried upon said carriage assembly and adapted to carry superposed thereon said original and copy sheets, the original sheet being disposed adjacent said plate and between said plate and said copy sheet; and means on said frame coupled with sAid carriage to impart rectilinear motion thereto for transporting said superposed sheets from said loading station through said exposure station to said separation station, and thereafter transporting said original sheet back to said loading station.

Claim 3

an exposure station having a source of actinic radiation;

Claim 4

an exposure station having a source of actinic radiation;

Claim 5

The invention as recited in claim 1 further including an ultraviolet lamp and a resilient roll disposed opposite said ultraviolet lamp on said frame at said exposure station such that said copyboard moves over said ultraviolet lamp and under said resilient roll, said roll contacting the upper surface of said copyboard to maintain contact between the original and copy sheets during transport thereof through said exposure station.

Claim 6

a copyboard having leading and trailing edges relative to said exposure station and comprising a radiation-transmissive plate adapted to carry thereon superposed original microfiche and copy sheets, said original sheet being adjacent said radiation-transmissive plate and between said plate and said copy sheet, the upper surface of the leading edge of said copyboard being covered with a compressible material with the leading edge of the original sheet abutting the trailing edge of the compressible material and separated from the leading edge of the copy sheet by an overhanging member extending over the leading edge of the original sheet, said copyboard being movable between a loading station and said exposure station where said copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original sheet;

Claim 7

a copyboard having leading and trailing edges relative to said exposure station and comprising a radiation-transmissive plate adapted to carry thereon superposed original microfiche and copy sheets, said original sheet being adjacent said radiation-transmissive plate and between said plate and said copy sheet, the upper surface of the leading edge of said copyboard being covered with a compressible material with the leading edge of the original sheet abutting the trailing edge of the compressible material and separated from the leading edge of the copy sheet by an overhanging member extending over the leading edge of the original sheet, said copyboard being movable between a loading station and said exposure station where said copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original sheet;

Claim 8

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said motion imparting means is adjustable to vary the speed of movement of said carriage through said exposure station whereby the degree of exposure of said copy sheet may be accurately regulated.

Claim 9

means for separating the exposed copy sheet from the original sheet;

Claim 10

means for separating the exposed copy sheet from the original sheet;

Claim 11

means for developing the exposed copy sheet; and

Claim 12

means for developing the exposed copy sheet; and

Claim 13

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said motion imparting means drives said carriage at a first speed from said loading station to said separation station and at a second speed from said separation station back to said loading station.

Claim 14

In a process for duplicating an original microfiche sheet, the improvement comprising: superposing said original sheet and a copy sheet on a copyboard at a loading station, said copyboard comprising a radiation-transmissive plate and being reciprocatable linearly between a loading station and an exposure station; driving said copyboard linearly from said loading station through said exposure station whereat the copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original; and after separating the exposed copy from the original sheet following exposure, driving said copyboard linearly back to said loading station still bearing thereon said original sheet.

Claim 15

In a process for duplicating an original microfiche sheet, the improvement comprising: superposing said original sheet and a copy sheet on a copyboard at a loading station, said copyboard comprising a radiation-transmissive plate and being reciprocatable linearly between a loading station and an exposure station; driving said copyboard linearly from said loading station through said exposure station whereat the copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original; and after separating the exposed copy from the original sheet following exposure, driving said copyboard linearly back to said loading station still bearing thereon said original sheet.

Claim 16

means for feeding the separated, exposed copy sheet to said developing means; the improvement in said separating means (3) comprising: a linear cam on said copyboard and disposed ahead of the leading edge of said copyboard, said cam having a first upper surface and a second lower surface formed by a recess therein; a spring-loaded flat member pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm riding on said first surface of said cam as said copyboard advances from the loading station to the exposure station, the height of said first surface causing the leading edge of said flat member nearest the leading edge of the copyboard to be disposed at a distance above the superposed original and copy sheets; said recess being located in said cam such that when the superposed original and copy sheets initially are advanced past said exposure station, said arm rides into said recess causing the leading edge of said flat member to be pivoted against the leading edge of said copyboard against said compressible material and under the leading edge oF the exposed copy sheet but over the overhanging member, wherein as said copyboard advances further past said exposure station, said arm rides out of said recess and onto said first upper surface thereby positively separating the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet from the leading edge of the original sheet, with the further movement of said copyboard past said exposure station resulting in positive separation of the entire exposed copy sheet from the original sheet and the feeding of the separated, exposed copy sheet to the developing means.

