Document Handling Apparatus For Photocopy Machines

Abstract

Compact original document sheet handling apparatus for photocopy machines is adapted such that various opposed sheet feeding and guiding elements can be conveniently, manually separated to render substantially the entire sheet feed path readily accessible, thereby facilitating retrieval of stranded original sheets therefrom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has particular application to the class of photocopying machines in which the original document sheet is accepted by the machine for conveyance along a predetermined internal path. After the image carried by the original has been optically transferred to a copy sheet, the document is returned to the operator. The process by which copies are made is not significant, as the apparatus of the invention is applicable to electrostatic as well as photographic copiers.

Photocopiers of this type typically utilize original sheet handling apparatus having an assortment of feed rollers, guides, belt conveyors and diverters for translating the original document into, through and out of the machine.

In most office photocopy machines it is desirable to have a multicopy capability wherein multiple copies may be made from a single original without having to repeatedly manually refeed the original into the machine. To provide this capability, the sheet handling apparatus becomes more complex, with additional feed rollers, conveyors and guides, as well as some sort of movable diverter or diverters for selectively recycling the original through the normal feed path without operator intervention.

There is understandably a certain reluctance among users to entrust a valuable original document to such sheet handling apparatus, fearing a malfunction or jam will result in damage or destruction of the original. If there is a malfunction or jam, the operator may encounter considerable difficulty in safely extracting the original document sheet, particularly if it becomes stranded in the far reaches of its feed path through the interior of the copier. Considerable disassembly may be required to extract the original, necessitating a service call. In either case, considerable valuable time is lost.

Attempts have been made to design original document sheet handling apparatus in a manner to render at least portions of the internal feed path accessible for removal of stranded sheets. Unfortunately, these attempts have invariably involved considerable disassembly of the apparatus or a complete removal of the apparatus from the photocopy machine. This has proven largely unsatisfactory, as the typical operator has little mechanical facility and is reluctant to undertake such an involved procedure in order to retrieve sheets stranded within the apparatus. As a result, the operator still requires assistance from other office personnel or a service man.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for handling original document sheets in a photocopy machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide sheet handling apparatus of the above character, which can be readily manipulated for convenient retrieval of stranded original sheets.

An additional object of the invention is to provide original sheet handling apparatus of the above character, wherein opposed sheet feeding and guiding elements may be conveniently separated so as to render substantially the entire original sheet feed path readily accessible for retrieval of stranded original sheets.

Still another object is to provide sheet handling apparatus of the above character, which may be manipulated by a photocopy machine operator who is unskilled in photocopy machine servicing.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet handling apparatus of the above character, which is compact in size, simple in design, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided sheet handling apparatus ideally suited for feeding original document sheets to be copied through a photocopy machine. The apparatus of the invention is adapted such that opposed sheet feeding and guiding elements can be conveniently, manually separated so as to expose substantially the entire original sheet feed path, thereby facilitating retrieval of stranded originals by the photocopy machine operator who typically is unskilled in matters of servicing. As a consequence, in the event an original sheet is stranded at some point in its feed path within the machine, the operator can effect its removal without assistance.

More specifically, the apparatus of the invention includes a cover member hinged to the photocopier machine such as to be movable between open and close positions. The cover member is provided with means defining an entryway for original document sheets which is aligned with the original sheet feed path when the cover member is in its closed position. The apparatus of the invention further includes a feed deck which mounts a first array of sheet feed rollers and sheet guiding elements spaced along the original sheet feed path. The feed deck is pivotally mounted to the photocopy machine, and is also movable between closed and opened positions. A feed bed fixedly mounted to the photocopier beneath the feed deck supports another array of sheet feed rollers and sheet guiding elements which cooperate with the feed rollers and guiding elements of the feed deck when in its closed position to define a substantial portion of the original sheet feed path.

In operation, the apparatus accepts an original document sheet introduced through the entryway in the cover member and feeds it through an illuminating station where the image borne by the original document sheet is optically transferred to a copy sheet travelling in its own separate feeding path. From the illuminating station, the original sheet is returned to the operator. If more than one copy of an original document is desired, the apparatus of the invention is adapted to recycle the original sheet along a loop feed path, returning it to the illuminating station. After the desired number of copies have been made, the original is returned to the operator.

In the event of machine stoppage occurring during the time that an original document sheet is being conveyed by the apparatus of the invention, the primary concern of the operator is to retrieve the original from the sheet handling apparatus. Depending upon when in the course of the original's travel the stoppage occurs, the original sheet may be partially exposed at the entryway in the cover member or at the point of exit from the feed path where it is returned to the operator. On the other hand, the original sheet may be stranded at a point in its feed path where it is completely out of sight.

