High Speed Copy Machine

Abstract

A high speed, compact, electrostatic copy machine mounting a roll of copy paper from which copy sheets are cut, and including a triangular copy paper path and a dog leg optical path interfitted in a narrow cabinet frame. A lens and mirror system in the optical path is shiftable so that originals of different sizes can be copied on one size of copy sheet. The original is flash illuminated by a xenon or flash tube lamp under the control of a trigger switch in the copy paper path so that images are produced without stopping the copy sheet. A control circuit holds copy paper in standby position adjacent the exposing station, and operates a document feeding unit to feed and hold originals adjacent the exposure window and deliver them in timed relation to the exposure window thereby initiating copy paper movement and exposure. Interlock, automatic clearing delay, and jam detection switches are provided.

Description

This invention relates generally to document copying machines of the smaller, so-called office type and more specifically concerns a high speed electrostatic copy machine.

While office type copy machines have become a commonly used class of business equipment, the art has continued to expend considerable effort to reconcile the desires for a compact machine requiring little office space but which, when required, will turn out copies with great rapidity. Achieving these somewhat mutually exclusive objectives must also be accomplished economically for the resulting machine to be competitive.

It is the primary aim of the invention to provide an electrostatic copy machine which is quite compact but capable of turning out copies at high speeds; a representative machine being able to function at a 60-copy per minute rate.

A related object is to provide a machine of the above character which possesses the other normal requirements of an office copier, i.e., the ability to copy legal size as well as letterhead size sheets, having provision to copy bound or stapled materials as well as single sheets, and permitting the selection of a desired number of multiple copies from the same original.

It is also an object to provide a copy machine of the type described above with an original document receiving unit which permits the machine operator to check and position the document, face up, and then will automatically take over the original for rapid copying immediately after the desired number of copies is made of the preceding original.

Another object is to provide a machine as characterized above which feeds copy paper from a roll supply and embodies a fast acting paper cutter with interlocks for facilitating rapid cycling.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above type which includes safeguards for avoiding serious paper jams -- a particularly critical matter for a high speed machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a machine embodying the invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are complementary enlarged fragmentary plans of the control panel on the FIG. 1 machine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken approximately along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of a sub-frame slid outwardly of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, slightly enlarged perspective showing details of the structure on the sub-frame of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective from approximately the same angle as FIG. 4 showing some internal drive elements of the machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective similar to FIG. 6 showing another portion of the structure of the machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken approximately along the line 8--8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective, somewhat enlarged, showing another portion of the structure embodied in the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure appearing in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmenatary section taken approximately along the line 11--11 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a slightly enlarged section taken approximately along the line 12--12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged section taken approximately along the line 13--13 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 14--14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary perspective of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective showing still another portion of the structure of the machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a slightly enlarged section taken approximately along the line 17--17 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective showing an attachment mounted on the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section, slightly enlarged, taken approximately along the line 19--19 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective showing yet another attachment mounted on the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 21--21 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 22--22 in FIG. 11; and

FIGS. 23a through 23e are schematic diagrams of the control system utilized in the machine of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, we intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a copy machine 10 embodying the invention and including a generally rectangular cabinet frame 12 having hinged front access doors 13, a top front operator's panel 14, and a document receiving and feeding unit 15 which overlies an exposure window 16 at one top end of the frame 12. The machine 10 is designed to cooperate with a copy sheet collator 17a in a manner to be referred to below.

Overall Machine Arrangement

The machine 10 is an electrostatic printer utilizing copy paper in the form of a roll 17 and including a knife assembly 18 for severing copy paper sheets from the roll 17, a corona or static charging unit 19, an exposing station 20, a developing station 21, a drying station 22, and a lens and mirror system 23 establishing an optical path 24 for focusing the image of a document at the window 16 onto a copy paper sheet in the exposing station 20. The electrostatic system employed is that utilizing coated paper which is electrically charged, exposed to intense light which alters the charge in a pattern reflecting the light pattern received, surface flooded with a colloidal suspension of charged pigmented particles in a volatile dielectric vehicle that adheres to the paper in accordance with the established charge pattern, and then dried to set the pigment and drive off the volatile elements of the developer carrier liquid. The machine 10 is also of the flash illumination type, employing a pair of electronic flash or xenon tubes 25 in reflectors 26 for intensely but very briefly illuminating the exposure window 16 (see also FIG. 11).

Pursuant to achieving the objective of compactness and high copying speed, the use of flash lamps 25 makes it possible to expose a copy paper sheet without halting the movement of that sheet through the exposing station 20, the originals and copy sheets move in the direction of their narrowest dimension -- 81/2 inches being the common U.S. standard, and the lamps 25 are positioned in planes perpendicular to the copy paper and are spaced the long dimension of the documents being copied, so as not to widen the machine, with one lamp 25 being positioned at each document end to give even illumination. These factors obviously contribute to copying speed and machine compactness.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a particularly compact machine is achieved by arranging the stations 20-22 and associated copy paper drive elements to define a generally vertical triangular copy paper path having a long substantially vertical drying leg constituting the station 22, a bottom substantially horizontal development leg constituting the station 21 and an inclined charging and exposing leg constituting the station 20, and having the optical path 24 define a dog leg which permits mounting the copy paper roll 17 in the angle of the optical path between the optical path and the copy paper path. The parts thus fit together with a minimum of wasted space, as can be best seen in FIG. 3, a flat exposing station 20 is positioned for receiving an image from the relatively simple optical system 23, a horizontal development station 21 is obtained which is well suited for utilizing liquid developer, and the long dimension of the cabinet frame 12 is utilized for obtaining the relatively long, straight drying station 22 which is particularly important for achieving adequate drying when copies are moved at high speed through the machine. It will also be apparent that this described disposition permits a large copy paper roll 17 to be utilized without increasing the overall size of the cabinet frame 12. As part of the overall arrangement, a power supply 27 for the flash lamps 25 is conveniently housed in a compartment 28 at one lower corner of the frame 12.

