Patent GB-273234-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in photographic copying apparatus
IPC: G03B27/465
Filed: 1927-10-26
Abstract: 273,234. McCarthy, G. L., (Assignee of Novick, A.). June 28, 1926, [Convention date]. Copying.-Apparatus for continuously copying documents such as bank cheques comprises means for taking loose documents one by one and bodily carrying them in succession into the field of view of a camera, and means for operating the camera in synchronism with the document feed mechanism. The apparatus includes lamps and reflectors for illuminating the documents, and provision for displacing the camera to vary its field of view according to the number and size of the documents to be photographed. The feed mechanism may be operated from a computing machine through distant-control mechanism. In the form shown, a roll-film camera 15, Fig. 1, is mounted on a framework 16 supporting braced standards 19 between which extend shafts carrying the rollers 26, 27, 30 of an endles conveyer belt 25. Adjacent to the roller 26 is mounted a roller 33, Fig. 6, which serves to feed the documents 35 on to the belt as they are placed by hand against a scale guide-plate 54 from a pile 36 supported in a holder 38. The documents are held in contact with the belt as this passes over a fixed panel 49 by endless bands 44, as of wire, passing round the roller 33 and round adjustable rollers 45. After being photographed, the documents are guided from the belt 25 by curved members 60 so that they fall in a pile on an adjustably mounted contained 58. Lamps 66 and reflectors 67, 68, disposed laterally with respect to the conveyer band, illuminate the documents in their passage through the apparatus. The roller 26 of the conveyer band is driven from a motor 40 through belt and toothed wheel gearing which includes a clutch mechanism controlled by a hand-lever 41 and so designed that an intermediate shaft in the casing 177 makes one revolution only each time the lever 41 is depressed. This shaft is coupled to the shaft of the conveyer belt roller 26 through gearing so designed that the roller 26 is rotated to feed the belt during the first half-revolution of the intermediate shaft, but remains stationary during the second half revolution. In lieu of operating the clutch in the mechanism which drives the conveyer belt 25 by actuating the hand lever 41, the clutch may be operated through a flexible rod 183, Fig. 1, operated through links 182, 179, from a link 178 forming part of the mechanism of a computing machine, so that when the documents to be photographed are bank cheques, each is fed into the photographic apparatus after its amount has been set up on the computing machine, by placing it on the guide 54 and operating the computing machine to register the amount. The shutter mechanism 42 of the camera comprises a fixed casing 115 which has an aperture 124, Fig. 2, in its front wall in registry with a tubulus 125, Fig. 1, on its rear wall extending to the camera lens 126, and encloses a revoluble disc 127 having an aperture 132 adapted to register with the aperture 124 to make an exposure. This disc is driven from the aforementioned intermediate, shaft through chain, spur and bevel gearing driving a shaft 145, Figs. 1 and 2, which in turn drive the shaft of the shutter disc 127 through chain gearing 148. The gearing is such that the disc 127 rotates once for every three revolutions of the intermediate shaft, so that an exposure is made on the film of the camera after three documents have been fed into its field of view, and during the period of rest of the conveyer belt after feeding the third document. Provision is made in the gearing from the intermediate shaft to the shaft of the shutter disc 127 for changing the gear ratio to 4 to 1, so that four documents may be photographed at one time; and the camera is mounted so as to be adjustable along its axis in order that it may include the four documents in the field of view. To permit this movement of the camera and its co-operating driving mechanism, the gear wheel on the shaft 145 which receives the drive from the intermediate shaft is secured to the shaft 145 by a set-screw which may be loosened, and the shaft 145 extends beyond this gear wheel so that the shaft is drawn through the wheel as the position of the camera, is adjusted. The feed mechanism for the film 43, Fig. 1, is also operated from the intermediate shaft through the shaft 145, which drives through bevel gearing a sprocket wheel 161 meshing with feed apertures in the film. The camera may be an ordinary miniature kinematograph camera in which provision is made for feeding the film only when the shutter is closed.