To retrieve a stranded original sheet from the sheet handling apparatus of the invention, the operator first lifts the cover member to expose the upper portion of the feed path. In some cases, the stranded position of the original sheet is such that it can be retrieved unharmed from this portion of the sheet feed path which is exposed where the cover is opened.

If, however, the original sheet is stranded in the lower portion of the feed path, the feed deck is released and opened. This separates opposed feed rollers and guiding elements respectively mounted by the feed deck and the feed bed. Thus, when both the cover member and feed deck are opened, substantially the entire original sheet feed path is exposed and the stranded original sheets can be readily removed. Removal is also facilitated by the fact that the feed rollers carried by the feed deck are decoupled from the machine drive and thus free-wheeling when the feed deck is in its open position.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified, side elevational view of an electrostatic copier adapted with an original document sheet handling apparatus constructed according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevational view of the sheet handling apparatus of the invention shown with its basic components separated for convenient original sheet removal;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the provisions for mounting and driving the various feed rollers included in the sheet handling apparatus.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The sheet handling apparatus constructed according to the disclosed embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 and is shown integrated into an electrostatic photocopier of the direct imaging type. An original document sheet bearing the image to be copied is inserted face up into a slot or entryway 12 formed in a cover member, generally indicated at 14. The original is conveyed by sheet feeding apparatus, generally indicated at 10, to an illuminating station, generally indicated at 16. A light source 18 scans the image borne by the original sheet as it travels through the illuminating station 16, and the reflection of the image is directed by a mirror 20 and a lens system 22 to an exposure station, generally indicated at 24. The original sheet leaves the sheet feeding apparatus 10 at exit point 26 and is deposited in a stacking bin or chute 28 accessible to the operator.

Copy paper having a suitable photoconductive coating, such as Electrofax paper having a zinc oxide coating on one side, is drawn from a supply roll 30 by feed rollers 32. The copy paper is cut into sheet length corresponding to the sheet length of the original document by a cutter mechanism, generally indicated at 34. The cut copy paper sheet is conveyed by feed rollers 36 to a corona discharge unit 38, operating to place a uniform electrostatic charge on the photoconductive coating of the copy sheet. From the corona discharge unit 38, the copy sheet is conveyed by feed rollers 40 so as to pass through the exposure station 24 at the same time that the original document passes through the illuminating station 16.

In accordance with well-known electrostatic copying techniques, the image to be copied is projected on the photoconductive coating in contact engagement with a conductive substrate of the copy paper sheet. The conductive substrate is effective to selectively discharge the uniform electrostatic charge on the photoconductive coating in accordance with the image light intensity projected by the lens system 22. The image of the indicia borne by the original document sheet is transformed into a corresponding latent electrostatic image on the zinc oxide coating of the copy paper sheet. The copy sheet is then fed by feed rollers 42 through a development station, generally indicated at 44, where the latent electrostatic image is developed using a suitable toner. From the development station 44, feed rollers 46 convey the copy sheet to a drying station, generally indicated at 48, where the developed image is fixed. Feed rollers 50 and 52 convey the copy sheet to a compartment 54 where successive copies are accumulated for ultimate removal by the operator.

The foregoing description of the generally disclosed photocopier machine and its various working components is intended to set forth a suitable environment in which the sheet handling apparatus of the invention is adapted, and therefore should not be interpreted in a limiting sense.

The cover member 14, operating as part of the original sheet handling apparatus of the invention, is formed having a pair of laterally spaced, depending bosses 60 to which are secured a pair of hinge brackets 61 (FIG. 2). The hinge brackets 61 pivot on an elongated hinge pin 62, whose ends are mounted by stationary machine side frame members 63 (FIG. 3). Thus, cover member 14 swings on hinge pin 62 from a closed or operative position shown in FIG. 1 to an open or inoperative position shown in FIG. 2, exposing the upper portion of the sheet feeding apparatus 10. One of the hinge brackets 61 is elongated to provide actuating arm 61a adapted to close an interlock switch 64 when the cover member 14 is in its closed position (FIG. 1). When the cover member is opened, actuating arm 61a swings away from the interlock switch 64, causing the interlock switch to interrupt the supply of electrical power to the photocopier.

The cover member 14, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, further includes a deck plate 66 which cooperates with a series of laterally spaced, depending guide ribs 67 in directing the leading edge of an original document sheet manually inserted through entryway 12 to the nip of feed rollers 68 and 69. Deck plate 66 is formed having one or more apertures 66a through which dogs 70 project to block the entryway 12. The dogs 70 are mounted on a rocker shaft 71 which is rotated such as to block the feed path entryway 12 during a copy cycle when an original sheet is being conveyed by the apparatus 10. This prevents the operator from inadvertently feeding another original while a copy cycle is in process. The cover member 14 further includes an edge guide plate 72 which is selectively laterally positioned according to the width of the original sheet to be copied.

