Patent GB-273945-A (GB)
Title: Photographic apparatus for recording an impression of cheques or the like
IPC: G03B27/62
Filed: 1926-11-01
Abstract: 273,945. Kaplan, J. J. Nov. 1, 1926. Step-by-step conveyers.-Articles such as cheques are fed to a conveyer mechanism which carries them into the field of view of a camera where they are automatically photographed. The conveyer mechanism includes (1) means, such as a series of pivoted plates adapted to reverse the documents in order that both sides thereof may be photographed in succession, and (2) means operated for example by suction, for holding the articles thereon and subsequently releasing them. In the form shown, documents are received on four plates 17a - - 17d mounted on hollow shafts 16 carrying pinions 22<a> 22<d> adapted to be rotated intermittently by gear teeth 12<a> - -12<d> on wheels 11 mounted on shafts 9 driven through pinion gearing from a shaft 6. The gear teeth 12<a>- - 12d in successive wheels are set at an advance of 120‹, and each of the shafts 16 carries a spring which serves to return the corresponding plate to its initial position (as shown) when the teeth pass out of mesh with the pinion, which occurs after the plate has been rotated through roughly 180‹ counterclockwise. Rotation is communicated to the shaft 6 from a driven shaft 31 through a clutch comprising a housing 35 fast with the shaft 6 and enclosing a bearing member 34 fast with the shaft 31. Spring-urged rollers 38 in recesses in the member 34 cause the two shafts to rotate together when an arm 41 is rocked by a handlever 40 out of engagement with a lug 39 on the housing 35; and if the hand-lever 40 is released immediately, a spring 43 returns the arm 41 into the path of the lug 39, so that the shaft 6 is arrested and released from the shaft 81 after making one revolution. Initially, documents arc placed on the plates 17<a> and 17<c> face upwards, and on plate 17d face downwards. During a revolution of the shaft 6 the following sequence occurs-(1) plates 17<a> and 17d are turned over to deliver - the documents respectively to plate 17b and to a transversely moving conveyer 50, and then snap back .under the action of their return springs; (2) plate 17c turns over to deliver the -documents thereon facedownwards upon plate 17d and then snaps back; (3) plate 17<b> turns over to deliver the documents thereon face upwards upon plate 17<c>; and then snaps back; and (4) the documents on plates 17<c> and 17d are photographed by an overhead camera, such as a motion picture camera, whose driving mechanism is synchronized with that of the conveyer mechanism through a shaft 48 and gears 13, 48<1>. This cycle of operations is repeated after Fresh documents have been placed on the plate 17a. To maintain the documents normally in contact with the plates 17, and to release them when they have been fed forwards, the plates are made hollow with perforated surfaces, and communicate through vents with the tubular shafts 16, each of which has an aperture 30 at one end, which communicates with a recess. 29 in the interior of the bearing 14 of the shaft, and this recess opens into a conduit 26 leading to a suction main 25. In the initial position of each plate 17, the aperture 30 opens into the recess 29, so that suction is transmitted to the plate to cause the documents to adhere thereto. The shape of the recess 29 is such that communication is cut off between the recess and the aperture 30 when the plate 17 has been turned over, so that suction is interrupted, thereby allowing the documents to drop off the plate.