Microfilm viewer-printer

Claim 3

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for transporting copy paper to an exposure station includes a first pair of pinch rolls for conveying such copy paper to such exposure station, a second pair of pinch rolls for conveying such copy paper from a supply roll to said first pair of pinch rolls, means for supporting a supply of sUch copy paper in roll form for feeding to said second pair of pinch rolls, and means mounted between said first and second pairs of pinch rolls for cutting such copy paper into separate sheets.

Claim 4

An apparatus for copying film inages in accordance with claim 1, and including means for applying an electrostatic charge to such copy paper prior to entry thereof into such exposure station.

Claim 5

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 3, and including means for selecting the electrical sign of such electrostatic charge applied to such copy paper.

Claim 6

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for transporting such copy paper through such exposure station and into such developing station includes an endless belt conveying means at such exposure station for transporting such copy paper through an exposure position therein.

Claim 7

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 5, wherein said endless belt is porous, and including means for creating a partial vacuum on the side of said endless belt opposite such copy paper to hold the latter thereon.

Claim 8

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for projecting such optical image onto such copy paper in such exposure station includes an electrical lamp for producing light, means for supporting an image film, first optical means for projecting such light from said electrical lamp through such image film, and second optical means for directing the optical image thus formed to an exposure position in such exposure station.

Claim 9

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 7, and including a viewing screen, a shutter member of substantially the same size as said viewing screen, movable mounting means for said shutter member for positioning the latter alternately in the optical path of said projecting means and adjacent said viewing screen to block the passage of light therethrough, and a reflecting surface on said shutter member for reflecting light from said projecting means toward said viewing screen when said shutter member is so positioned in such optical path.

Claim 10

an apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for applying toner particles to such exposed copy paper in such developing station includes means forming a reservoir for liquid toner, means positioned over said reservoir means for guiding such copy paper through such developing station along and upwardly-cupped arcuate path above the level of liquid in said reservoir means, means for directing a spray of liquid toner downwardly onto such copy paper over said reservoir means, and means for pumping said liquid toner in a recirculating path from said reservoir means, through said spray directing means, over such copy paper and back into said reservoir means.

Claim 11

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 9, said pumping means being driven by an electric motor.

Claim 12

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 10, and including an electrical switch means controlling the energization of said motor.

Claim 13

an apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 9, wherein said spray-directing means comprises a tubular member positioned above said paper-guiding means transversely of the direction of paper movement, said tubular member having a series of spray holes along its length, and tubular conduit members connecting said pumping means to both ends of said tubular spray member to apply the liquid toner substantially equally to both ends of said tubular spray member.

Claim 14

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for delivering such copy paper from such developing station comprises two pinch rolls, whereby excess liquid is removed from such copy paper therebetween by squeegee action.

Claim 15

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with clAim 1, wherein said single driving and synchronizing means includes an electrical drive motor having a rotary output shaft with a drive sprocket mounted thereon, each of said transporting and delivering means having at least one rotary driving shaft with a sprocket mounted thereon, each of said optical projecting and toner applying means having electrical operating circuits controlled by electrical switches, and an endless link chain engaging each of said sprockets and driven by said drive sprocket to effect a mechanical drive of the members connected to the driven sprockets, said link chain carrying a plurality of cam members mounted at predetermined points along the length thereof for selectively engaging the operating means of such electrical switches to thereby synchrhonously control the operation of the circuits connected thereto.

Claim 16

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 14, and including: a porous endless belt conveying means at such exposure station for transporting such copy paper through an exposure position therein, and means for creating a partial vacuum on the side of said endless belt opposite such copy paper to hold the latter thereon, said means for creating a partial vacuum being driven by a said electrical drive motor.

Claim 17

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 15, wherein said means for projecting such optical image onto such copy paper in such exposure station includes an electrical lamp for producing light, and including means for directing the exhaust from said vacuum-creating means over such electrical lamp to cool the same.

Claim 18

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 2, wherein said single driving and synchronizing means includes: an electrical drive motor having a rotary output shaft with a drive sprocket mounted thereon, each of said transporting and delivering means having at least one rotary driving shaft with a sprocket mounted thereon, each of said optical projecting and toner applying means having electrical operating circuits controlled by electrical switches, and an endless link chain engaging each of said sprockets and driven by said drive sprocket to effect a mechanical drive of the members connected to the driven sprockets, said link chain carrying a plurality of cam members mounted at predetermined points along the length thereof for selectively engaging the operating means of such electrical switches to thereby synchronously control the operation of the circuits connected thereto.

