Sliding platen cover apparatus

#This invention relates to an improved sliding platen cover apparatus which enables the positioning of precollated documents to be copied from a stack on a platen and then removed from the platen area of a copier machine and stacked neatly.

#The handling of precollated documents which are to be copied on a copying machine or the like requires that each document be positioned on the platen and then removed in a collated fashion. This can be done by manually positioning each document on the platen in its prescribed sequence and removing the document for stacking in proper order so that they can be recopied another time. Obviously this is a painstaking operation since it is strictly manual and requires operator alertness at all times. An alternative to this type of operation would be a fully automatic operation in which an automatic feeding device is used to feed documents from a stack and then remove them from the platen area. Needless to say, the expense and complexity of such a device, which must be coupled by logic to the copier is a serious concern in the operation of a simple and inexpensive copying machine. For this reason, it is desirable to have a simple and inexpensive document handling device which enables positioning of each document from a collated stack of documents onto the platen and then removed in simple manner under operator control to maximize use of the copying machine and to produce copies as economically as possible.

#It is, therefore, the general object of the present invention to provide a controlled manual removal of documents from the platen of a copier machine or the like.

#These objects, as well as other objects, will become more apparent after a reading of the detailed description which follows and which should be read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the platen cover apparatus of the present invention in the off platen position of a copier machine;

#FIG. 2(a) through 2(d) illustrate the sequential operation of the platen cover apparatus,

#Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the platen cover apparatus of the invention generally designated 10 positioned on an electrostatic copier machine 12 or the like which has a platen 14 on which documents are to be copied. Documents are placed on the platen and a START PRINT button 16, when pressed, initiates the printing cycle of the copier processing stations which are well known to those skilled in the art. The platen cover apparatus of the invention includes a cover 20 secured to a frame 22 which is mounted on a slide 21 secured through a hinge 70 to machine 12 to slide over the platen and then into contact with a document on the platen. After sliding in a reverse direction, the document is translated through frictional force of a lowered platen pad 32 and deposited into a receiving tray as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

#An appreciation of the general movements of the platen cover apparatus can be had by observing FIGS. 2(a) through 2(d). In FIG. 2(a), the platen cover apparatus 10 is to the left, looking at the FIG. allowing access to the platen 14 on the copier machine. D1 designates the first document to be copied, which is placed in overlying relationship on the platen 14. Documents D2 and D3 are positioned on top of the platen cover apparatus awaiting to be copied. In FIG. 2(b), the platen cover apparatus is moved in the direction of the arrow into overlying relationship with the document D1 and lowered into contact therewith. At this time, the copying cycle is commenced by pressing START PRINT button 16. In FIG. 2(c), after copying, the platen cover apparatus is moved in a reverse direction frictionally engaging document D1 and moving it in the same direction until it is deposited into a receiving tray. At this time, document D2 is positioned manually onto the top of the platen 14. The apparatus is now ready to commence another copying cycle.

#Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, the platen cover apparatus 10 includes the cover 20 comprising contiguous walls 23 defining a tray 24. Walls 23 extend below tray 24 and define a cavity to receive a movable platen pad frame 33 and pad 32 which is made of frictional material such as rubber or the like. Pad frame 33 is connected to the apparatus frame 22 through tie rods 35 which are collectively joined to cross member 36 and assembled to a handle 37 through which manual force is applied to actuate the pad 32 to the alternate of its two positions up or down. Tie rods 35 are part of a parallelogram type linkage which includes T-shaped arms 41 which are connected to tie rods 35 by means of pivot pins 42. T-Shaped arms 41 are connected to apparatus frame 22 by pins 45 and support pad frame 33 through pins 48. T-shaped arms 41 also are biased against the action of torsion springs 49 which provide a biasing action against which the pad member is raised and lowered by handle 37. It will be noted that also supported on pins 45 are wheels 51 which are positioned to ride on a track 53 to facilitate the sliding action of the platen cover apparatus along the surface of copier machine 12.