Copying and engraving apparatus

Claim 2

A copying apparatus comprising a base, a first mounting means for mounting an article which is a subject of a copying process, a second mounting means for mounting an object to be changed by the copying process, mounting fixing means for relatively fixing the first and second mounting means, scanning means mounted adjacent the first mounting means for scanning the article, changing means mounted adjacent the second mounting means for changing the object, adjusting means connected to the scanning and changing means for adjusting relative longitudinal and transverse positions of the scanning and changing means, moving means mounted on the base for moving the first and second mounting means with respect to the scanning and changing means, stepping means mounted on the base for stepping the scanning and changing means with respect to the first and second mounting means, elongated guide means mounted on the base and a carriage mounted on the base for moving along the guide means and wherein the scanning means and changing means and adjusting means are mounted on the carriage, and wherein the stepping means is connected to the carriage means and to the base for stepping the carriage means along the guide means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second mounting means comprise a drum having means for mounting a photograph which is the subject and having means for mounting an engraving plate which is the object to be changed, and wherein the moving means comprises a motor mounted on the base and connected to the drum for turning the drum with respect to the scanning and changing means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stepping means comprises a lead screw mounted on the base and connected to the carriage means and periodic mans connected to the lead screw for periodically turning the lead screw.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second mounting means comprise a drum and wherein the moving means comprises a motor mounted on a base and connected to the drum for turning the drum and wherein the periodic means comprises a ratchet means connected to the motor and to the lead screw for periodically turning the lead screw in relation to the turning of the drum.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the carriage means comprises a body, means for mounting the body on the elongated guide means and split nut means having one half connected to the body and one half remote from the body and means for joining the halves in tight fitting non-backlash relationship with the lead screw.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the split half nut comprises first and second blocks with complementary semi-cylindrical openings and means for joining the blocks together, the blocks having threads extending through the combined semi-circular openings and having portions of interfaces between the blocks removed after threading and the joining means comprising spring means for urging the blocks together when the blocks are assembled on the lead screw.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means comprises first and second relatively transversely oriented slides mounted on the carriage means and wherein the scanning means and changing means are respectively mounted on the slides for relocatable movement thereon.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first slide is mounted parallel to the elongated guide means and wherein the second slide is mounted perpendicular to the elongated guide means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated guide means comprise first and second ground round parallel bars mounted on the base and wherein the carriage means comprises three sliders connected to the bars, two sliders being connected to one bar, and one slider being connected to the other bar.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of such sliders comprises first and second blocks having complementary semi-cylindrical openings therethrough for together forming a cylindrical opening, means on the first block for connecting the block to a body of the carriage means, the semi-cylindrical openings having recesses therein for receiving slider shoes of friction reducing material having inward projecting concave surfaces complementary to the bars.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a lower most recess has a spring means mounted between the block and the shoe for urging shoe toward the bar.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second mounting means comprises a unitary drum having first and second longitudinal halves which respectively comprise the first mounting means and the second mounting means and wherein the first half has means for receiving a photograph which is the subject to be copied and the second half has means for holding an engraving plate which is the object to be changed.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for holding comprises first and second bars having means to engage the plate, pivot means for mounting the bars at a medial portion of the drum, and interconnected gear means at opposite ends of the bars adjacent one end of the drum, a segment means connected to one of the gear means and having teeth at a surface thereof remote from the gear means and worm means mounted on the drum and connected to the teeth for moving the segment means and thereby turning the gear means to move the plate holding means into fixed engagement with the plate whereby the plate is held firmly on the drum.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a tooth pulley mounted on a drive shaft of a motor, a second tooth pulley connected to the drum, a tooth drive belt connecting the first and second tooth pulleys, an eccentric mounted on the drive shaft of the motor, an eccentric follower mounted on the eccentric, pawl and ratchet means connected to the eccentric follower, a pawl holdout cam connected to the pawl and ratchet means, and a scan select lever connected to the holdout cam for selectively holding out the cam to control the movement of the stepping means in relation to the rotation of the drum.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the changing means comprises marking means for marking the object to be changed, a shaft connected to the marking means and a solenoid connected to the shaft for moving the shaft and the marking means toward the object on the second mounting means.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the marking means is a cutter for engraving the object on the second mounting means.