Claim 19

An apparatus for copying film images in accordance with claim 17, the rotary driving shaft of said second pair of pinch rolls having an idler sprocket and a driving sprocket mounted thereon in side-by-side relationship, and said endless link chain constituting in part a dual chain having a second link chain mounted thereon in side-by-side relationship over a predetermined portion of the length thereof, said first-mentioned link chain engaging said idler sprocket and said second link chain intermittently engaging said driving sprocket.

Claim 20

In an apparatus for electrostatically copying images from an original document medium onto copy paper including a supply of copy paper, image forming means for reproducing the image from the document medium on said copy paper, and conveying means for selectively transporting said copy paper from said supply of copy paper through said image forming means, the improvement comprising: a single drive motor having a rotary output shaft; a driving member carried by and rotatable with said output shaft; driven member means operatively connected to said conveyor means for selectively causing said conveyor means to move said copy paper through said image forming means as said driven member means is driven; a flexible endless transfer member drivingly connecting said driving member to said driven member means to cause said driven member means to be driven as said dRiving member is rotated; first switch means for selectively connecting said drive motor to a power source for causing said motor to rotate said driving member; control means for selectively controlling the operation of said image forming means; second switch means for selectively activating said control means; first operating member means carried by said transfer member for selectively operating only said first switch means and for causing said first switch means to disconnect said drive motor from the power source when said first operating member means engages said first switch means, said first operating member means located on said transfer member to engage said first switch means when said apparatus completes a cycle whereby said copy paper is supplied from said supply of copy paper through said image forming means to reproduce the image from the original document medium thereon; second operating member means selectively operating only said second switch means carried by said transfer member for causing said second switch means to activate said control means when said transfer member reaches a predetermined position; and, independent means for initiating said cycle by energizing said motor independently of said first switch means to move said first operating member means out of engagement with said first switch means.

Claim 21

In an apparatus for electrostatically copying images from an original document medium onto copy paper including a supply of copy paper, image forming means for reproducing the image from the document medium on said copy paper, and conveying means for selectively transporting said copy paper from said supply of copy paper through said image forming means, the improvement comprising: a single drive motor having a rotary output shaft; a driving member carried by and rotatable with said output shaft; driven member means operatively connected to said conveyor means for selectively causing said conveyor means to move said copy paper through said image forming means as said driven member means is driven; a flexible endless transfer member drivingly connecting said driving member to said driven member means to cause said driven member means to be driven as said dRiving member is rotated; first switch means for selectively connecting said drive motor to a power source for causing said motor to rotate said driving member; control means for selectively controlling the operation of said image forming means; second switch means for selectively activating said control means; first operating member means carried by said transfer member for selectively operating only said first switch means and for causing said first switch means to disconnect said drive motor from the power source when said first operating member means engages said first switch means, said first operating member means located on said transfer member to engage said first switch means when said apparatus completes a cycle whereby said copy paper is supplied from said supply of copy paper through said image forming means to reproduce the image from the original document medium thereon; second operating member means selectively operating only said second switch means carried by said transfer member for causing said second switch means to activate said control means when said transfer member reaches a predetermined position; and, independent means for initiating said cycle by energizing said motor independently of said first switch means to move said first operating member means out of engagement with said first switch means.

Claim 22

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said flexible endless transfer member is an endless link chain, wherein said first operating member means is a first cam member attached to said chain at a first predetermined position and movable therewith along a first prescribed path, wherein said second operating member means is a second cam member attached to said chain at a second predetermined position and movable therewith along a second prescribed path parallel to said first prescribed path displaced from said first prescribed path; wherein said first switch means is located so as to be engaged by said first cam member at a predetermined position as it moves along said first prescribed path and so as not to be engaged by said second cam member as it moves along said second prescribed path, and wherein said second switch means is located so as to be engaged by said second cam member at a predetermined position as it moves along said second prescribed path and so as not to be engaged by said first cam member as it moves along said first prescribed path.

Claim 23

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said control means includes time delay means for de-energizing said drive motor for a predetermined period of time upon operation of said second switch means by said second operating member and for re-energizing said motor after said predetermined period of time.

Claim 24

In an apparatus for electrostatically copying images from an original document medium onto copy paper including a supply of copy paper, and an image forming means for producing an image on said copy paper, the improvement comprising: paper feed means for selectively feeding copy paper from said supply of copy paper toward said image forming means, said paper feed means including a driven member for causing said paper feed means to feed said copy paper as it is rotated; a single drive motor having a rotary output shaft; a driving member carried by and rotatable with said output shaft; a flexible endless transfer member connected to and moved by said driving member, said transfer member passing adjacent to but not engaging said driven member; a flexible engaging member mounted on said transfer member and movable therewith in a side-by-side relationship with said transfer member; said engaging member arranged to drivingly engage said driven member to operate said paper feed means as said transfer member moves said engaging member over said driven member, said engaging member having a length shorter than said transfer member such that a prescribed length of copy paper is fed toward said image forming means as said engaging member mOves over said driven member.