Claim 17

means for feeding the separated, exposed copy sheet to said developing means; the improvement in said separating means (3) comprising: a linear cam on said copyboard and disposed ahead of the leading edge of said copyboard, said cam having a first upper surface and a second lower surface formed by a recess therein; a spring-loaded flat member pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm riding on said first surface of said cam as said copyboard advances from the loading station to the exposure station, the height of said first surface causing the leading edge of said flat member nearest the leading edge of the copyboard to be disposed at a distance above the superposed original and copy sheets; said recess being located in said cam such that when the superposed original and copy sheets initially are advanced past said exposure station, said arm rides into said recess causing the leading edge of said flat member to be pivoted against the leading edge of said copyboard against said compressible material and under the leading edge oF the exposed copy sheet but over the overhanging member, wherein as said copyboard advances further past said exposure station, said arm rides out of said recess and onto said first upper surface thereby positively separating the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet from the leading edge of the original sheet, with the further movement of said copyboard past said exposure station resulting in positive separation of the entire exposed copy sheet from the original sheet and the feeding of the separated, exposed copy sheet to the developing means.

Claim 18

The process of claim 5 comprising after driving said copyboard linearly back to the loading station, superposing another copy sheet onto said original sheet and repeating all of said steps to obtain another copy of the same original, and repeating these steps until the desired number of copies are obtained.

Claim 19

The process of claim 5 wherein said driving step includes adjusting the speed of movement of said copyboard to regulate the exposure of said copy sheet.

Claim 20

A sheet separator for use in a microfiche duplicator including an exposure station having a source of actinic radiation; a copyboard having leading and trailing edges relative to the exposure station and comprising a radiation-transmissive plate adapted to carry thereon superposed original microfiche and copy sheets, said original sheet being adjacent said radiation-transmissive plate between said plate and said copy sheet, and said copyboard being movable between a loading station and said exposure station where said copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original sheet as said copyboard moves the superposed sheets past the exposure station; means for separating the exposed copy sheet from the original sheet; means for developing the exposed copy sheet; and means for feeding the separated, exposed copy sheet to said developing means; the improvement in said separating means comprising: a flat member pivoted about a horizontal axis; camming means for pivoting the leading edge of said flat member against the leading edge of the copyboard under the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet but over the leading edge of the original sheet as the leading edge of the copyboard passes the exposure station, said camming means causing said pivoting in response to the movement of the copyboard past said exposure station; said camming means further including additional means for lifting the leading edge of said flat member away from the surface of said copyboard after being pivoted under the leading edge of said copy sheet, thereby positively separating the leading edge of the exposed sheet from the leading edge of the original sheet, with the further Movement of said copyboard past said exposure station resulting in positive separation of the entire exposed copy sheet from the original sheet and the feeding of the separated exposed copy sheet to said developing means.

Claim 21

A sheet separator for use in a microfiche duplicator including an exposure station having a source of actinic radiation; a copyboard having leading and trailing edges relative to the exposure station and comprising a radiation-transmissive plate adapted to carry thereon superposed original microfiche and copy sheets, said original sheet being adjacent said radiation-transmissive plate between said plate and said copy sheet, and said copyboard being movable between a loading station and said exposure station where said copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original sheet as said copyboard moves the superposed sheets past the exposure station; means for separating the exposed copy sheet from the original sheet; means for developing the exposed copy sheet; and means for feeding the separated, exposed copy sheet to said developing means; the improvement in said separating means comprising: a flat member pivoted about a horizontal axis; camming means for pivoting the leading edge of said flat member against the leading edge of the copyboard under the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet but over the leading edge of the original sheet as the leading edge of the copyboard passes the exposure station, said camming means causing said pivoting in response to the movement of the copyboard past said exposure station; said camming means further including additional means for lifting the leading edge of said flat member away from the surface of said copyboard after being pivoted under the leading edge of said copy sheet, thereby positively separating the leading edge of the exposed sheet from the leading edge of the original sheet, with the further Movement of said copyboard past said exposure station resulting in positive separation of the entire exposed copy sheet from the original sheet and the feeding of the separated exposed copy sheet to said developing means.