Copy Paper Feeding

It is a feature of the invention that the knife assembly 18, a rack 31 for the copy paper roll 17, and pairs of feed rollers 32, dispensing rollers 33 and exit rollers 34, parts of the copy paper path drive elements, are all mounted on a drawer-like sub-frame 35 supported on slides 36 for movement outwardly of the cabinet frame 12 when the doors 13 are opened (see FIGS. 3-5). The sub-frame 35 includes side plates 37 supporting the rack 31, so that the roll 17 can be simply dropped into place, and journalling the pairs of rollers 32-34. A drag plate 38 pivoted in the side plates 37 rests on the roll 17.

The paper web from the roll 17 passes over an idler roll 39, between guide bars 41 supporting a switch 42 which detects when the paper supply runs out and illuminates, in that event, a signal lamp 43 on the control panel 14, into the nip of the feed rollers 32, through the knife assembly 18, around guide members 44, between the nip of the dispensing rollers 33, between plates 45 supporting a jam switch 46 and a paper stop switch 47, and into the nip of the exit rollers 34. Preferably, the roller pairs are driven by a motor 48, constantly energized while the machine is in operation, mounted on the sub-frame 35 and coupled to the rollers 32-34 by a belt 49. The exit rollers 34 are constantly driven, and electrically operated clutches 51 and 52, respectively, selectively couple the rollers 32 and 33 to the motor 48.

As described in detail in the following Control Circuitry section, the stop switch 47 disengages the clutches 51, 52 when operated by the leading edge of the paper web, and the switch 47 is adjustably mounted (see FIG. 3) so that the web is stopped with the leading edge 81/2 inches from the cutting line of the knife assembly 18. When a copy is to be made, the knife assembly 18 is actuated and the clutches 51, 52 engaged to feed the severed copy sheet to the exit rollers 34 and, at the same time, to feed the new leading edge of the web out to the stop switch 47. If the jam switch 46 is not operated by the copy paper within a timed interval measured from engagement of the clutches 51, 52, which would be indicative of a paper jam or improper feeding, the paper drive is interrupted.

Charging and Exposing

Copy paper sheets driven by the exit rollers 34 pass through the corona charging unit 19 and onto a series of belts 55 trained around rolls 56 about a vacuum chamber 57 having slots 58 between the belts 55 so as to firmly hold, through air pressure, the copy paper sheets on the belts (see FIGS. 3, 6-8). The chamber 57 is exhausted by a motor-blower 59 acting through a conduit 61, and is held in the cabinet frame 12 by easily manipulated screws 62. As shown in FIG. 3, the blower is compactly nested inside of the processing triangle 20, 21, 22.

When exiting from the charging unit 19, the copy paper sheet engages a flash trigger switch 65 mounted on the chamber 57 just ahead of the exposing area of the station 20. As explained in the Control Circuitry section below, operation of the switch 65 with the leading edge of the copy paper sheet is effective to arm the charging circuit for the flash lamps 25 and, when the trailing edge of the sheets clears and restores the switch 65, the flash lamps are fired to project for a few microseconds an intense image on the still traveling copy sheet. Upon leaving the belts 55, the copy sheet, now bearing the latent electrostatic image, is engaged and turned around a drum 66 by a plurality of belts 67 mounted on rolls 68.

A main motor 70 in the cabinet frame 12, continuously energized when the machine 10 is in operation, drives through a belt 71 both the rolls 56, and thus the belts 55, and the rolls 68, and thus the belts 67.

Developing

When the copy paper sheet bearing the latent electrostatic image leaves the drum 66, it passes image side down over a driven foraminous developer belt 73 soaked with developer fluid from a chamber 74 fed by a pump 75 in an underlying reservoir 76 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). The horizontal disposition of the belt 73 facilitates even application of fluid to the passing sheet.

Leaving the belt 73, the copy sheet passes through squeegee rollers 77 which are effective to expel much of the excess developer fluid from the sheet back into the open top of the reservoir 76. The belt 71 directly powers the roller 77, and gears 78 establish a similar continuous drive to the developer belt 73.

Drying

As a feature of the invention, there is little contact with the image side of the copy sheet in the drying station 22. Leaving the developing station 21, the sheet is turned around driven cords 81 onto a plurality of belts 82 moving vertically past a plurality of drying fans 83. A curved plenum 84 charged with air by a motor-blower 85 directs jets of air against the passing sheets to hold them against the cords 81 so as to turn the sheets from a horizontal to a generally vertical disposition, and a vacuum chamber 86 holds the sheets against the belts 82. The chamber 86 is evacuated by the motor-blower 59 through the conduit 61 and functions in a manner similar to the previously described chamber 57. The cords 81 exert minimum contact on the drying sheets, and the air jets from the plenum 84, the effect of the drying fans 83, and the vacuum chamber 86, all combine to quickly dry the copy paper sheets.