The original sheet handling apparatus 10, as seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, includes a hinged feed deck 75 and a stationary feed bed, generally indicated at 76. The feed deck 75 includes a pair of laterally spaced mounting side plates 77 which are pivotally mounted on pivot studs 78 mounted by and extending inwardly from each machine side frame 63. The pivot studs 78 extend through a spool 80 carried by each side plate 77 and on which is placed a torsion spring 81, which is held in place by an end cap 82. One end of each torsion spring 81 engages a stud 83 carried by each side frame 63, while the other end of each torsion spring is engaged by each end cap 82. The torsion springs 81 urge the feed deck 75 to swing upwardly about pivot studs 78 away from the feed bed 76, as seen in FIG. 2. During operation of the photocopier, the feed deck 75 is latched in a closed or operative position juxtaposed with the feed bed 76, as seen in FIG. 1, by a pair of latches 85, one pivotally mounted to each side plate 77 and engaging a latch pin 85a carried by each side frame 63.

The side plates 77 of the hinged feed deck 75 support an array of feed rollers and guide plates therebetween. As seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, feed rollers 68 and 69 are journalled at each end in bushings 88 mounted in each side plate 77. Beyond these feed rollers is a pair of opposed, curved guide plates 90a and 90b. Guide plate 90a is shorter than guide plate 90b, such that when feed deck 75 is closed, guide plate 92 of the feed bed 76, mounted between machine side frames 63, cooperates with the terminal portion of guide plate 90b in guiding the leading edge of an original sheet around and to the nip of feed roller 69 and a feed roller 93 of the feed bed 76. Feed roller 93 is journalled at each end in bushings 94 mounted by side frames 63 (FIG. 4). Opposed feed rollers 69 and 93 feed original sheets into the illuminating station 16, which includes an upper guide plate 95 and a lower plate 96 having a transversely extending aperture 96a. Plates 95 and 96 are supported between side frames 63, while plate 96 supports a glass plate 97 over which the original passes as the image borne on the under side thereof is illuminated from the light source 18.

The side plates 77 of the feed deck 75 also carry a pair of feed rollers 100 and 101, with feed roller 101 engaging feed roller 102 of the feed bed 76 when the feed deck 75 is latched in its closed, operating position. Feed rollers 101 and 102 engage the leading edge of the original and feed it from the illuminating station 16 along one of two possible feed paths, depending upon whether or not multiple copies of an original are to be made.

The feed deck 75 further supports a feed roller 104 supported at its end by side plates 77 for sheet feeding engagement with a feed roller 105 of the feed bed 76 supported between side frames 63. As best seen in FIG. 1, a guide plate 108 carried by the feed deck side plates 77 cooperates with a guide plate 109 supported between side frames 63 to define the segment of the original sheet feed path between feed rollers 101, 102 and feed rollers 104, 105. Beyond feed rollers 104, 105, the original sheet takes one or two possible feed paths, again depending upon whether or not additional copies are to be made. If no further copies are to be made, the original passes between feed rollers 104, 105, through exit 26, and down an exit ramp 26a into stacking chute 28.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a first gate 110, consisting of a series of gating elements 110a mounted on a rocker shaft 110b carried by side frames 63, is stationed just down stream from the nip of feed rollers 101, 102. Depending upon the position of gate 110, the original follows the feed path segment leading to feed rollers 104, 105, or is guided by the upper curved surface of the gating elements 110a around the periphery of feed roller 101. A second gate 112 similarly includes a series of gating elements 112a mounted on a rocker shaft 112b supported at its ends by side frames 63. This gate 112 is stationed just down stream from the nip of feed rollers 104, 105. Depending upon the position of gate 112, the original is fed out the exit 26 into the stacking chute 28 or is guided by the upper curved surface of the gating elements 112a around the periphery of feed roller 104.

Guide plates 114 and 116, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, are supported between the feed deck side plates 77 and serve to guide the original as it is diverted by gate 112 around the periphery of feed roller 104. These guide plates further define a feed path segment directing an original sheet to the nip of feed rollers 100 and 101. A pair of guide plates 118 and 120, also carried by the feed deck side plates 77, define a feed path segment directing an original sheet from the nip of feed rollers 100, 101 to the nip of feed rollers 68, 69. The downward extending portions 121 and 122 of guide plate 116 direct the leading edge of original sheets diverted by gate 110 to the nip of feed rollers 100, 101.

