Eastman-kodak Company

Helmut Ettischer

Arno Ebner

Rolf Munz

Anton Oswald

Werner Hess

Franz Allmendinger

Manfred Radtke

Ulrich Fischer

Friedrich Uffinger

Heinz Wagner

Timo Straub

Peter Huschle

Heinz-G Bethmann

Raimund Pollak

A sheet depositing device comprises a depositing surface (2) limited by a front abutment (8). Above the depositing surface (2), a cover (4, 5) is pivotable about a journal (7). A hold-down element (6) provided on the cover (4, 5) is associated with the sheet stack (3) to be formed. It has a front end (6a) which rests under the action of gravity on sheet stack (3). Hold-down element (6) is connected with the cover (4, 5) via an engagement member (14) such that when the cover (4, 5) is opened, it is pivoted towards the cover so that the stacking area can be freely inspected and access is not obstructed when the cover (4, 5) is open. At the beginning of the opening movement of cover (4, 5) the front end (6a) of the hold-down element is caused by the engagement member (14) to move away from the abutment (8).

Sheet depositing device

A device for stapling sheets comprises a collecting tray (1) which is downwardly inclined to the direction of entrance 'A' of sheets and has a support surface (2) and a pivotable abutment (3) associated with the front portion of the sheets. Between abutment (3) and support surface (2), a free space (6) is provided in which a stapling unit (10, 15) is movable for setting to a number of different stapling positions. The free space (6) is covered by a cover (9) in an area where no staples are to be applied. A tongue (7a) of a hold-down element (7) rests on the cover (9). Tongue (7a) and cover (9) extend into a recess (3a) of the abutment (3), with an upper limiter (3b) of recess (3a) being arranged above tongue (7a) and serving as an abutment for a limited pivotal movement of hold-down element (7, 7a). A second support of the sheets in the stapling area is provided by a pivotably mounted, spring-biased cover element (20) which overlaps the free space (6) and extends into the path of movement of the stapling unit (10, 15) such that it can be deflected aside by said unit.

Device for stapling sheets individually supplied and deposited on a stack

An apparatus for depositing copy sheets comprises a collecting bin (6, 15) which in the sheet entry direction is arranged in a downwardly inclined position and is provided with a stop member (14) associated with the leading edge of the sheets. The trailing-edge portion of the sheets is associated with a guide element (19) directing incoming sheets onto the top of the sheet stack already deposited. Above the sheet stack to be formed rollers (22) forming part of a sheet entry path, are arranged, associated with the trailing-edge portion of the sheets to be deposited, and are driven in sheet entry direction. The periphery or surface area of the rollers (22) facing the sheet stack (23, 23a) lies beneath the drop-off point in the entry plane of the sheets as determined by the guide element (19) to the extent that such periphery or surface area holds or confines the top of the sheet stack (23, 23a) in a recessed position beneath the sheet drop-off point in the entry plane, thereby keeping the feed path of subsequent incoming sheets open. If due to sheet curling the stack of sheets (23a) already deposited contacts the rollers (22), the incoming sheets move between rollers (22) and the topmost sheet onto the top of the sheet stack (23a) and are advanced by the rollers (22).

Apparatus for depositing copy sheets

A cam unit (3) with cams (3a, 3b and 3c) is mounted by journals (3d) directly on plastic housing portions (1 and 2). A bracket (5) which is actuated by cam (3a) is slidably arranged on one housing portion (2) together with a back-up (26) and a clincher unit (9, 10). A slider (8) shiftably mounted on bracket (5) actuates the clincher unit (9, 10) via a cam (3c). Another cam (3b) engages a sliding block (6) which operates a stapler (15 to 17). The entire stapling device is slidable along a driven profiled shaft (4) positively coupled with cam unit (3). The cams (3a, 3b, 3c) are designed such that, in relation to the journals (3d), two diametrically opposed force-transmitting cam sections of different cams (3a and 3b and 3c, respectively) each become effective at a time. Thus, a force of action in one direction, which is caused by one cam (3b and 3c, respectively), is counteracted by a force of reaction of equal strength in the other direction, which is caused by the other cam (3a and 3b, respectively). As a result, the bearing load on the journals (3d) is kept low throughout the stapling operation.

Sheet-stapling device

A supply magazine (1) for a sheet stack (8) comprises a lower portion (2) which is open at the top and a cover (3) which covers the lower portion (2) at least in its sheet-removal area (roller 9) and can be opened. A pressure plate (4) pivotally mounted in the lower portion (2) is urged by springs (10) which spring-urge a sheet stack (8) arranged on the pressure plate (4) in the sheet-removal area against the inner side (3d) of the closed cover (3). As a result of the sheet stack (8) being pressed against the inner side of cover (3), it is so held by spring pressure that even if the supply magazine (1) is brought into an extremely inclined position during insertion into the copier or removal therefrom, the sheet stack (8) cannot be displaced and no sheets can drop out. With respect to the operative position of the supply magazine (1) in the copier, the distance of the pressure plate (4) from the inner side (3d) of the cover (3) is larger than the distance of the pressure plate from the operative area of the sheet-removal device (roller 9). As a result sheet stack (8) is lifted from the inner side (3d) of the cover (3) by an amount so that sheets can be separated without friction being exerted on them.

