US2754752A - Fluid control for duplicator machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1956 cs. R. ROBINSON ErAL 2,754,752

FLUID CONTROL FOR DUPLICATOR MACHINE Filed July 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS 5'4 /F/l/Vf A? Foe/Arse I B404 7. fiat-MAN 4/ /z 1; m cz-L ATTORN EYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. R. ROBINSON ETAL lllrlllll.

FLUID CONTROL FOR DUPLICATOR MACHINE HmaF n n u N mm w mmM m ow R mf 0 ma w M A July 17, 1956 Filed July 2, 1952 E LE 11 11111 L United States Patent FLUID CONTROL FOR DUPLICATOR MACHINE Grant R. Robinson, Westbury, and Paul T. Trueman, New York, N. Y., assignors to Old Town Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation Application July 2, 1952, Serial No. 296,874

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-1325) The present invention relates, in general, to duplicating machines of the type wherein a record copy or master sheet is made in reverse with a suitable copying ink and reproduced therefrom on sheets of paper, or the like, having a moistened face, and, in particular, to a control for the fluid supply to the instrumentalities utilized in applying a very limited amount of the fluid to the face of the sheet that is to be duplicated upon.

In duplicating machines of the described type, which employ the so called fluid process method of duplicating, the. face of the clear sheet to be duplicated upon is moistened for the purpose of dissolving a minute amount of the copying ink when engaged under pressure with the reference characters on the master or copy sheet. To obtain desired and eflicient results with the fluid process method of duplicating, the medium of the moistened sheet is essential in dividing the amount of copying ink embodied in the master sheet characters to produce the maximum number of copies. The most important fac tor in obtaining a desired or maximum number of duplicated copies is a control of the amount of fluid applied to the face of the sheet to be engaged under pressure with the master sheet. To obtain the maximum number of copies, the sheet to be duplicated upon must be uniformly moistened with an extremely limited amount of the fluid and, if the sheet to be duplicated upon carries an excess of moisture when it is engaged under pressure with the master copy ink, an excess of the ink will be dissolved therefrom and deposited on the clear sheet and thus will result in fewer copies being obtainable from the master sheet.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the control of the fluid supplied to the moistening instrumentalities is of paramount importance. Heretofore this supply control was effected by a barometric action or by a supply pump, and more recently by a valve control of the type illustrated and described in our Patent No. 2,510,256. In the case of barometric action, a control which utilizes said action is found to be not readily adjustable, must be air-locked and is subject to continually changing pressures. A pump, while adjustable, requires considerable attention and involves additional mechanisms. While the above identified valve control will furnish an extremely high degree of accurate control to maintain a constant amount of fluid for the moistening instrumentalities, there exists a need for a valve type control, which for certain purposes, may be used in lieu of the more expensive control of said patent, for example, for use in a low cost du- Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a fluid control for a duplicating machine, which control is generally of simplified construction, having a minimum of working parts, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which will furnish a controlled amount of fluid to the moistening instrumentalities.

Another object is to provide a readily accessible manually operable fluid control which is simple to operate and to adjust.

A further object is the provision of a main fluid reservoir which is readily removable from the duplicating machine without disturbing or aifecting the sheet moistening means, the fluid control being provided on the reservoir and being utilized to replenish the latter.

A still further object is the provision of an intermediate fluid chamber provided with a moistening device and having means to bias said chamber in a direction to bias the moistening device into fluid-transferring engagement with a moistener applicator element of a duplicating machine.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duplicating machine pursuant to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the fluid control taken on the line 4-4 of Pig. 2, with the control in Oil or closed condition thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The fluid control of the present invention is illustrated in connection with a manually operable duplicating machine 10 which, as here shown, is provided with opposed side frames 12 and 14 which support a rotatable drum 16 together with a coacting pressure roll 18, said drum being rotated by the handle 1%. A pair of feed rolls 2!) and 22 are rotatably disposed in front of the bight formed by the drum 16 and its coacting pressure roll 18. As

here shown, the feed roll 29 is utilized to apply a limited amount of moisture to the upper face of a clear sheet to be duplicated upon, said roll being engaged by one end of a fibrous or absorbent material, such as the wick 2.4. The roll 20 and the wick 24 are hereinafter referred to as the applicator elements.