To further facilitate drying, a pair of rolls including a back-up roll 88 and a blotter surfaced roll 89 engaging the non-image side of the copy sheet are interposed between the turn cords 81 and the drying fan belts 82. The blotter surface on the roll 89 absorbs moisture from the copy sheets and further insures drying of a rapidly moving copy sheet.

A second jam switch 90 is mounted in the chamber 86 so as to be actuated by sheets moved upwardly on the belts 82. In a manner explained below in the Control Circuitry section, if a sheet fails to reach and operate the switch 90 within a timed interval from initiation of the copymaking sequence, a situation indicative of improper sheet feeding from the exposing station, the clutches 51, 52 are disabled and no additional sheets are cut and processed.

The main motor 70, again through the belt 71, drives the roller pair 88, 89, and a second belt 91 also driven by the motor 70 drives gears 92 coupled to one of a set of rolls 93 about which the belts 82 are trained. The cords 81 are driven by gears 94 from the roll pair 88, 89.

Copy Ejection

Leaving the drying station 22, the copy sheets are driven by pairs of exit rollers 95 through a curved wire guide 96 into a copy tray 97 mounted in an opened topped portion of the cabinet frame 12 between the exposure window 16 and the upper end of the drying station 22 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 9 and 10). Copies are thus received by the machine operator at convenient machine top height; the same height at which copies are introduced into the machine.

As a feature of the invention, a sheet diverter is provided in the form of camming plates 97 mounted on a pivoted shaft 98 which is journalled within the wire guide 96 and connected to an operating solenoid 99 that, when energized by operating a collator switch 101 on the control panel 14, overcomes the force of a positioning spring 102 and rocks the shaft 98. This shifts the diverter plates 97 to the dashed line position shown in FIG. 10 so that copy paper sheets are directed to an alternate path defined by the wire guide 96 leading to another pair of exit rollers 103 and out an opening 104 in the cabinet frame 12. Even if the collator 17a is not associated with the machine 10, a machine operator may well wish to place a copy receiving basket beyond the opening 104 and periodically operate the switch 101 so as to change the flow of copies and permit the previously made copies to be gathered. When copies are being discharged with great rapidity, it is normally difficult to remove copies without disturbing copy flow. Of course, turning the collator switch 101 to the OFF position de-energizes the solenoid 99 and copies are directed in the previously described manner into the copy tray 97.

The rolls 95 are driven through the belt 91 by the continuously operated main motor 70, and a belt 100 couples the rollers 103 to the rollers 95 so that they too rotate so long as the motor 70 is energized.

Optical System

The optical system 23 includes a mounted lens 110 adjustably supported in a collar bracket 111 having arms 112 fitted on posts 113 mounted on cross bars 114 secured to the cabinet frame 12 (see FIGS. 3, 11 and 12). The adjustable mounting for the lens 110 includes threads 115 and positioning screws 116 which permit the optical elements of the lens to be shifted and located for proper focusing. A light tight bellows 117 surrounds the lens 110 and fits into the lower end of a light compartment 118 which is closed except for the window 16 and the lens 110 so as to keep extraneous light generated by the flashing lamps 25 from the charged copy paper.

The system 23 includes a front surface reflective mirror 120 mounted similarly to the lens 110 on a bracket 121 fitted on the posts 113. Spring biased adjusting bolts 122 permit proper positioning of the mirror 120.

In keeping with one aspect of the invention, the lens 110 and the mirror 120 are mounted for movement between a first position focusing a document of one size at the window 16 onto copy paper at the exposing station 20 and a second position focusing a document of another size at the window onto the copy paper. In the illustrated construction, the posts 113 are inclined to define the proper path of movement for the lens and the mirror, and the brackets 111, 121 are slidable on the posts 113. An overthrow crank including a shaft 124 journalled in the cabinet frame 12 and carrying levers 125 and an operating handle 126, with lugs 127 that alternately engage a limit stop pin 128 on the frame 12, is connected by adjustable length links 129 to levers 130 pivoted on shafts 131 and coupled, respectively, to the brackets 111 and 121. Swinging the crank 126 between the full and dashed line positions shown in FIG. 12 pulls on the links 129 and shifts the lens and mirror system up and down between the two alternate focusing positions.

In one focusing position, in the preferred arrangement, an 81/2 .times. 11 sheet at the window 16 has its image focused at a one to one ratio on an 81/2 .times. 11 sheet of copy paper in the exposing station 20. This is referred to on the control panel 14 as full-sized copying. By swinging the handle 126 clockwise from the full line position in FIG. 12, the lens 110 and mirror 120 are shifted to their lowered position and an 81/2 .times. 14, or legal sized original document, at the window 16 is focused on an 81/2 .times. 11 copy paper sheet at a slightly reduced scale. Thus, legal sized copies can be made without changing paper or significantly altering the setup for operation of the machine 10.

It is a feature of the invention to avoid black edges on the copies when copying legal sized sheets by positioning white surfaced plates 135 in the light compartment 118 adjacent the window 16. When the area of focusing is enlarged from 11 to 14 inches along the long dimension of the original document, there is a proportional increase across the shorter dimension of the document but, since the document being copied remains 81/2 inches wide, the white plates 135 are embraced in the focusing area of the lens 110 and produce on the copy paper light borders for the resulting copy.

