Duplexing copying system
AssigneeA. B. Dick Company
InventorLawrence Borneman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for duplicating images wherein a copy sheet is delivered to an impression cylinder. A first image is transferred to one side of each sheet. Each sheet is then removed from the impression cylinder, delivered to a reversing means and then to the impression cylinder, trailing edge first. The re-feeding is in synchronism with 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 when the sheet is first fed to the impression cylinder. A second gripper is provided on the impression cylinder for engaging the trailing edge of each sheet. The impression cylinder thus simultaneously carries the sheets as the sheets are moved through the stages of operation.
Claims14
In a duplicating system for duplicating images on both sides of copy sheets including a surface for carrying first and second images transferable to the copy sheets, a carrier, drive means for moving said surface and carrier in unison, means for feeding the copy sheets between the surface and the carrier, gripper means associated with the carrier for gripping edges of said sheets and for holding the sheets on the carrier, said gripper means comprising first and second grippers for separately holding sheets on the carrier, said feeding means feeding each sheet to the first gripper whereby the leading edge of each sheet is engaged by the first gripper and each sheet is moved between the image carrying surface and carrier, said feeding being synchronized with the movement of the first image on the image carrying surface for transfer of said first image to one side of each sheet, and means for releasing said sheet from said first gripper, the improvement in means for handling said sheets after release and for re-feeding said sheets to said second gripper, said handling and re-feeding means comprising fixed stripper means positioned adjacent said carrier, sheet drive means positioned beyond said stripper means, a sheet reversing station, said sheet drive means directing each sheet to said reversing station, said reversing station including second sheet drive means movable in a direction opposite said first mentioned sheet drive means for re-feeding the sheets to said carrier, said second gripper engaging the formerly trailing edge of said sheets opposite the edge held by said first gripper, said sheets being re-fed to said second gripper in synchronism with the second image on said image bearing surface for duplication of said second image on the opposite side of each sheet, and means for releasing said sheets from said second gripper for delivery of the sheets to a receiving area.
In a method for duplicating images on copy sheets wherein the images are formed on a surface and transferred from the surface to copy sheets positioned on a moving carrier, the carrier including first and second grippers for holding the copy sheets thereon, and first and second ink images formed on said surface, said method involving feeding of said sheets to a first gripper on the carrier for movement of the sheets between said surface and said carrier with one edge of the sheets forming the leading edge, releasing of each sheet from the first gripper, reversing the direction of movement of the sheets whereby each sheet is re-directed to a second gripper on the carrier for movement between said surface and carrier with the opposite edge of the sheets forming the leading edge, and synchronizing of the respective sheet feeding operations whereby each sheet receives said first image on one side thereof when first passed between said surface and carrier, and each sheet receives said second image on the opposite side thereof when re-fed between said surface and carrier, the improvement comprising the step of providing a fixed stripper for directing the sheets away from the carrier, providing drive rollers for removing the sheets from the carrier, and thereafter engaging the sheets with oppositely driven rollers for return movement to the carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.