It is essential to provide the fibrous material 24- with a limited and desired amount of fluid directly in accordance with the results to be produced. Pursuant to the present invention, the wick 24 is supported in a substantially U-shaped holder 26 which extends transversely of the duplicating machine and which is provided with a; plurality of openings 2% for permitting the fluid to flow into the holder 26. The holder 26 is disposed in an inter-. mediate fluid reservoir chamber 3% so that the aperturcd end thereof is dipped into the fluid which flows into said reservoir from the main fluid reservoir 32 through the fluid control 34 of the present invention, as herein-- after described in detail.

The fluid chamber 38 extends transversely of the duplicating machine 19 and, in order to mount said chamber, the latter is provided with the opposing slotted end portions 36 and 38 which are adapted to releasably receive the inturned ends 40 and 4-2 of the support members 44 and 46, respectively. More specifically, it will be noted from Fig. 5 that the side frames 12 and 14 are provided with the outwardly extending pivot members 48 and 56, respectively, on which the companion support members 44 and 46 are mounted for pivotal movement. Each pivot member is provided with a coil spring 52 which resiliently urges the companion support member into abutment with a washer 54 through which the pivot extends. The side frames 12 and 14 are slotted, as at 56, to permit the inturned portions of the support members 12 and 14 to engage in the slots 58 provided in the opposing ends of the chamber 39. It will be understood that the support members 44 and 46 may be urged out wardly along the companion pivots, against the bias of the springs 52, as illustrated in broken line in Fig. 5, to permit for the engagement or disengagement of said members and the chamber 30 for mounting or removing said chamber from the duplicating machine. In order to resiliently urge the exposed marginal edge of the wick 24 against the moistening roll 26, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the spring elements 6d are provided to interconnect each of the support members and a convenient portion of the adjacent side frame.

In order to operatively dispose the holder 26 for the wick 24 in position in the chamber 36, the latter is provided with the spaced brackets 6262. Each bracket 62 has a base portion 64 which is secured on the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 30, an upstanding portion 66 which extends transversely of the duplicatin machine, and a laterally extending portion 63 which extends transversely of the portion 66. The chamber is provided with a wall 7 t) which is inclined upwardly from the bottom wall 31, and with a cover 72 which terminates inwardly of the free marginal edge 73 of the wall 70 to define an opening therebetween through which the wick 24 projects from the chamber 30, as illustrated in Fig. 6, when the holder 26 is disposed on said wall. In this connection, it will be noted that the wick holder 26 abuts the up standing portions 66 of the brackets 62 to limit the movement of the holder into the chamber 36, lateral movement of said holder being prevented by the engagement of the opposite ends thereof with the laterally extending portions 68 of the brackets 62. Each of said brackets is provided, on the upstanding portion 66 thereof, with a projection 74 which engages in a companion slot 76 defined in the cover 72 for supporting the latter in position on the chamber 39. The cover '72 is also provided with a centrally disposed opening 78 for receiving the fluid control 34- of the present invention.

As previously indicated, the fluid control 34 is carried by the cylindrical main reservoir 32 which holds the fluid F. Said reservoir extends transversely of the duplicating machine it and is disposed between the side frames 12 and 14, being mounted on a fluid baffle or deflector member 8t) which extends transversely between the side frames, being carried by the bracket 82 provided on the side frame 14. In order to ieleasably retain the reservoir 32 in position between said side frames, the latter are also provided with the confronting pins or members 84- 84. From the foregoing, it Will be apparent that the reservoir 32 may be readily inserted into and removed from the machine, being retained therein by the companion pins 84 and the baffle 80, the latter also serving to prevent the fluid on the roll 20 from splattering onto the drum 16.