Returning to the lens and mirror shifting structure described above, it will be apparent that this shifting action can be powered for more remote or automatic control. So as to conveniently signal the machine operator of which position the system 23 occupies, the shaft 124 carries a lug 132 which engages either one of a pair of switches 133 or 134 (see FIG. 22) depending upon the position of the lens and mirror system 23. Operation of the switches 133, 134 illuminate associated signal lamps 133a and 134a on the control panel 14.

Knife Assembly

Considering the knife assembly 18 in greater detail, that assembly includes a fixed blade 138 and an oscillating blade 139 mounted on blocks 141 secured to the side plates 37 of the sub-frame 35 (see FIGS. 3,4 and 13-15). The oscillating blade 139 is mounted on a carrier bar 142 having stub shafts 143 fitted in bearings 144 which are carried in the blocks 141, and one shaft 143 carries a drive cam disk 145. The disk 145, and thus the blade 139, is driven by a rotary solenoid 146 having a linearly movable plunger 147 with cam grooves 148 that react on ball bearing followers 149 so that slight axial movement of the plunger 147 is converted to quick rotary motion. Pins 151 mounted on the plunger 147 engage the disk 145 through holes 152 with the disk being normally positioned by a spring 153 so as to hold the oscillating blade 139 clear of the fixed blade 138. Energization of the solenoid 146 produces a quick cutting oscillation of the blade 139 through the range of movement shown by the full and dashed line positions of that blade in FIG. 14.

As a feature of the invention, the cam disk 145 operates both a cut switch 154 and a counter switch 155 to insure proper paper feeding. In a manner explained in more detail in the Control Circuitry section below, the cut switch 154, when operated by a notch 156 as the disk 145 rotates from normal rest position during operation of the knife assembly, disables the clutch 51 for the feed rollers 32 so that paper cannot be driven into the oscillating blade 39 when that blade is blocking the normal paper path. The count switch 155 is operated by a notch 157 on the disk 145 when the cutting stroke is completed, and that switch is effective to able the clutch 52 for the dispensing rollers 33.

Preferably, the knife assembly 18 also includes a guide plate 158 and spring fingers 159 to guide proper movement of the paper.

Operator Assist

The document receiving and feeding unit 15 includes a sub-frame 161 pivoted on the cabinet frame 12 so that the unit 15 can be swung to an out-of-the-way position, assisted by a counterweight spring 162 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 16-17 and 21). When in position covering the window 16, a pair of interlock switches 163 and 164 are operated which, were they not operated, would prevent operation of the machine 10 in the manner described in Control Circuitry below. Insuring that the exposure window 16 is completely covered is particularly important because of the high intensity flash illumination utilized in the machine 10.

The unit 15 includes a flat document receiving surface 165 defined by a guide 166, a turn-around drive 167 comprising a drum 168 and a plurality of driven belts 169 for receiving and inverting a document to be copied, and a transport device 171 comprising a driven apron 172 mounted on rolls 173 for movement over the window 16. A chute 174 directs documents from the turn-around drive 167 to beneath the transport device apron 172. The main motor 70, through the belt 91 and a belt 175, drives a gear 176 which powers a pair of pulleys 177, using a belt 178, that through electrically operated clutches 179 and 181, respectively, selectively couple the main motor to the turn-around drive 167 in the transport device 171.

A standby switch 182 is positioned near the outlet of the turn-around drive 167 extending between a pair of the belts 169, and a control switch 183 extends into the guide 174 at the entrance to the transport device 171. The unit 15 has its own on-off switch 184.

In a manner explained in greater detail in the following Control Circuitry section, pressing the switch 184 to its ON position engages the clutch 179 so that the turn-around drive 167 operates. The machine operator then slides an original document sheet on the surface 165 into the nip between the drum 168 and the belts 169, and the sheet is carried around until its leading edge operates the standby switch 182. Note that the original is fed into the machine face up in full view of the operator so that what is being copied, and its orientation, is plainly visible.

After a short timed interval, on the order of a few seconds, both of the clutches 179 and 181 are automatically engaged and the sheet whose leading edge is at the standby switch 182 is driven by the turn-around drive 167 and the transport device 171 onto the window 16. As soon as the leading edge of this original sheet operates the control switch 183, the copy paper handling process is initiated and, when the trailing edge of the original sheet passes the control switch 183, and that switch is restored, the clutch 181 is disengaged to stop the transport device 171 and hold the original in position on the window 16 as the copy paper sheet passes the trigger switch 65 to flash the lamps 25 and produce the copy.

While the copy is being made, the turn-around drive 167 continues to run permitting the operator to insert another original sheet which will run up to the standby switch 182 and, when that switch is operated, the turn-around drive 167 is disabled. After the short timed interval previously referred to, both of the clutches 179, 181 are again engaged to expel the copied original, preferably into a receiving basket 184a mounted at the end of the machine 10, and drive the next original past the standby switch 182 and the control switch 183 onto the exposure window 16, thereby repeating the cycle.

It will be appreciated that normally the time required for a copy machine operator to position originals for copying constitutes the major time factor in a total copy cycle. The unit 15 greatly simplifies that step and shortens the total copying time involved when using the machine 10. Every time a document is drawn into the unit, the operator inserts the next sheet to be copied. Preferably, an indicator light 185 is illuminated, in the manner described below, whenever the turn-around drive 167 is operating so as to signal the machine operator that another original can be inserted.