Claim 18

An engraving apparatus having a base, drum supporting means connected to the base, a drum connected to the supporting means, the drum having a photograph holding means and an engraving plate holding means, and elongated guide means mounted on the base parallel to the drum, a carriage mounted on the guide means, a lead screw mounted on the base parallel to the guide means and connected to the carriage for moving the carriage upon turning of the lead screw, a motor mounted on the base and connected to the drum for turning the drum, a ratchet means connected to the motor and connected to the lead screw for stepping the lead screw and carriage upon turning of the drum, a scanning sensor head mounted on the carriage and first adjustment means mounted between the scan sensor head and the carriage for adjusting longitudinal and transverse position of the head, a cutter head mounted on the carriage, second adjusting means mounted between the cutter head and the carriage for selectively moving the cutter head toward the drum, a shaft mounted in the cutter head for reciprocation toward the drum, solenoid means connected to the shaft and the cutter head for driving the shaft toward the drum, and a cutter blade mounted on an end of the shaft adjacent the drum for engraving a plate on the drum when the shaft is moved toward the drum by the solenoid.

Claim 19

An engraving apparatus having a base, drum supporting means connected to the base, a drum connected to the supporting means, the drum having a photograph holding means and an engraving plate holding means, and elongated guide means mounted on the base parallel to the drum, a carriage mounted on the guide means, a lead screw mounted on the base parallel to the guide means and connected to the carriage for moving the carriage upon turning of the lead screw, a motor mounted on the base and connected to the drum for turning the drum, a ratchet means connected to the motor and connected to the lead screw for stepping the lead screw and carriage upon turning of the drum, a scanning sensor head mounted on the carriage and first adjustment means mounted between the scan sensor head and the carriage for adjusting longitudinal and transverse position of the head, a cutter head mounted on the carriage, second adjusting means mounted between the cutter head and the carriage for selectively moving the cutter head toward the drum, a shaft mounted in the cutter head for reciprocation toward the drum, solenoid means connected to the shaft and the cutter head for driving the shaft toward the drum, and a cutter blade mounted on an end of the shaft adjacent the drum for engraving a plate on the drum when the shaft is moved toward the drum by the solenoid.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a stepping adjustment lever connected to the base and to the ratchet means for adjusting the ratchet means to vary the turning of the lead screw and the advancing of the carriage in relation to revolutions of the drum.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the base comprises first and second opposite end plates and a third plate interconnecting the end plates and wherein the elongated guide means comprises first and second parallel bars interconnecting the end plates and together with the back plate in rigid condition.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the drum supporting means comprises a shaft and bearings in the first and second plates and wherein the drum is fixed on the shaft, wherein the motor and ratchet means are connected to the first end plate and wherein the lead screw is supported in bearings in the first and second end plates.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the elongated guide means comprise first and second ground round parallel bars mounted on the base and wherein the carriage comprises three sliders connected to the bars, two sliders being connected to one bar, and one slider being connected to the other bar.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of such sliders comprises first and second blocks having complementary semi-cylindrical openings therethrough for together forming a cylindrical opening, means on the first block for connecting the block to a body of the carriage means, the semi-cylindrical openings having recesses therein for receiving slider shoes of friction reducing material having inward projecting concave surfaces complementary to the bars.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein a lower most recess has a spring means mounted between the block and the shoe for urging shoe toward the bar.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the carriage comprises a body, means for mounting the body on the elongated guide means and split nut means having one half connected to the body and one half remote from the body and means for joining the halves in tight fitting non-backlash relationship with the lead screw.