The reservoir 32 is provided with a saddle or support member 86 which is suitably secured thereto as by soldering, as at 83. A tube 96 extends through the saddle 86 from the opening 92 in the wall of reservoir 32, said tube being suitably secured to the saddle, as by the soldering indicated at 94. The tube 90 is notched at the outer end thereof, as at 96, to provide a fluid outlet therefrom. In order to control the flow of fluid from the reservoir 32 through the tube 90, provision is made for a cylindrical cap 98 which overlies and closes the outer end of the tube, and which is provided adjacent said tube end with the fluid outlet aperture 100. The cap 98 is mounted in a disc 102, the tube 90 extending through said disc and into said cap, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be understood that the cap 98 is slip fit over the lower end of the tube 90, suflicient clearance being provided therebetween to permit only for the rotation of the cap on the tube, said cap and tube constituting a rotary valve. In order to retain the cap' in position on the tube, the saddle 86 is provided with a depending portion 104 which is slotted, as at 106, to receive the disc 102 for mounting the latter, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The disc is provided with suitable indicia indicating the on and 01f positions of the fluid control or valve 34, and in addition is provided with an ear 198 to limit the rotation thereof to the off position.

in using the fluid control device of the present invention, the reservoir 32 is initially filled with a suitable fluid F. In this connection, it will be noted that said reservoir is provided with a rectangular member which forms a base to prevent the reservoir from rolling on a plane surface on which the reservoir may be disposed when removed from the duplicating machine 10. It will be apparent that when the base 119 is disposed on a supporting surface, the valve 34 will extend upwardly from the reservoir. In order to fill the reservoir 32, the disc 102 is rotated until the outlet 1% in the cap 98 is in registry with the notch outlet 96 formed in the tube 90. The fluid may then be inserted through the aligned outlets into the tube 20 to fill the reservoir 32. It will be noted in this connection that when the aperture is in registry with the notch 96, the portion of the disc provided with the indication for the on setting of the valve will be disposed outwardly of the saddle 86, the of or closed setting of the valve illustrated in Fig. 4, being indicated by the disposition of the 01? indication outwardly of the saddle 86 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Having filled the reservoir with fluid, and having then rotated the disc to the off position to seal the outlet 96, the reservoir 32 is then inverted and disposed in said inverted position between the side frames of the duplicating machine so that the cap 98 extends through the opening 78 in the cover 72 and into the chamber 3%). The disc is then rotated to the on setting to permit the entry of the fluid into the chamber 3t) and through the apertures 28 of the wick holder 2-6 to saturate the wick 24. After the desired amount of fluid has entered the chamber 30, the disc 162 is rotated to an intermediate position thereof so that the aperture 1% is in partial registry only with the notch 96 to permit for a relatively slow trickle or flow of the fluid into the chamber 30 to replenish the fluid that is being used to moisten the clear sheets during the operation of the duplicating machine. It will be understood that the setting of the fluid control valve 34 will depend upon the speed of operation of the duplicating machine by the operator so as to regulate the flow of fluid from the reservoir 32 into the chamber 30 in accordance with the rate at which said fluid is used up. Consequently, for a relatively slow operation there should be only a relatively small degree of registry between the fluid outlets 100 and 96, and for a faster operation the degree of registry should be increased. The disc 102 may be suitably provided with the graduation indicia 112 for indicating various settings of the valve 34 to facilitate the setting of the valve for a desired rate of fluid flow during the operation of the duplicating machine.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention Without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described having moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, a fluid supply and c0ntrol for said elements comprising a fluid reservoir, an intermediate fluid chamber disposed to receive fluid from said reservoir for said elements, and a rotary valve operable to control the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, said valve comprising a tube extending lal n A from said reservoir to said chamber and provided with a fluid outlet, and a cap rotatably mounted on said tube and sealing said outlet, said cap having a fluid outlet movable to and from registry with said tube outlet to control the rate of fluid flow into said chamber, and a member provided on said cap to effect rotation thereof, said reservoir being provided with a saddle in which said member is disposed for retaining said cap in position on said tube.