Special Document Copying

The unit 15 permits removal of the feeding surface guide 166 and mounting of a stack feeder 188 in its place (see FIGS. 18 and 19). The stack feeder 188 includes an inclined tray 189, feed rolls 191, pick rolls 192 and a counter-rotating separating roll 193. The rolls of the feeder 188 are driven by a gear 194 which, when the feeder 188 is in place, meshes with a gear 195 in the unit 15 that is driven through the turn-around drive 167 whenever the clutch 179 is engaged (see also FIG. 16). In this way, a succeeding sheet is fed from the feeder 188 into the turn-around drive 167 each time that that device is driven.

For copying books or other bound or stapled materials, a frame 197 having a thick internal cushion 198 is mounted over the window 16, after swinging the unit 15 out of the way, so as to engage the interlock switches 163, 164 (see FIGS. 20 and 21). Preferably, the frame 197 includes a hinge 199 which is releasably pinned to the cabinet frame 12 for swinging movement during the making of copies using the frame. The frame 197 also includes a pair of latches 201 for releasably locking the frame into position over the window 16, thus minimizing the likelihood of the window being inadvertently exposed during the copying process.

In the illustrated arrrangement, the unit 15 includes a latch 202 which is received in a hole 203 in the cabinet frame 12 to prevent inadvertent falling movement of the unit.

Door Interlocks

For safety, the machine 10 cannot be operated when the doors 13 are opened and, to accomplish this objective, the doors carry a lug 204 which engages an interlock switch 205 when the doors are closed (see FIG. 1). Unless the switch 205 is operated, the machine control circuitry is disabled as explained in the following section. Moreover, when the machine 10 has its power switch turned ON, a latch 206 is operated by a solenoid 207 to engage a notch 208 in the lug 204 so as to lock the doors 13 and prevent them from being opened until the main power switch of the machine is again turned OFF. Thus, the doors cannot be opened once the machine is in operation which, because of the high voltages and intense illumination associated with the flash tubes 25, is a significant safety feature.

Control Circuitry

An exemplary control system for effectuating the functions referred to above is shown in the circuit schematically illustrated in FIGS. 23a-e which is a single diagram that can be "assembled" by arranging the sheets one above the other with FIG. 23a at the bottom and FIG. 23e at the top.

Power is brought to the circuit from a nominal 220 volt source 210 which, when a machine on-off power switch 211 on the panel 14 is pressed ON to close contacts 212, energizes a d-c. power supply 213 to pick up a power control relay 214 through the then closed contacts 215 on the switch 211. Closing the contacts 215 also picks up the counter control relay 216 to close contacts 217 (FIG. 23c), thus abling a copy button 218 on the panel 14.

Assuming the cabinet doors 13 are closed to close the door interlock switch 205, picking up the relay 214 will close contacts 220 and energized power relay 221 whose contacts 222 and 223 energize a transformer 224 to give a regulated voltage across lines 225 and 226. This (see FIG. 23b): ables a counter 227 used to record the number of copies made by the machine in terms of the knife strokes taken; energizes the cabinet door latch solenoid 207; illuminates one of the indicator lamps 133a or 134a depending upon the position of the crank lever shaft 124; energizes a developer replenisher valve coil 228; ables a signal light 229 which, when a float switch 230 senses exhaustion of the developer, deactivates the coil 228 and illuminates the signal light 229; energizes a tone density control 231 on the panel 14; operates the developer pump 75; illuminates a master ON signal light 232; ables a collator circuit including the switch 101, a signal light 233 and the actuating solenoid 99; drives drying fans 83, motor-blowers 59, 85 and drive motors 48, 70; and, finally, energizes a collator accessory outlet 234.

Returning to the power control relay 214, its energization also closes contacts 241 which pick up an instant on, delay drop relay 242 which closes contacts 243 and 244. Because of the close spacing of copies, and originals, in the machine 10 so as to achieve high copying speed, it is likely that the power on-off switch 211 could be opened while a flow of sheets is still in process. It is a feature of the invention to insure clearing of the machine by employing the relay 242 which delays dropping out, when the switch 211 is opened, for an interval on the order of eight seconds and thus holds in the power relay 221 through contacts 243 and maintains the a-c. potential on the line 226 through the contacts 222. This gives an opportunity for the machine to clear itself before switching off.

Considering again machine start-up, energizing the power relay 221 closes contacts 245 which, assuming the window interlock switch 163 is closed by one of the original document handling devices covering the window, energizes the delayed operating relay 247. The relay 247 picks up after a delay of about two seconds, that is, after the initial current surge resulting from starting of the other components, and closes the contacts 248 to provide operating power to the zenon or flash lamps power supply 27 and also to able the contacts 250 for the enabling circuit of the power supply 27 and the corona or paper charging unit 19.

Turning to the copy paper feed preparatory to copying, if there is no copy paper in the machine the paper loading switch 42 (see FIG. 23b) remains unoperated and completes a circuit to illuminate the warning light 43. If copy paper has been loaded into the machine, so as to operate the paper loading switch 42 by placing the leading edge of the paper roll in the nip of the feed rollers 32, then a circuit is completed through a normally closed timer switch 254 to energize a d-c. power supply 255 (FIG. 23c). The power supply 255 picks up a copy paper feed relay 256 and a copy paper dispense relay 257 through then unopened paper stop switch 47, and the relays 256, 257 energize the clutches 51, 52, respectively, and release associated brakes 261, 262, respectively, so as to drive the feed rollers 32 and the dispensing rollers 33 from the motor 48 with the result that paper is fed around to the point where the leading edge of the web operates the switch 47. This drops out the relays 256, 257 and stops the copy paper drive.

