Patent GB-986130-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for making reproductions of cards
IPC: G03G15/22
Filed: 1963-04-03
Abstract: 986,130. Electrophotographic processes. MAGNAVOX CO. April 3, 1963, No. 13222/63. Heading G2H. An apparatus for reproducing cards bearing information of the kind where an image, formed by light received from a card, is projected on to a xerographic or other recording medium is characterized by a conveyer arranged to carry cards to a reproducing station having means for intercepting a card and removing it from the conveyer to a holder which holds the card in proper location for image projection. As shown, cards are fed from a feeding device 21 to belts 18 driven by pulley 14, the cards being retained on the belts by vacuum. A vacuum chamber 413 beneath the upper run of the belts is connected to a pump 411. Cards are fed in turn to card reading, card reproducing, and card receiving stations 22, 23 and 24. A card control 26 determines in known manner the number of copies to be made of each card and the actual cards to be copied. The reproducing station 23 has a ramp 39, Fig. 3, pivotally mounted on a shaft 41, such that in the depressed position shown a card 38 is picked up from belts 18. The ramp 39 is normally held in raised position 47 by a spring 107, but is lowered by energization of a solenoid 106. Gates 48, 49, Fig. 4, (not shown) are laterally slidable apart by a solenoid 68. A platen 81, Fig. 3, disposed above the gates has a groove 85, Fig. 7 (not shown) and racks 84, 86, Fig. 12 (not shown. The platen 81, Fig. 3 is secured on a guide plate 88, thus forming a movable carriage actuated by rotation of pinions 92 engaging the racks. A lamp 111 is mounted beneath a plate 114 having an aperture 113 and heat-dissipating glass plates 116. A lens 121 is mounted above an opening 119 to project light from lamp 111 passing through a card beneath platen 81 to mirrors 121a and 121b, Fig. 4 (not shown) and thus to a rotating drum 127 on a shaft 126 Fig. 3. The drum 126 provides a sensitized surface to which the image is initially transferred. A pulley 129 is freely rotatable on shaft 126 and carries a pawl 131 engageable with a ratchet wheel 128 secured to shaft 126. The pawl 131 is actuated by a solenoid 134. A torsion spring 143, Fig. 4 (not shown) wound up when pawl 131,Fig. 3 engages ratchet 128 returns the card carriage after a card scanning operation during which the carriage moves over opening 119. During scanning the card is held against the platen by vacuum applied to groove 85,Fig. 7 (not shown). In operation, information on the cards causes the reading station to produce electrical signals controlling the ramp 39, Fig. 3. The leading edge of a card fed up the ramp 39 engages a scanning start switch 98 which initiates the driving of the card carriage to cause scanning of the card. A cam 161 opens a scan switch and spring 143, Fig. 4 (not shown) returns the carriage. If only one copy is required a stepping contact 179, Fig. 10 (not shown) previously set to contact 181 is moved to contact 180, thus de-energizing counter relay 191 R. After scanning, the card is released by the gates 48, 49, Fig. 4 (not shown) and ejected by air pressure applied through valve 173, Fig. 1. If more than one copy is required, e.g., five copies the contact 179, Fig. 10 (not shown) is set to contact 185, such that a counter advance solenoid moves the contact one step for each copy. Specification 966,659 is referred to.