Claim 25

In an apparatus for electrostatically copying images from an original document medium onto copy paper including a supply of copy paper, and an image forming means for producing an image on said copy paper, the improvement comprising: paper feed means for selectively feeding copy paper from said supply of copy paper toward said image forming means, said paper feed means including a driven member for causing said paper feed means to feed said copy paper as it is rotated; a single drive motor having a rotary output shaft; a driving member carried by and rotatable with said output shaft; a flexible endless transfer member connected to and moved by said driving member, said transfer member passing adjacent to but not engaging said driven member; a flexible engaging member mounted on said transfer member and movable therewith in a side-by-side relationship with said transfer member; said engaging member arranged to drivingly engage said driven member to operate said paper feed means as said transfer member moves said engaging member over said driven member, said engaging member having a length shorter than said transfer member such that a prescribed length of copy paper is fed toward said image forming means as said engaging member mOves over said driven member.

Claim 26

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said flexible transfer member is an endless link chain and wherein said flexible engaging member is a section of link chain attached to the side of said endless link chain at a predetermined position thereon.

Claim 27

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said conveying means includes paper feed means for selectively feeding copy paper from said supply of copy paper toward said image forming means, and wherein: said driven member means includes a driven member for causing said paper feed means to feed said copy paper as it is rotated; and further including: a flexible engaging member mounted on said transfer member and movable therewith in a side-by-side relationship with said transfer member; said engaging member arranged to drivingly engage said driven member to operate said paper feed means as said transfer means moves said engaging member over said driven member, said engaging member having a length shorter than said transfer member such that a prescribed length of copy paper is fed toward said image forming means as said engaging member moves over said driven member.

Claim 28

In a microfilm viewer-printer apparatus for copying images from microfilm onto copy paper including image forming means for reproducing the image of the microfilm on the copy paper and a viewing screen, the improvement comprising: image projection means for projecting the image from the microfilm into said image forming means to cause the image to be reproduced on said copy paper; projection transfer means for selectively transferring the projected image from said image projection means onto said viewing screen while preventing said projected image from reaching said image forming means when said projection transfer means is in a first position and for allowing said projected image to reach said image forming means when said projection transfer means is in a second position; a single drive motor having a rotary output shaft; a driving member carried by and rotatable with said output shaft; a flexible endless transfer member connected to and moved by said driving member along a prescribed path in a first direction; a driving element mounted on and movable with transfer member along said prescribed path; a first driven element operatively connected to said projection transfer means; said first driven element constructed and arranged to be engaged by said driving element to move said projection transfer means from said first position to said second position as said driving element is moved along a first predetermined portion of said prescribed path in said first direction by said transfer member and for releasing said first driving element when said projection transfer means reaches said second position; a second driven element operatively connected to said projection transfer means; said second driven element constructed and arranged to be engaged by said driving element to move said projection transfer means from said second position to said first position as said driving element is moved along a second predetermined portion of said prescribed path in said first direction by said transfer member and for releasing said second driving element when said projection transfer means reaches said first position.

Claim 29

In a microfilm viewer-printer apparatus for copying images from microfilm onto copy paper including image forming means for reproducing the image of the microfilm on the copy paper and a viewing screen, the improvement comprising: image projection means for projecting the image from the microfilm into said image forming means to cause the image to be reproduced on said copy paper; projection transfer means for selectively transferring the projected image from said image projection means onto said viewing screen while preventing said projected image from reaching said image forming means when said projection transfer means is in a first position and for allowing said projected image to reach said image forming means when said projection transfer means is in a second position; a single drive motor having a rotary output shaft; a driving member carried by and rotatable with said output shaft; a flexible endless transfer member connected to and moved by said driving member along a prescribed path in a first direction; a driving element mounted on and movable with transfer member along said prescribed path; a first driven element operatively connected to said projection transfer means; said first driven element constructed and arranged to be engaged by said driving element to move said projection transfer means from said first position to said second position as said driving element is moved along a first predetermined portion of said prescribed path in said first direction by said transfer member and for releasing said first driving element when said projection transfer means reaches said second position; a second driven element operatively connected to said projection transfer means; said second driven element constructed and arranged to be engaged by said driving element to move said projection transfer means from said second position to said first position as said driving element is moved along a second predetermined portion of said prescribed path in said first direction by said transfer member and for releasing said second driving element when said projection transfer means reaches said first position.

