Patent GB-669478-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to photographic document-copying apparatus
IPC: G03B27/62
Filed: 1948-12-20
Abstract: 669,478. Photographic document-copying apparatus. KODAK, Ltd. Dec. 20, 1948 [Dec. 20, 1947], No. 32913/48. Class 98 (i). In apparatus comprising drive means for advancing a document from a feeding station and through a photographing station where it is photographically recorded on a strip of lightsensitive material supported in a photographic camera at an exposure station, and a second drive means operatively connected to the document drive means for moving the light-sensitive material in synchronism with the document, a control means automatically renders both drives inoperative after a predetermined time interval has elapsed between the introduction of successive documents into the feeding station, and an actuating means operated by a document in the feeding station is provided for re-setting the control means before the predetermined time interval has elapsed. Manual means may be positioned adjacent the feeding station for re-setting the control means after the predetermined time interval has elapsed. The main drive means may be rendered operative, after a predetermined interval has elapsed after the closing of a cover of the apparatus casing, by auxiliary control means associated with and movable by an auxiliary drive means which also moves the lightsensitive material past the camera exposure aperture during this pre-determined interval, and on opening of the cover the main drive means is rendered inoperative and the lightsensitive material is again moved past the exposure aperture for a period of time equal to this predetermined interval. As shown, Fig. 9, the apparatus is mounted in a casing 10, on the top wall 11 of which is mounted a cover 12 which may be raised for inserting a camera, a feeding station 14, comprising metal plates formed to provide a throat of variable width, and a group of indicating members on a panel 15 adjacent to the feeding station. Documents inserted in the feeding station are guided to driving means of the kind described in Specification 637,268, comprising driven rollers on shafts 32, 33, Fig. 1, and idler rollers 34, between which the documents are carried and driven between removable glass plates 21, and thereafter fed between rollers 38, driven from shaft 33, and idler rollers 39, whence they pass to a receptacle. The documents are illuminated as they pass between the glass plates 21 by lamps 49. Light from the documents is reflected by inclined mirrors (not shown) on each side of the photographing station to a third mirror, and thence to the camera. A shaft 27, driven by an electric motor and driving the shafts 32, 33 by a sprocket 28 and chain 37, also drives a shaft 52 by means of pulleys 29, 51 and a belt 53. As in Specification 665,992, pulleys 54, 55 (see also Fig. 2) drive, through belts 62, 63, pulleys 59, 61 loosely mounted on a shaft 56 and having collars 58, 60 with inwardly-facing serrated faces for selective engagement with a movable clutch member 57 keyed to shaft 56, from which the film is driven through the camera when a magnetic clutch (not shown) is engaged. To start the machine, a bar 130, Fig. 9, is depressed against spring action. This closes a switch 132, Fig. 13, which completes a circuit from one side of an A.C. mains supply through line 185, switches 173, 152, 174, 90, solenoid 175, switches 132, 165, 166, 167, 168 and line 190 to the other side of the A.C. mains supply. Solenoid 175, on being energized, closes a switch 176 to short-circuit switch 132 which opens when bar 130 is released. An electric motor 25 in parallel with solenoid 175 starts when the circuit is completed, and drives shaft 27, Fig. 1, which drives the document feeding means and the film in the camera in synchronism..Switches 165-168 are closed, permitting the circuit to be completed, only if the glass plates 21 and the mirrors reflecting light from the documents to the camera are properly in position. The machine may be stopped when in operation by pressing a button which opens switch 174. Corkcovered wheels 80, 85, Fig. 1, are pivoted on rocking arms so that the rim of wheel 80 engages a bearing surface 61a of the pulley 61, and the rim of wheel 85 bears on a small wheel 81 fast with wheel 80. A spiral spring 87 surrounding the shaft of wheel 85 has one end attached