As a reliability feature, operating the paper loading switch 42 energizes a jam timing motor 263 (FIG. 23b) through the jam switch 46. If paper feed is normal, the leading edge of the copy paper roll will operate the switch 46 after the clutches 51, 52 are engaged for a few seconds, and operation of the switch 46 will de-energize the motor 263 and return the timing cycle to zero. On the other hand, if there is a paper jam and the paper does not reach the switch 46, the timing motor 263 will continue to run and open the switch 254 which de-energizes the power supply 255, and thus the relays 256, 257, to prevent further paper feeding effort in the machine.

Considering next the making of a single copy, as when using the book copy attachment of FIGS. 20 and 21, the original is placed on the window 16 and the copy button 218 pressed. This establishes a circuit through the paper stop switch 47, the interlock switch 164 positioned and having the same function as the switch 163, and the exit jam switch 90 to a zenon or flash power control relay 267 which seals in through contacts 268. This relay closes contacts 250 (FIG. 23a) so as to energize the charging corona unit 19 and able the flash power supply 27.

Pressing the copy button 218 also completes a circuit through then closed contacts 269 (FIG. 23d) to energize solenoid control relay 270 which closes contacts 271 and actuates the knife assembly cutter solenoid 146 through a rectifier net 273. The relay also closes contacts 274 (FIG. 23a) so as to advance the copy counter 227. Actuation of the solenoid 146 cuts a length of copy paper in a manner described above and, in so doing, rotates the cam disk 145 so as to first operate the cut switch 154 which arms the count switch 155. Completion of the cutting stroke closes the switch 155 to send a pulse to the counter, described below, on a line 278 and energizes a relay 279 through a diode 280 and a line 280a (see FIG. 23c). Picking up the relay 279 opens the contacts 269 (FIG. 23d) to drop out the relay 270 and restore the knife assembly to inoperative position, closes contacts 281 and 282, and seals in the relay 279 through contacts 283. Closing the contacts 282 immediately picks up the relay 257 to begin driving the then-severed copy paper sheet to the exit rollers 34 and across the exposing station 20. A diode 283a blocks energization of the relay 256 at this time.

After the knife assembly is restored, the switch 154 completes a circuit through the contacts 281 to pick up the relay 256 so that more paper is fed from the roll. The switch 155 thus insures that the paper is not moved until the cut is completed, and the switch 154 insures that the web is not driven until the cutter clears the new leading edge of the web of copy paper. The slight time differential between actuating the relays 256 and 257 very slightly spaces the cut copy sheet from the following web, and this spacing is increased as the copy sheet is picked up by the exit rollers 34 which, preferably, are driven at a slightly higher feeding speed than the rollers 32, 33. When the trailing edge of the cut copy sheet clears the paper stop switch 47, that switch opens to drop out the relay 279 and the web of copy paper continues to be fed as previously described until the leading edge again operates the switch 47.

Returning to the cut sheet of copy paper, it passes through the then-energized charging corona unit 19 and its leading edge operates the trigger switch 65 (FIG. 23a) which arms the xenon lamp flashing capacitor. When the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes the switch 65, the switch is restored and the capacitor discharges through the lamps 25 so as to flash illuminate the original with an intense lighting impulse whose duration is measured on the order of microseconds, thus producing a latent image on the continually moving copy sheet through the lens system 23 previously described.

To insure proper operation upon any momentary closing of the copy button switch 218, and as further protection against jams, closing the switch 218 energizes a jam relay 286, through the then-closed jam switch 90, and the relay 286 closes contacts 287 to bypass the copy button switch 218 and seal in the relay 267, and also closes contacts 288 (FIG. 23b) to set timing motor 263 into operation. The timing motor will continue to run, disabling the power supply 255, unless the copy sheet operates and opens the switch 90 within the timed interval -- which is indicative of proper copy paper feeding through the exposure, development and drying stations.

Turning to the operator assist unit 15, operating the on-off switch 184 energizes and engages the turn-around drive clutch 179 through the then-closed standby switch 182. An indicator light 185 is also illuminated to signal that the turn-around belts are running to receive a document. Current to the transport device clutch 181 is blocked by diodes 294. The operator then feeds an original into the nip of the drum 168 and the turn-around belts 169, and the original sheet is pulled into the machine until the leading edges operates and opens the standby switch 182. The original is thus poised just in front of the exposure or copy window 16.

Closing the switch 184 also energizes a timer 295 which, after an interval on the order of three seconds, engages a relay 296 to close contacts 297 that, through diode 298 and then-closed contacts 299, energizes and engages the transport device clutch 181 and, through the diodes 294, re-engages the turn-around drive clutch 179. The original is thereby driven toward the exposure window 16 and its leading edge operates the control switch 183 which, upon operation, de-energizes the timer 295 and drops out the relay 296 to open the contacts 297 while, at the same time, maintaining actuation both of the clutch 181, through a diode 301, and of the clutch 179, through the diodes 294. The original therefore continues to be driven under the switch 183 and over the exposure window 16.