2. In a machine of the character described having moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, a fluid supply and control for said elements comprising a fluid reservoir, an intermediate fluid chamber disposed to receive fluid from said reservoir for said elements, and a rotary valve operable to control the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, said valve comprising a tube extending from said reservoir to said chamber and provided with a fluid outlet, and a cap rotatably mounted on said tube and sealing said outlet, said cap having a fluid outlet movable to and from registry with said tube outlet to control the rate of fluid flow into said chamber, and a member provided on said cap to effect rotation thereof, said reservoir being provided with a saddle in which said member is disposed for retaining said cap in position on said tube, said member having a portion extending outwardly of said saddle and provided with indicia for indicating various valve settings.

3. In a machine of the character described having spaced side frames and moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, a fluid supply and control for said elements comprising a fluid reservoir disposed between said frames, an intermediate fluid chamber disposed between said frames to receive fluid from said reservoir for said elements, means for controlling the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, means to readily position said reservoir between said side frames comprising a fluid baffle extending between said frames, and confronting members provided on said frames laterally of said bafile, said baffle and said members mounting said reservoir, and means to removably mount said chamber between said side frames comprising support elements provided on said side frames and releasably engageable with said chamber, said support elements being mounted for pivotal movement, said chamber being provided with one of said applicator elements and the other applicator element being mounted in juxtaposition to said one applicator element, and means biasing said support elements in a direction to urge said one applicator element into fluid-transfer engagement with said other applicator element.

4. In a machine of the character described, a fluid chamber provided with a moisture applicator element, said chamber having an inclined wall on which said element is retained and being provided with a cover which terminates inwardly of the upper marginal edge of said wall to define an opening therebetween through which said element projects, and bracket means provided in said chamber and forming an abutment for mounting said element in operative disposition therein, said bracket means being engageable with said cover for retaining the latter in position on said chamber.

5. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, drum means for a master sheet mounted for rotation between said side frames, moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, said elements being mounted between said side frames relative to said drum means, baflle means mounted between said frames and interposed between said moisture applicator elements and said drum means to prevent the spatter of fluid from said applicator elements onto said drum means, a reservoir for supplying fluid to said moisture applicator elements, and fixed means positioned between said side frames and spaced laterally of said balfle means, said fixed means cooperating with said bafile means to constitute a support for mounting said reservoir between said side frames.

6. In a machine of the character described, spaced side frames, drum means for a master sheet mounted for rotation between said side frames, moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, said elements being mounted between said side frames relative to said drum means, baffle means mounted between said frames and interposed between said moisture applicator elements and said drum means to prevent the spatter of fiuid from said applicator elements onto said drum means, a reservoir for supplying fluid to said moisture applicator elements, and fixed means positioned between said side frames and spaced laterally of said baffle means, said fixed means cooperating with said baflle means to constitute a support for mounting said reservoir between said side frames, said fixed means being confronting members provided on said side frames, respectively.

7. In a machine of the character described having spaced side frames and moisture applicator elements adapted to moisten the face of a sheet to be duplicated upon, a fluid supply for said elements comprising a fluid reservoir disposed between said frames and an intermediate fluid chamber disposed between said frames to receive fluid from said reservoir for said elements, and means to removably mount said chamber between said side frames comprising support elements provided on said side frames and releasably engageable with said chamber, said support elements being mounted for pivotal movement, said chamber being provided with one of said applicator elements and the other applicator element being disposed between said frames in juxtaposition to said one applicator element, and means biasing said support elements in a direction to urge said one applicator element into fluidtransfer engagement with said other applicator element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 128,473 Durant July 2, 1872 808,089 Hopkins et al. Dec. 26, 1905 1,598,434 Gilchrist Aug. 31, 1926 1,685,147 Case Sept. 25, 1928 1,837,203 Bushnell Dec. 22, 1931 2,034,209 RitZerfeld Mar. 17, 1936 2,036,972 Storck Apr. 7, 1936 2,129,179 Kokay Sept. 6, 1938 2,163,529 Storck June 20, 1939 2,172,115 Trueman et al. Sept. 5, 1939 2,237,548 Copeland et al Apr. 8, 1941

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