to a pin 86 on wheel 85 and the other to the supporting arm. When the machine starts, wheel 85 turns, tensioning spring 87, until the pin 86 meets an arm 89 of switch 90, which then opens, breaking the circuit to motor 25 (see Fig. 13) which then stops. The time taken for pin 86 to operate (about 90 seconds) switch 90 constitutes a delay period. If no document is inserted within this period, the machine stops; but the insertion of a document resets the mechanism in the following manner. A rod 101, Fig. 2, is pivotally supported in frame members and carries a number of fingers projecting into the path of the documents. A document inserted moves the fingers aside and rotates rod 101, actuating a system of levers which brings a roller 110 into engagement with a roller 114 on shaft 32. Roller 110 is thereby driven until it is stopped by the lever system after one revolution, during which it actuates a counter. A cam 109 on the same shaft as roller 110 engages a follower roller 111 carried by a lever 95, Fig. 1, pivoted to the frame. The rotation of cam 109 rocks lever 95, and the motion is transmitted by a link 93 from the other arm of lever 95 to a double-armed lever 96 on a shaft 82, on which is mounted the arm 83 carrying the wheel 85. Wheel 85 is thus disengaged from the small wheel 81, and is returned to its initial position by spring 87. On completion of the revolution of cam 109, wheel 85 is again rotated. The delay period is long enough to allow one document to be copied and another to be inserted, but if the second document is not inserted before the end of the delay period, the machine stops. As seen in Fig. 13, when the machine is started and switch 132 is momentarily closed, a solenoid 98 is energized. This solenoid 98, Fig. 1, has an armature 97 which operates lever 96 to re-set wheel 85. The document-operated fingers also actuate a circuit to a magnetic clutch, which is thereby energized as long as a document is passing through to clutch the shaft 56, Fig. 2, to a shaft 65, Fig. 6, journalled in a bracket 66 on which the camera is detachably supported. Shaft 65 terminates in a plate 157 with a pin 158 which engages and drives the shaft of the camera film feeding spool. The shaft also carries a pinion 154 engaging a gear-wheel 155, the shaft 156 of which drives the camera take-up spool shaft. An auxiliary drive is provided to wind film in the camera before it is removed and after it has been replaced to avoid fogging. When the cover 12 is raised to remove or replace the camera, it moves the switch 173, Fig. 13, into the position shown in dotted lines, completing a circuit through switch 153 to a motor 140. Motor 140 is mounted on bracket 66, Fig. 6, and drives through a worm 142 a toothed wheel 143, which is freely mounted on shaft 65. A ratchet connection enables it to drive shaft 65, but to remain stationary when shaft 65 is driven from the document driving means. A pinion 144, fast with wheel 143, drives through gears a toothed wheel 148 with pins 150, 151 arranged diametrically opposite and on opposite sides thereof. These pins actuate switches 152, 158, respectively. As the wheel 148 begins to turn, pin 150 leaves switch 152, allowing it to move into its dotted-line position in Fig. 13. When the wheel 148 has rotated through 180 degrees pin 151 causes switch 153 to open, interrupting the circuit to motor 140. The camera may then be removed. When it is replaced, cover 12 is closed, returning switch 173 to its full-line position. Motor 140 is then energized through switches 173 and 152, and operates to wind the film. Wheel 148 is driven, and pin 151 moves away from switch 153 which closes. When pin 152 reaches switch 152 the switch is returned to its full-line position, interrupting the motor circuit and enabling the machine to operate normally. Two cameras may be used for photographing one or both sides of documents respectively, as in Specification 665,992, and the act of placing the camera on the bracket 66 moves a rod 67 fast with a yoke 68, Fig. 2, which displaces a clutch member 57 to engage either pulley 59 or pulley 61, to drive shaft 56 at the speed required for the camera in use. A cam 181 on rod 67 operates a switch 178, which, as shown in Fig. 13, connects one of two lamps 179, 180 to the secondary winding of a transformer 177. These lamps indicate which camera is in use. Specifications 522,826 and 589,860 also are referred to.