Supply magazine for a sheet stack

A device for collecting sheets includes a collection tray (13) with a bottom portion (21) which forms a stack support surface (19). The bottom portion is movably arranged and is adjustable in response to the weight of the sheets (25) collected on the support surface (19). The support surface (19) is upwardly inclined in the sheet transport direction. A deflectable hold-down element (41) which intersects the imaginary trajectory of the sheets and urges the deposited sheets (25) downwardly, is provided for cooperation with the rear area of the sheets (25) to be collected.

Device for collecting sheets

A housing (1) includes an upper tray (7) for receiving sheets which are not to be stapled, a lower tray (8) for receiving sheet stacks (35) which are stapled and an inclined tray (29) arranged in between and adapted for collecting and stapling sheets. The collecting tray (29) is arranged in a relatively steeply inclined position with respect to a stapling station (39) located at its lower end so that sheets entering the collecting tray (29) slide under the sole action of gravity automatically down to a movable blocking member (33) which limits the collecting tray (29). The collecting tray (29) is part of an assembly unit (13) which comprises all transport and guiding elements for feeding the sheets which enter an entrance area (5) either to the upper tray (7) or the collecting tray (29). Moreover, the assembly unit (13) supports all means required for producing sheet stacks and feeding out the finished sheet stacks. The assembly unit (13) is mounted on the housing (1) by means of lower stationary housing pins (59) and is fixed precisely in position by locking means (63, 64).

Sheet-handling device

A supply magazine (1) for stacked sheets (5) comprises on its bottom surface a slideway (13, 14) adapted for cooperation with a limiting member (11, 12) allowing a continuous size adjustment. The slideway (13, 14) is moreover provided at selected points with abutments (37); and a limiting member (11, 12) which has complementary counterabutments can be arrested by positive engagement with the abutments respectively against shifting movement on the slideway (13, 14) in positions corresponding to given sheet sizes.

Supply magazine for stacked sheets

A sheet feeder includes a supply tray from which the paper sheets are individually withdrawn from the bottom of the stack. The stack supporting bottom of the tray is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, its angle of inclination being adjustable. The inclination of a supported stack can be adjusted according to stack weight or height. The weight of the sheet stack exerting pressure on stack support and/or the sheet separating device can thereby be controlled such that uniform sheet removal conditions are achieved.

Sheet feeder

In a supply magazine of a copying machine closed copy paper packages are arranged in stacked relation. The copy paper has been preconditioned by the manufacturer and provided with a packing that protects the preconditioning. Whenever the copy paper supply for the copying machine has to be refilled, one copy paper package is removed from the supply magazine and advanced to an unpacking device and opened. The unpacked copy paper stack is withdrawn from the opened packing by a withdrawing device and moved to a magazine. The magazine is associated with a sheet separating device which removes individual sheets and advances them to the copying station.

Copying machine

A photographic camera includes a collapsible lens carrier, formed of at least two movable tubular members, that may be telescoped into a third tubular member rigidly secured to a camera body portion. An improved latch secures the lens carrier in an extended position. The latch comprises a two armed lever pivotally supported on one of the movable tubular members. When the carrier is extended a spring associated with the latch urges an end of one arm against a frontwardly facing surface of the third tubular member and urges an end of a second arm against a rearwardly facing surface of the other movable tubular members thereby latching the carrier in its extended position. A portion of the lever extends through an opening in the carrier to permit this lever to be manually pivoted out of its latching position thus permitting the operator to collapse the carrier.

Latch for collapsible photographic camera

A blocking device in a foldable camera blocks the shutter release button to prevent an undesired exposure whenever the camera is folded and throughout each film transport cycle. The device is moved into blocking relationship with the release button in response to movement of a camera cover member to its closed position and in response to initiation of the transport cycle. The device is then moved out of said blocking relationship upon movement of the cover member from its closed position and upon completion of said cycle. The device includes a pivotable member bearing a blocking element and two sensing elements. One sensing element is actuable by closure of the cover member; the other sensing element is actuable by movement of a timing cam that rotates one revolution in synchronism with the transport cycle. The blocking element moves into the path of the release button whenever either sensing element is actuated. The device is especially useful in a foldable processing camera, wherein the film transport may be motorized.

Growing community of inventors

Ostfildern, Germany

Helmut Ettischer