Sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines

Claim 2

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed in an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said separating means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of rotation of the rotating member, and the support shaft means, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; air suction means communicating with the suction inlet for drawing air therethrough at least during a movement thereof from the position aligned with said line to the second position; drive means for moving the separating means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line; and means for causing the velocity of movement of the end face of the separating means to exceed the peripheral speed of the rotating member.

Claim 3

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed in an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said separating means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of rotation of the rotating member, and the support shaft means, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; air suction means comprising a piston and cylinder unit communicating with the suction inlet for drawing air therethrough at least during a movement thereof from the position aligned with said line to the second position; and drive means for moving the separating means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line.

Claim 4

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed in an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said separating means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of rotation of the rotating member, and the support shaft means, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; air suction means comprising a piston and cylinder unit communicating with the suction inlet for drawing air therethrough at least during a movement thereof from the position aligned with said line to the second position; and drive means for moving the separating means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line.

Claim 5

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed in an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said separating means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of rotation of the rotating member, and the support shaft means, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; air suction means communicating with the suction inlet for drawing air therethrough at least during a movement thereof from the position aligned with said line to the second position; and drive means including a cam which also drives said air suction means for moving the separating means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line.

Claim 6

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed in an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said separating means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of rotation of the rotating member, and the support shaft means, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; air suction means communicating with the suction inlet for drawing air therethrough at least during a movement thereof from the position aligned with said line to the second position; and drive means including a cam which also drives said air suction means for moving the separating means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line.

Claim 7

A sheet separator or use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: a suction means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed on an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said suction means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of the rotating member and the support shaft, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; means communicating with the suction means for drawing air from the interior thereof at least during its movement from the position aligned with the line to the second position; drive means for moving the suction means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line; a nozzle means for injecting a quantity of air into the clearance between the end face of the suction means and the surface of the rotating member at least during the movement of the suction means from the position aligned with the line to the second position; and means with which both the suction means and the nozzle means communicate for producing a suction/discharge action, and comprising a piston and cylinder unit, whereby the suction through the suction means and the discharge through the nozzle means takes place alternately by a reciprocatory motion of the piston.

Claim 8

A sheet separator or use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: a suction means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed on an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said suction means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of the rotating member and the support shaft, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; means communicating with the suction means for drawing air from the interior thereof at least during its movement from the position aligned with the line to the second position; drive means for moving the suction means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line; a nozzle means for injecting a quantity of air into the clearance between the end face of the suction means and the surface of the rotating member at least during the movement of the suction means from the position aligned with the line to the second position; and means with which both the suction means and the nozzle means communicate for producing a suction/discharge action, and comprising a piston and cylinder unit, whereby the suction through the suction means and the discharge through the nozzle means takes place alternately by a reciprocatory motion of the piston.

Claim 9

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: a suction means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed on an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said suction means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of the rotating member and the support shaft, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; means communicating with the suction means for drawing air from the interior thereof at least during its movement from the position aligned with the line to the second position; drive means for moving the suction means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line; a nozzle means for injecting a quantity of air into the clearance between the end face of the suction means and the surface of the rotating member at least during the movement of the suction means from the position aligned with the line to the second position; and means for causing the velocity of movement of the end face of the suction means to exceed the peripheral speed of the rotating member.

Claim 10

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: a suction means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed on an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said suction means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of the rotating member and the support shaft, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; means communicating with the suction means for drawing air from the interior thereof at least during its movement from the position aligned with the line to the second position; drive means for moving the suction means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line; a nozzle means for injecting a quantity of air into the clearance between the end face of the suction means and the surface of the rotating member at least during the movement of the suction means from the position aligned with the line to the second position; and means for causing the velocity of movement of the end face of the suction means to exceed the peripheral speed of the rotating member.

Claim 11

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: a suction means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed on an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said suction means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of the rotating member and the support shaft, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; means communicating with the suction means for drawing air from the interior thereof at least during its movement from the position aligned with the line to the second position; drive means for moving the suction means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line and comprising cam means for operating said air drawing means; and a nozzle means for injecting a quantity of air into the clearance between the end face of the suction means and the surface of the rotating member at least during the movement of the suction means from the position aligned with the line to the second position.

Claim 12

A sheet separator for use in electrophotographic copying machines of the type comprising a rotating member for carrying copy sheets on the surface thereof, said separator comprising: a suction means disposed at a position adjacent the peripheral surface of said rotating member for separating a copy sheet from the surface when it is held attracted thereto, and having an air suction inlet formed on an end face which is located opposite the rotating member; support shaft means for mounting said suction means for rotation between a first position in which the air suction inlet is located rearwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotating member, of a line joining the axes of the rotating member and the support shaft, and a second position in which it is located forwardly of the line, said end face being located closest to the surface of the rotating member when aligned with the line; means communicating with the suction means for drawing air from the interior thereof at least during its movement from the position aligned with the line to the second position; drive means for moving the suction means from the first to the second position as the leading end of the copy sheet which is held attracted to the surface of the rotating member approaches said line and comprising cam means for operating said air drawing means; and a nozzle means for injecting a quantity of air into the clearance between the end face of the suction means and the surface of the rotating member at least during the movement of the suction means from the position aligned with the line to the second position.