Closing of the contacts 297 also picks up an operator assist copy relay 302, which is maintained picked up through switch 183 when relay 296 drops out, that closes contacts 303 to apply current to a line 304 through closed contacts 305 so as to initiate the same sequence resulting from pressing the copy button 218. Picking up the copy relay 302 also closes contacts 306 which energizes a pulsing relay 307 that, after a very short delay, opens the contacts 305 so that the effect of energizing the copy relay 302 is to direct momentary current to the line 304 just as if the copy button 218 had been operated.

While the copy paper is being severed, charged and advanced to the image station in the manner already described, the original continues to be driven onto the exposure window 16 until the trailing edge of the document clears, first, the switch 182 and, second, the control switch 183. Clearing the switch 182 closes that switch to establish an alternate circuit to keep the turn-around drive clutch 179 engaged, and clearing the switch 183 disengages the clutch 181. This causes the original document to pause on the window 16 through the flash illumination cycle. Restoring of the switch 183 again energizes the timer 295 which, when it times out after its three second timing interval, picks up the relay 296 to again close the contacts 297 and engage the clutch 181 so as to expel from the operator assist unit 15 the then-copied original.

Although restoring the switch 183 as the trailing edge of the original passes onto the copy window interrupts current to the clutch 179 coming through the diodes 294, it has been observed that the clutch 179 will continue to be engaged through the switch 182 unless the operator, as soon as he sees the first original pulled into the machine, inserts a second original into the turn-around drive. In that case, the second original will follow the first in spaced relation and will stop when the first original clears the switch 183 and the leading edge of the second original then operates the switch 182. With a second original so positioned at the standby switch 182, picking up of the relay 296 to clear the first copied original from the machine will also drive the second original onto the copy window 16 and the copying cycle will be repeated.

If no second original is inserted into the unit, and obviously the same result will follow from the operator completing the copying of a series of originals and inserting no other document, the relay 296 will remain picked up after the last document is copied and expelled since no further original will operate the switch 183. The closed contacts 297 also energize a timer 308 which, when it times out after an interval of about three seconds, picks up a relay 309 to open the contacts 299 and thus de-energize the clutch 181 and the copy relay 302. With both the timers 295 and 308 timed out, the operator assist unit 15 is, in effect, disabled and will not initiate further copying cycles until the on-off switch 184 is turned OFF to restore the timers and then back ON to restart the sequence described above.

Turning finally to the multiple copy-making portion of the control circuit (FIGS. 1, 2 and 23e), the machine operator may set the number of desired copies on an indicator 310 by manipulating dials 311 for establishing a copy number in terms of hundreds, tens and units. Whenever the knife count switch 155 closes, a pulse is sent to a copy counter 312 on the line 278 which steps a visual readout display 314 on the counter 312 and, through connection 315, momentarily closes contacts 316 (FIG. 23d). The contacts 316, when closed, energize the solenoid control relay 270 and the zenon power control relay 267 thereby initiating a copy sequence in the same manner as if the copy button 218 had been pushed.

The indicator 310 and the counter 312 both generate signals representative of their respective readings on lines 317 which are compared by a comparator 318. So long as there is no coincidence, that is, so long as copies are being made of the same original to reach the set number on the indicator 310, a connection 319 from the comparator 318 opens contacts 320 (FIG. 23d) to disable the timer 295 and thus prevent the original from being removed from the exposure window 16. When coincidence does occur, the contacts 320 are again closed to discharge the original being copied, and a reset pulse is sent on a line 321 to the counter 312 and, through a switch 322, to the indicator 310. This returns both of those devices to zero.

As a feature of the invention, the switch 322 can be opened by the machine operator so that the indicator 310 is not reset when the comparator 318 sends a pulse on the line 321, and the machine operator, by operating the switch 101, can shift the diverter so that the next series of copies is differently deposited while the copies of the first original are gathered.

When the power on-off switch 211 is operated to turn the machine 10 off, the relay 216, dropping out, closes contacts 323 to discharge a capacitor 324 and reset the indicator 310 so that, through inadvertence, excess copies are not made when the machine is again turned on and the button 218 operated. This feature has particular significance in view of the speed of copying achieved by the machine 10 since it avoids undesired multiple copies being generated before the operator catches the error.

It can now be seen that there has been provided a particularly compact office-type copy machine which is capable, for the several reasons discussed above, of making copies quite rapidly. A representative machine embodying the invention is capable of generating copies at a one-copy per second rate. The machine 10 possesses great operator convenience since not only are the controls readily accessible on the panel 14, but originals and copies made from the originals are handled at convenient machine top height. Also, the originals being copied are introduced into the machine in full view of the operator.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the machine 10 is capable of being manufactured economically so as to be commercially competitive.

Claims

We claim as our invention:

1. A photocopy machine comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular cabinet frame, a generally horizontal exposing window at one top end of said frame, means in said frame defining a processing path for a copy sheet having an inclined charging and exposing leg, a bottom substantially horizontal development leg, and a long vertical drying leg, the legs together forming a path of right triangular shape in which the drying leg extends vertically upwardly along the side of the cabinet frame and with the copy sheet facing outwardly of the triangular path, an optical system in said frame defining a dog leg optical path including a mirror and in which the optical axis extends vertically downward from the exposing window to the mirror and then angularly downward from the mirror for perpendicular intersection with the exposing leg, a lens interposed in the optical path between the exposing window and the mirror causing the optical path to converge from the exposing window to the lens and to diverge from the lens to the mirror, means including a linkage under the exposing window and on the opposite side of the optical path from the exposing leg for reducing the image projected by the lens and mirror on the exposing leg and a rack in said frame for supporting a roll of copy paper in the angle of said dog leg optical path between the converging portion of the optical path and the inclined leg of the processing path.