As seen in FIG. 4, the left ends of the shafts for feed rollers 93, 102 and 105 of the feed bed 76 extends beyond the left side frame 63 and carrying sprockets 93a, 102a and 105a, respectively. These sprockets are engaged by a chain 130 constituting the main driving element of the photocopy machine. Intermediate these sprockets and the left side frame 63, gears 93b, 102b and 105b are mounted on the shafts of feed rollers 93, 102 and 105, respectively. As seen in FIG. 3, the left ends of the shafts of feed rollers 68, 69, 100, 101 and 104 extend beyond the left feed deck side plate 77 and mount gears 68a, 69a, 100a, 101a and 104a, respectively. Gear 68a of feed roller 68 is in continuous engagement with gear 69a of feed roller 69, and similarly, gear 100a of feed roller 100 is in continuous meshing engagement with gear 101a of feed roller 101. When the feed deck 75 is in its closed, latched position, gear 69a assumes meshing engagement with gear 93b of feed roller 93. Similarly, gear 101a assumes meshing engagement with gear 102b of feed roller 102 while gear 104a engages gear 105b of feed roller 105.

It is thus seen, that when the feed deck 75 is in its closed position, the chain drive directly connected to the feed rollers of feed bed 76 is communicated through the various gears to the feed rollers of the feed deck 75. On the other hand, when the feed deck 75 is released by the latches 85 and pivoted upwardly to an inoperative or open position, the various feed rollers of the feed deck 75 are disengaged from the feed chain 130 and are thus free-wheeling.

As seen in FIG. 5, bushings 88 journalling feed rollers 68 and 69 are loosely received in openings 77a and 77b formed in side plates 77. The bushings 94 journalling feed roller 93 are received in conforming openings 63a formed in side frames 63. A spring 140 is looped over each bushing 88 for feed roller 68 and each end is hooked to the upper edge of openings 77b. It is thus seen that feed roller 68 is resiliently urged against feed roller 69, which is, in turn, urged against feed roller 93 when the feed deck is closed. The other feed rollers of the feed deck and feed bed are similarly mounted.

This floatable mounting of the feed rollers carried by the feed deck automatically compensates for original sheets of varying thickness and also facilitates the reestablishment of meshing engagement of the gears when the feed deck is pivoted into its operative position.

The specific operation of the sheet conveying apparatus 10 is disclosed in the copending application of Samuel W. Martin, Ser. No. 750,912, filed Aug. 7, 1968, and now abandoned and assigned to the assignee of this application. By way of a general description of this operation, each original sheet to be copied is introduced through entryway 12 into the nip of feed rollers 68, 69. The original is then guided and fed by guide plates 90a, 90b, together with guide plate 92, and feed rollers 69, 93 to the illuminating station 16. As the original sheet passes through the illuminating station 16, the image of the indicia borne thereby is transferred to the exposure station 24, as previously described. If this is the only copy desired, gates 110 and 112 are positioned such that the original sheet passes between guide plates 108, 109 and the nip of feed rollers 104, 105 exiting at 26 into the stacking chute 28.

If multiple copies are desired, and it is determined by means not material to the instant invention that the length of the original sheet is relatively short, gate 110 is positioned such that the original sheet is guided around the periphery of feed roller 101 and between the nip of it and feed roller 100. The original passes between guide plates 118, 120 and through the nip of feed rollers 68, 69, to be returned to the illuminating station 16 pursuant to making another copy. When the last of the desired number of copies of a short original sheet have been made, gate 110 is automatically shifted in position such that the short original sheet is routed between guide plates 108, 109, feed rollers 104, 105, and out exit 26 into the stacking chute 28.

On the other hand, if the original of which multiple copies are to be made is found to be relatively long in length, gate 110 is automatically positioned such that the long original sheet passes from the illuminating station 16 to the nip of feed rollers 104 and 105. Gate 112, however, is positioned such that the long original sheet is diverted around the periphery of feed roller 104 and directed by guide plates 114, 116 to the nip of feed rollers 100, 101. The long original sheet then passes between guide plates 118, 120 to the nip of feed rollers 68, 69, eventually returning to the illuminating station 16 where its image is transferred to the exposure station 24. When the last of the desired number of copies of a long original sheet have been made, the position of gate 112 is shifted such that it exits from the feed path into the stacking chute 28.

As is pointed out in the above-noted copending application, the provision of separate recycle feed paths, one short and the other long, materially reduces the time required in producing multiple copies of original documents. That is, if the original document sheet is short, it is directed along the shorter recycle feed path, thus conserving time. On the other hand, if the original document sheet is of a length too long to be accommodated in the short recycle feed path, it is automatically guided along the longer recycle feed path.