Claim 30

In an apparatus as set forth in cliam 25 wherein said conveying means includes paper feed means for selectively feeding copy paper from said supply of copy paper toward said image forming means, and wherein said driven member means includes a driven member for causing said paper feed means to feed said copy paper as it is rotated; and further including: a flexible engaging member mounted on said transfer member and movable therewith in a side-by-side relationship with said transfer member; said engaging member arranged to drivingly engage said driven member to operate said paper feed means as said transfer member moves said engaging member over said driven meMber, said engaging member having a length shorter than said transfer member such that a prescribed length of copy paper is fed toward said image forming means as said engaging member moves over said driven member.

Claim 31

In an apparatus as set forth in cliam 25 wherein said conveying means includes paper feed means for selectively feeding copy paper from said supply of copy paper toward said image forming means, and wherein said driven member means includes a driven member for causing said paper feed means to feed said copy paper as it is rotated; and further including: a flexible engaging member mounted on said transfer member and movable therewith in a side-by-side relationship with said transfer member; said engaging member arranged to drivingly engage said driven member to operate said paper feed means as said transfer member moves said engaging member over said driven meMber, said engaging member having a length shorter than said transfer member such that a prescribed length of copy paper is fed toward said image forming means as said engaging member moves over said driven member.

Claim 32

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein such apparatus further includes a supply of copy paper, and conveying means for selectively transporting said copy paper from said supply of copy paper through said image forming means, and further including: driven member means operatively connected to said conveyor means for selectively causing said conveyor means to move said copy paper through said image forming means as said driven member means is driven by said transfer member; first switch means for selectively connecting said drive motor to a power source for causing said motor to rotate said driving member; control means for selectively controlling the operation of said image forming means; second switch means for selectively activating said control means; first operating member means carried by said transfer member for selectively operating only said first switch means and for causing said first switch means to disconnect said drive motor from the power source when said first operating member means engages said first switch means, said first operating member means located on said transfer member to engage said first switch means when said apparatus completes a cycle whereby said copy paper is supplied from said supply of copy paper through said image forming means to reproduce the image from the original document medium thereon; second operating member means selectively operating only said second switch means carried by said transfer member for causing said second switch means to activate said control means when said transfer member reaches a predetermined position; and independent means for initiating said cycle by energizing said motor independently of said first switch means to move said first operating member means out of engagement with said first switch means.

Claim 33

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein said conveying means includes paper feed means for selectively feeding copy paper from said supply of copy paper toward said image forming means, and wherein said driven member means includes a driven member not engaged by said transfer member for causing said paper feed means to feed said copy paper as it is rotated; and further including: a flexible engaging member mounted on said transfer member and movable therewith in a side-by-side relationship with said transfer member; said engaging member arranged to drivingly engage said driven member to operate said paper feed means as said transfer member moves said engaging member over said driven member, said engaging member having a length shorter than said transfer member such that a prescribed length of copy paper is fed toward said image forming means as said engaging member moves over said driven member.

Claim 34

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein said flexible transfer member is an endless link chain and wherein said flexible engaging member is a section of link chain attached to the side of said endless link chain at a predetermined position thereon.

Claim 35

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein said supply of copy paper includes a roll of copy paper, and wherein said apparatus further includes cutter means for cutting said copy paper to length as it is fed from said roll by said paper feed means, and further including cutter operating means for causing said cutter means to cut said copy paper when activated; and an operating element carried by said endless link chain and movable therewith, said operating element constructed and arranged to engage and activate only said cutter operating means when said endless chain reaches a predetermined position.

Claim 36

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said supply of copy paper includes a roll of copy paper, and wherein said apparatus further includes cutter means fOr cutting said copy paper to length as it is fed from said roll by said paper feed means, and further including cutter operating means for causing said cutter means to cut said copy paper when activated; and an operating element carried by said endless transfer member and movable therewith, said operating element constructed and arranged to engage and activate only said cutter operating means when said endless transfer member reaches a predetermined position.

Claim 37

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein said control means includes time delay means for de-energizing said drive motor for a predetermined period of time upon operation of said second switch means by said second operating member and for re-energizing said motor after said predetermined period of time.

Claim 38

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein said apparatus further includes charging means for electrostatically charging said copy paper, wherein said image forming means includes exposure means for projecting the optical image on said microfilm onto said charged copy paper to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, and developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image on said copy paper into a visual image.

Claim 39

In an apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said charging means includes charging control means for causing said charging means to charge said paper when actuated, and further including a first trigger member mounted on said endless link chain at a predetermined position thereon, movable therewith, and engaging only said charging control means to actuate same; and a second trigger member mounted on said endless link chain at a predetermined position thereon, movable therewith, and engaging only said charging control means to de-activate same.