2. A photocopy machine comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular cabinet frame, a generally horizontal exposing window at one top end of said frame, means in said frame defining a processing path for a copy sheet having an inclined charging and exposing leg, a bottom substantially horizontal development leg, and a long vertical drying leg, the legs together forming a path of right triangular shape in which the drying leg extends vertically upwardly along the side of the cabinet frame and with the copy sheet facing outwardly of the triangular path, an optical system in said frame defining a dog leg optical path including a lens and mirror and in which the optical axis extends vertically downward from the exposing window and then angularly downward for perpendicular intersection with the exposing leg, a rack in said frame for supporting a roll of copy paper in the angle of said dog leg optical path between the optical path and the processing path charging and exposing leg, and a knife assembly in said frame for severing sheets of copy paper from a roll on said rack prior to having such cut sheets enter said copy paper path, said rack and said knife assembly being mounted on a subframe for sliding movement outwardly of said cabinet frame to facilitate loading copy paper.

3. A photocopy machine comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular cabinet frame, a generally horizontal exposing window at one top end of said frame, means in said frame defining a processing path for a copy sheet having an inclined charging and exposing leg, a bottom substantially horizontal development leg, and a long vertical drying leg, the legs together forming a path of right triangular shape in which the drying leg extends vertically upwardly along the side of the cabinet frame and with the copy sheet facing outwardly of the triangular path, an optical system in said frame defining a dog leg optical path including a lens and mirror and in which the optical axis extends vertically downward from the exposing window and then angularly downward for perpendicular intersection with the exposing leg, a rack in said frame for supporting a roll of copy paper in the angle of said dog leg optical path between the optical path and the processing path charging and exposing leg, and a blower nested inside of the triangular processing path, the blower having a conduit for connecting the same to the drying leg for drying the copy sheets.

4. In a photocopy machine, the combination comprising a cabinet frame, an exposing window at the top of the frame, means in the frame defining a copy sheet path having an exposing station, development station, and a drying station, a rack in said frame mounting a paper roll and having a knife assembly for severing sheets of copy paper from the roll, means including a lens and mirror mounted in the frame for focusing an image from said exposing window onto a copy sheet in said exposure station, flash lamps at said exposing window for brightly and instantaneously illuminating a document positioned in the exposing window, driving means for moving a sheet continuously from the knife assembly along said path, means for flashing the lamps as the copy sheet is moving in the exposure station and at the instant it is centered therein, a subframe for supporting the rack and knife assembly for sliding movement between an inner operating position and an outer loading position, the cabinet frame having a door, and means including an interlock switch for disabling said flash lamps when the door is opened.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a latch for locking said door, and means for operating said latch so as to lock the door once operation of said drive elements is initiated.

6. In a photocopy machine, the combination comprising a cabinet frame, an exposing window at the top of said frame, means in said frame defining a copy sheet path having an exposing station, a development station and a drying station, the stations being positioned in triangular loop formation with the copy sheet facing outwardly of the loop, means for feeding copy sheets into the path, means including a lens and mirror mounted in said frame for focusing an image at said exposing window onto a copy sheet in said exposing station, flash lamps at said exposing window for brightly and instantaneously illuminating a document at said exposing window, said flash lamps having means for arming the same and means for subsequently firing, driving means including drive elements for, upon actuation, moving a sheet of copy paper along said path with continuous motion, trigger switch means in said path just ahead of said exposing station, means coupled to the trigger switch means for actuating the arming means in response to arrival of the leading edge of a copy sheet, and means operated by the sheet for actuating the firing means when the sheet reaches its centered position in the exposing station, a rack in said frame for supporting a roll of copy paper whose leading edge enters said path, a knife assembly in said frame for severing sheets of copy paper from a paper roll on said rack, a standby switch in said copy paper path spaced from said knife assembly a distance establishing the desired size of copy paper sheets, said drive elements in said path between said rack and said standby switch being under the control of said switch so that paper is repeatedly fed from a roll on said rack to the point where the leading paper edge operates the standby switch.

7. The combination of claim 6 having means including a plurality of jam switches for disabling said drive elements if paper does not reach the standby switch or the drying station within time intervals sufficiently long to permit normal operation of the machine.

8. In a copy machine having a cabinet frame supporting a roll of copy paper and means for making copies from sheets of said paper, the combination comprising, a knife assembly in said frame including a fixed blade and an oscillating blade, a pair of feed rollers in said frame for driving paper from said roll between said blades, a pair of dispensing rollers in said frame for driving sheets of copy paper separated from said roll away from said knife assembly, means in said frame for driving said oscillating blade from a paper clearing position to a cutting position, means for operating said feed rollers including a first switch for disabling this means unless the oscillating blade is in said paper clearing position, and means for operating said dispensing rollers including a second switch for disabling this means until said oscillating blade moves to said cutting position.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said means for driving said oscillating blade includes a rotary solenoid having an actuating plunger and a cam and follower connection for converting linear movement of the plunger into rotary movement of said oscillating blade.