Patent GB-943847-A (GB)
Title: Photocopying apparatus
Inventor: FRANTZ FREDERICK HENRY
IPC: G03D9/00
Filed: 1961-05-12
Abstract: 943,847. Photocopying apparatus. GENERAL ANILINE & FILM CORPORATION. May 12,1961 [Dec. 7, 1960], No. 17478/61. Heading G2A. A photocopying apparatus comprises an enclosing casing having an inlet opening for the insertion of an original and an outlet opening for the exit of a finished copy, a receptacle for the original after exposure, a negative web, suitable for image transfer on to a copy sheet, contained within the casing, means for superimposing the negative web on the original, and exposing means within the casing, a developer means within the casing, means for guiding the superimposed negative web and original past the exposing means, means for guiding the negative web through the developer means, a copy paper contained within the casing, means for guiding the copy paper through the developing means, means for driving the negative web and copy paper, means for contacting the copy paper with the negative web and for retaining such contact for a predetermined distance sufficient to allow transfer of an image to take place, and means within the casing for automatically separating the spent negative web and the copy paper after they have travelled together said predetermined distance, the separating means allowing the finished copy to exit through the outlet opening in the casing. In the apparatus shown, an original sheet 10 placed on a tray 8 is fed in superposition with a negative web 18 from a spool 19 past a lamp 22 for reflex exposure of the negative web and is then deposited in a tray 16 whereas the exposed negative web is fed through a developer bath 25, is pressed by pressure rollers 27, 28 into contact with an also wetted sheet of copy paper from a spool 32 (cut to a length corresponding to the original sheet, as described below) and then moves for a predetermined distance in contact with the copy sheet to allow the diffusion transfer process to proceed. The negative web is finally separated from the copy sheet by passing over a guide member 39 at a sharp angle, the negative web going to take-up spool 23 and the copy sheet being passed out of the apparatus through opening 40. A switch 44 is provided for sensing the presence of an original sheet on the tray 8 and for energizing a motor coupled to the various feed rollers including 11,12,14,15,27 and 28. A control circuit including holding relays is provided so that after release of the switch 44 by the trailing edge of an original sheet, the motor remains energized until release of a switch 75 by the trailing edge of a finished copy sheet. A switch 45 is provided for energizing a magnetic clutch for connecting feed-rollers 33, 34 to the above specified motor and for energizing a rotary solenoid 37 connected to a knife 36 for cutting off a portion of copy paper 31 corresponding in length to the original. A rheostat knob 53 controls a mains switch 56 and adjusts the intensity of the lamp 22. An electric circuit for ensuring the automatic functioning of the apparatus is described with reference to Fig. 3 (not shown). Lamp 22 and rollers 14,15 are pivotally mounted on end plates to facilitate threading of the negative web 18. A push button switch 77 also enables the drive motor to be energized for the same purpose. Specification 614,155 is referred to.