Improvements in Machines for Copying Documents and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: tion 11th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 14th Apr,
luation 11th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 14th Apry
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Copying Documents and the like.
I, ADOLPH KLEIN, of Gross-Lichtenfelde, near Berlin, Germany, Manufacturer,
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
llowing statement:-
My present invention relates to copying machines, the object being to provide
n apparatus of this kind, in which the copying paper is moistened by means
f the upper roller immediately during the compression of the pressure rollers.
aid upper roller is hollow, perforated, provided with porous or absorbent coating
nd serves as a water-reservoir, which arrangement has the advantage that the
opying paper can never be moistened to too great an extent, since the hollow
perforated roller and its hollow perforated shaft are tightly closed at both ends,
so that the porous or absorbent coating cannot receive too large an amount of
water. The opening of a suitable valve enables the operator to increase the
degree of moisture of said coating as may be required. The said arrangement
has the further advantage that the machine may be transported from one place to
another without the water flowing out therefrom, and it dispenses with a moisten-
ing roller and a separate water-reservoir on the one hand, and a pressure-roller
on the other hand. The writings to be copied are inserted under the copying
paper with the writing turned upwards, and drop downwards after passing through
the pressure rollers and the drying roller, without any special device, or needing
work on the part of the operator, whilst the paper, bearing the copies and in
still partially moistened condition, is dried by means of a hollow roller provided
The unrolling and moistening
with an absorbent coating and adapted to be heated in any convenient way, said
paper being afterwards rolled upon a disk roller.
of the copying-paper, the copying operation, drying and winding of the copies are
effected simultaneously and automatically by actuating a cranked handle.
In the accompanying drawings
:-
Fig. 1 shows the improved machine in operation.
Fig 2 shows the same out of use.
Fig. represents the arrangement of the rollers.
Fig. 4 represents the moistening pressure-roller serving as a water-reservoir.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 3, 1, 1, represent
suitable springs provided between the bearings of the rollers e and f in each side-
part m of the frame, said springs providing a yielding connection between said
35 rollers. The cams are keyed upon a shaft 2 journaled in the top ends of frames m
and carrying at each end, a lever b; said cams are adapted to engage and lower
the bearings of the roller c to bring the latter upon the roller f, when the levers
are in their upright positions, whilst said cams are disengaged from the bearings
of the roller c when the levers bare brought to their horizontal positions, whereby
40 the aforesaid springs 1 operate to move the rollers c and f away from each other
In order to hold the rollers c and f securely in frictional engagement, during the
operation of the machine, the levers b, b, are provided with longitudinal slots
into which are movably fitted slide blocks , adapted to be secured in adjuste

page_text: positions by means of set screws 63 or their equivalents. When the levers bb
are brought to their upright positions to throw the rollers e and f into frictional
engagement with each other through the agency of the cams d, d, said slide-
blocks 62 are moved downwards and secured in corresponding recesses m¹ provided
in the upper edge of the side-plates m of the machine-frame, whereby the rollers e
and are prevented from moving away from each other. In the free ends of
the levers b, b, is journaled the shaft of the paper-carrying roller a, which, of
course, follows the movements of said levers. When the latter are brought
to their horizontal positions, the paper-carrying roller a rests on the plate k,
provided for this and other purposes, hereinafter described.
The paper unrolled from a passes over a feed-roller c mounted upon the cam-
shaft d, between the elastic drive-roller f and the hollow roller C, said paper being
thus moved, together with the writings to be copied placed upon the plate k.
A hollow roller g adapted to be heated by means of steam, or any other suitable
medium and provided with a coating of felt, or like material, is in frictional
engagement with the drive-roller f, so that the paper, bearing the copies and
partially moistened, will be dried immediately after passing between the rollers e, f,
said paper being then rolled upon a roller h. The original, after being copied,
falls down after passing between the said rollers e, f, and f, g. By rotating the
crank in the direction of the arrow, the paper will be unrolled and moistened,
and the copying operation, drying and winding of the copies effected simul-
taneously.
The hollow pressure roller e serving to moisten the copying-paper and to
contain water, is perforated and provided with a coating of absorbent material
(felt) e. The shaft e of the hollow roller e is also perforated so as to permit
of the easy introduction of water. Water is introduced by pouring it into a
suitable funnel e (Fig. 3), which may be removed after the inner space is filled
with water, the corresponding opening being then tightly closed by means
of a stopper made of cork, rubber, etc. In order to enable water to flow into
the absorbent coating e to moisten the latter to a greater or less extent during the
operation and without interfering with the same, I have provided a valve e¹ on
one end of the shaft of roller e, preferably on the side of the actuating crank, or
handle. When said coating is not sufficiently moistened, or when the writings
to be copied require more moisture, the valve is withdrawn until the opening e²
thereof is clear, or seen above the shaft, whereby air enters through said opening
and causes water to flow into and moisten the absorbent coating e.
The drying-roller which is in frictional engagement with the drive-roller f,
is coated with absorbent material such as felt etc., and mounted upon a perforated
shaft. The coating of the roller has the advantage that the paper bearing the
copies cannot be singed, when the roller is too hot, or when the machine is
stopped. Furthermore, when it is desired to make a copy of a small number of
letters only, the heating of roller g may be dispensed with. Said roller
mounted, so that it may be easily removed at any moment, which is very
advantageous for renewing the absorbent coating.
is
The roller is provided with a rod n, circular in cross section, lodged in a corre-
sponding longitudinal recess, said rod serving to hold the end of the paper at the
beginning of the winding. Said roller is actuated through the agency of a cord
or equivalent i.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
10/ In a copying machine of the character described, the combination with the
hollow pressure-roller e serving as a water-reservoir for moistening the copying
paper, of a paper rollera a cam d, a feed or guide-roller mounted upon the shaft
of said cam, an elastic drive-roller f, a hollow drying-roller y coated with absor-
bent material and adapted to be heated in any convenient manner, and a roller h

page_text: or winding up the paper, provided with a retaining rod n, substantiany
forth.
(15 530
20/ In the copying machine of the character described, the combination with
the paper-roller and the pressure-rollers, arranged so that the writings to be
copied pass between the pressure-rollers, with the face turned upwards, of a drying
roller for drying the copies, in frictional engagement with one of said pressure
rollers, and means for heating said drying-roller, substantially as set forth.
30/ In the copying machine of the character set forth, the combination with
the paper roller a, journalled in the eccentric lever b, of said lever b, slots b
in said lever, slide blocks be arranged in said slots and provided with clamps 6,
said slide blocks engaging slots m¹ in the frame m of the machine, and a feed or
guide roller mounted upon the shaft of the eccentric d, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4° In the copying machine of the character described, the combination with
the hollow roller or water-reservoir e, serving to moisten the copying paper, of a
suitable normally closed valve el, adapted to admit air into said roller to moisten
the coated periphery of the latter substantially as set forth.
5/ In the copying machine of the character described, the combination with
the roller of a circular rod n lodged in a suitable recess in said roller, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 11th day of December
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 33, Cannon Street, London, E.C.