A.b. Dick Company

George J Zahradnik

Arthur A Pudark

Carl L Turner

A system for providing duplex images on copy sheets wherein the images are formed on the copy sheets by delivering the sheets to an impression cylinder for transfer of the images to the sheets. First and second ink images are provided, and each sheet is fed to the impression cylinder in synchronism with a first image for transfer of the first image to one side of each sheet. Each sheet is then removed to a staging area which includes a conveyor mechanism for re-feeding the sheet to the impression cylinder, trailing edge first. The re-feeding is in synchronism with the movement of the second image whereby this second image is transferred to the opposite side of each sheet. The impression cylinder is provided with a first gripper for engaging the leading edge of each sheet and with a second gripper for engaging the trailing edge of each sheet. The staging area comprises a plurality of conveyor belts and a chamber with air exhaust means beneath the belts. Appropriate perforations are provided whereby evacuation of air from within the chamber and through the perforations holds the sheets in place on the conveyor belts. The belts move in one direction for feeding of the copy sheets into the staging area, and then reverse for re-feeding to the second gripper. Barrier means on the belts accurately align the sheets, and adjustable drive mechanisms accurately deliver the sheets to the impression cylinder.

Staging mechanism for duplexing copy machines

A mechanism for driving a computer form web along a predetermined path includes a ratchet wheel having two sets of oppositely facing teeth, mounted on a support shaft for rotation. The wheel is driven in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. A drive gear in meshing engagement with a plurality of gears for driving the sprocket mechanism transporting the computer form web is also mounted on the support shaft for rotation. The gear is joined to a coupling plate also mounted on the support shaft for rotation thereon. The coupling plate includes first and second pawls which extend therefrom for cooperative engagement with the ratchet teeth sets, respectively. Pawl actuator arms also mounted on the coupling plate are movable to first and second positions and when in a first position engage the pawls to maintain the latter out of engagement with respective ratchet teeth sets. Pawl actuator arm engaging levers are mounted adjacent the pawl actuator arms and are movable to first and second positions. When in the first position the levers engage the pawl actuator arms to maintain them in the first position. Movement of the lever arms to the second position permits the pawls to be moved toward the ratchet wheel. Control of movement of the lever arms in turn controls the number of revolutions of the drive gear and thus the extent of movement of the computer web along its path. A manually operated gear selector for providing a change in gear ratios controls the length of movement of the computer web for each revolution of the drive gear. Continual rotation of the drive gear can be achieved by maintaining the lever arms in the second position.

Drive mechanism for computer form feeder apparatus

A guide chute arrangement for an apparatus used to feed a computer form printout web to the original document platen of a copying machine which includes a pivotally mounted copyboard overlying the platen over and about which the web is fed, includes an upper chute assembly for guiding the web between the upper surface of the copyboard and a first supply tray and a lower chute assembly for guiding the web between the lower surface of the copyboard and a second supply tray. Each of the chute assemblies includes complementarily, predeterminedly shaped upper and lower walls forming channels therebetween. The lower walls of the chute assemblies are fixedly mounted. The upper wall of the upper chute assembly is mounted for pivotal movement on extension arms which permit the movement of the upper wall away from the lower wall for easy threading of the web thereinto. The upper wall of the lower chute assembly is pivotal about its lower end and includes pins at the upper end received in a predeterminedly shaped guide channel formed in the support frame of the copyboard so that upon pivoting the copyboard out of the position overlying the platen, the pins are moved through the channel pivoting the upper wall of the lower chute assembly about its lower end thereby to separate the upper wall from the lower wall for easy threading of the web.

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Wheaton, IL, United States of America

George J Zahradnik