Claim 22

The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said exposure station includes roller means for rolling engagement with the upper surface of said copyboard as the same passes therethrough, and wherein said improved separating means further includes compressible spacing means interposed between the leading edges of said original and copy sheets for facilitating engagement of said flat member with said exposed copy sheet, said compressible spacing means being compressed as the same passes under said roller means whereby full exposure of said copy sheet is assured without damaging said roller means.

Claim 23

The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein the leading edge of said flat member which is pivoted under the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet is tapered to form an apex and wherein the opposite end of said flat member is spring-loaded to pivot the apex of said flat member about said horizontal axis against the leading edge of the copyboard and underneath the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet.

Claim 24

The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein the upper surface of the leading edge of the copyboard is covered with a compressible material, the original sheet abutting said compressible material, and wherein said compressible material is covered by a flexible overhanging member extending over the leading edge of the original to separate the same from the leading edge of the overlying copy sheet whereby movement of the leading edge of said flat member against the leading edge of the copyboard compresses said compressible material and rides over said overhanging member underneath the leading edge of said copy sheet.

Claim 25

A sheet separator for a microfiche duplicator including: 1. an exposure station having a source of actinic radiation; 2. a copyboard having leading and trailing edges relative to said exposure station and comprising a radiation-transmissive plate adapted to carry thereon superposed original microfiche and copy sheets, said original sheet being adjacent said radiation-transmissive plate and between said plate and said copy sheet, the upper surface of the leading edge of said copyboard being covered with a compressible material with the leading edge of the original sheet abutting the trailing edge of the compressible material and separated from the leading edge of the copy sheet by an overhanging member extending over the leading edge of the original sheet, said copyboard being movable between a loading station and said exposure station where said copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original sheet; 3. means for separating the exposed copy sheet from the original sheet; 4. means for developing the exposed copy sheet; and 5. means for feeding the separated, exposed copy sheet to said developing means; the improvement in said separating means (3) comprising: a linear cam on said copyboard and disposed ahead of the leading edge of said copyboard, said cam having a first upper surface and a second lower surface formed by a recess therein; a spring-loaded flat member pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm riding on said first surface of said cam as said copyboard advances from the loading station to the exposure station, the height of said first surface causing the leading edge of said flat member nearest the leading edge of the copyboard to be disposed at a distance above the superposed original and copy sheets; said recess being located in said cam such that when the superposed original and copy sheets initially are advanced past said exposure station, said arm rides into said recess causing the leading edge of said flat member to be pivoted against the leading edge of said copyboard against said compressible material and under the leading edge oF the exposed copy sheet but over the overhanging member, wherein as said copyboard advances further past said exposure station, said arm rides out of said recess and onto said first upper surface thereby positively separating the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet from the leading edge of the original sheet, with the further movement of said copyboard past said exposure station resulting in positive separation of the entire exposed copy sheet from the original sheet and the feeding of the separated, exposed copy sheet to the developing means.