The significance of the instant invention, however, is directed to the manner in which the various feed rollers and guide plates of the conveying apparatus 10 are mounted such that the feed path for the original document sheet may be conveniently exposed in the event an original is stranded due to a machine stoppage. It is seen that when the cover member 14 is lifted, the upper portion of the feed path is substantially exposed, and it may be possible to retrieve a stranded original sheet without having to unlatch and swing the feed deck 75 away from the feed bed 76. That is, the opposed feed rollers of the feed deck may be manually separated by lifting up either of the feed rollers 68 or 100, or both. This frees the original sheet for removal. Typically however, it is more convenient to unlatch the feed deck and swing it upwardly in order to disengage the various feed rollers of the feed deck 75 from the common drive chain 130. That is, when the feed deck is swung upwardly, the gears carried by the feed roller shafts of those feed rollers carried by the feed deck are disengaged from the gears associated with the shafts of the feed bed feed rollers. Thus, the feed rollers carried by the feed deck 75 are free-wheeling, and stranded original sheets may be readily pulled therefrom, despite the fact that they are in peripheral engagement.

For example, if the original sheet is engaged only between feed rollers 68, 69 or feed rollers 100, 101, it may be readily pulled therefrom after the feed deck 75 is opened. On the other hand, if the original sheet is stranded in the lower portion of its feed path, separation of the feed deck 75 from the feed bed 76 will produce a separation of the opposed feed rollers operating in this portion of the feed path, and the stranded original sheet may be readily extracted.

It is thus seen that, by virtue of the instant invention, a stranded original document can be extracted regardless of where it is in the feed path when stoppage occurs. This can be accomplished by the machine operator, safely, simply and in a moments time without assistance.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photocpy machine, original document sheet handling apparatus comprising, in combination:

a cover member mounted for movement between a closed position and an open position, said cover overlying an original sheet feed path and having means defining a sheet entryway to said sheet feed path when said cover is in its closed position;

a feed deck mounting a first array of sheet feeding elements and sheet guiding elements spaced along said feed path, said feed deck being pivotally mounted to the photocopy machine and movable between closed and open positions; and

a stationary feed bed mounting a second array of sheet feeding elements and sheet guiding elements cooperating with said first array when said feed deck is in its closed position to define a portion of said feed path,

whereby movement of said cover from its closed position to its open position and said feed deck to its open position renders said feed path accessible for convenient stranded original sheet retrieval.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, which further includes

means carried by said feed deck operable to block said entryway and prevent the introduction of an original sheet therethrough during the time a preceding original sheet is being conveyed along said feed path.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, which further includes

means drivingly interconnecting said feeding elements of said feed deck and feed bed when said feed deck is in its closed position, said interconnecting means automatically disconnecting said feeding elements of said feed deck from said feeding elements of said feed bed to permit said feeding elements of said feed deck to become free-wheeling when said feed deck is pivoted from its closed position.

4. In a photocopy machine, original sheet handling apparatus comprising, in combination:

a movable cover adapted to assume an operative position, said cover having means defining an entryway to an original sheet feed path when in its operative position;

a feed deck pivotally mounted to the photocopy machine for movement between operative and inoperative positions, said feed deck carrying an array of opposed sheet feed rollers and guide elements defining a first portion of said feed path; and

a stationary feed bed mounting a plurality of sheet feed rollers and guide elements in positions to assume an opposed relationship with feed rollers and guide elements carried by said feed deck when assuming its operative position to thus define the remaining portion of said feed path,

whereby movement of said cover and said feed deck away from their respective operative positions renders said feed path accessible for convenient stranded original sheet retrieval.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein

said feed deck carries at least one pair of opposed, peripherally engaging feed rollers with one of said feed rollers assuming an opposed, peripherally engaging relationship with a feed roller of said feed bed when said feed deck is in its operative position.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, which further includes

means drivingly interconnecting said feed rollers of said feed deck and feed bed when said feed deck is in its operative position, said feed deck feed rollers being automatically disconnected from said feed bed feed rollers to become free-wheeling when said feed deck is pivoted from its operative position.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein

said drivingly interconnecting means includes a gear mounted on the shaft of each said feed deck and feed bed feed rollers.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, which further includes

resilient means biasing opposed feed rollers of said feed deck and feed bed into peripheral, sheet feeding engagement and said gears into meshing interengagement as said feed deck is pivoted to its operative position.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein

said feed deck and said feed bed further include opposed feed rollers and guide elements defining a recycle feed path for original sheets.