Claim 26

A sheet separator for a microfiche duplicator including: 1. an exposure station having a source of actinic radiation; 2. a copyboard having leading and trailing edges relative to said exposure station and comprising a radiation-transmissive plate adapted to carry thereon superposed original microfiche and copy sheets, said original sheet being adjacent said radiation-transmissive plate and between said plate and said copy sheet, the upper surface of the leading edge of said copyboard being covered with a compressible material with the leading edge of the original sheet abutting the trailing edge of the compressible material and separated from the leading edge of the copy sheet by an overhanging member extending over the leading edge of the original sheet, said copyboard being movable between a loading station and said exposure station where said copy sheet is exposed to said radiation through said original sheet; 3. means for separating the exposed copy sheet from the original sheet; 4. means for developing the exposed copy sheet; and 5. means for feeding the separated, exposed copy sheet to said developing means; the improvement in said separating means (3) comprising: a linear cam on said copyboard and disposed ahead of the leading edge of said copyboard, said cam having a first upper surface and a second lower surface formed by a recess therein; a spring-loaded flat member pivoted about a horizontal axis and having an arm riding on said first surface of said cam as said copyboard advances from the loading station to the exposure station, the height of said first surface causing the leading edge of said flat member nearest the leading edge of the copyboard to be disposed at a distance above the superposed original and copy sheets; said recess being located in said cam such that when the superposed original and copy sheets initially are advanced past said exposure station, said arm rides into said recess causing the leading edge of said flat member to be pivoted against the leading edge of said copyboard against said compressible material and under the leading edge oF the exposed copy sheet but over the overhanging member, wherein as said copyboard advances further past said exposure station, said arm rides out of said recess and onto said first upper surface thereby positively separating the leading edge of the exposed copy sheet from the leading edge of the original sheet, with the further movement of said copyboard past said exposure station resulting in positive separation of the entire exposed copy sheet from the original sheet and the feeding of the separated, exposed copy sheet to the developing means.

Claim 27

In a process for duplicating an original microfiche sheet including superposing said original sheet and a copy sheet on a movable copyboard having a radiation-transmissive plate, said original sheet being disposed between said plate and said copy sheet; moving said copyboard bearing thereon the superposed sheets toward an exposure station comprising a source of actinic radiation and through said exposure station; exposing, at said exposure station, said copy sheet to radiation through said original sheet while said original and copy sheets are in contact with each other and while said copyboard bearing thereon said superposed sheets is moved through said exposure station; separating the exposed copy sheet from said original sheet; and developing the separated, exposed copy sheet; the improvement comprising positively separating the exposed copy sheet from said original sheet by: interposing a member between only the leading edges of said superposed original and copy sheets on said movable copyboard; lifting the leading edge of said copy sheet away from said copyboard as the leading edge of said copyboard initially moves past said exposure station and in response to said movement, by means of a flat member which moves over said member and under the leading edge of said copy sheet and then moves away from said copyboard; and continuing said movement of said copyboard through said exposure station whereby the entire exposed copy sheet is fed onto said flat member leaving said original sheet on said copyboard as a result of said movement, thereby positively separating the exposed copy sheet from said original sheet.

Claim 28

In a process for duplicating an original microfiche sheet including superposing said original sheet and a copy sheet on a movable copyboard having a radiation-transmissive plate, said original sheet being disposed between said plate and said copy sheet; moving said copyboard bearing thereon the superposed sheets toward an exposure station comprising a source of actinic radiation and through said exposure station; exposing, at said exposure station, said copy sheet to radiation through said original sheet while said original and copy sheets are in contact with each other and while said copyboard bearing thereon said superposed sheets is moved through said exposure station; separating the exposed copy sheet from said original sheet; and developing the separated, exposed copy sheet; the improvement comprising positively separating the exposed copy sheet from said original sheet by: interposing a member between only the leading edges of said superposed original and copy sheets on said movable copyboard; lifting the leading edge of said copy sheet away from said copyboard as the leading edge of said copyboard initially moves past said exposure station and in response to said movement, by means of a flat member which moves over said member and under the leading edge of said copy sheet and then moves away from said copyboard; and continuing said movement of said copyboard through said exposure station whereby the entire exposed copy sheet is fed onto said flat member leaving said original sheet on said copyboard as a result of said movement, thereby positively separating the exposed copy sheet from said original sheet.

Claim 29

The process of claim 13 wherein the separated copy sheet fed onto said flat member is guided to said developing means as a result of the continued movement of said copyboard past said exposure station.