Pattern transfer machine

Feb. 28, 1967

3,306,196

F. J. CUTR1

PATTERN TRANSFER MACHINE

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INVENTOR

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ATTORNEYS

Feb. 28, 1967

3,306,196

F. J. CUTRI

PATTERN TRANSFER MACHINE

Filed June 14, 1966

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BY

ATTORNEYS

Patented Feb. 28, 1967

United States Patent Office

3,306,196

PATTERN TRANSFER MACHINE

Frank J. Cutri, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Carlton Pacer Coro., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York

Filed Jane 14, 1966, Ser. No. 557,410

Claims. (Cl. 101—132.5)

This invention relates to spirit duplicating machines and is a continuation-in-part of my prior U.S. application Serial No. 468,412, filed June 30, 1965, for Paper Guide Means for a Pattern Duplicating Machine, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my prior U.S. application Serial No. 451,478, filed April 28, 1965 for a Pattern Duplicating Machine.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a spirit duplicating machine which makes it possible to transfer a pattern from a master sheet to a copy sheet which has been moistened with spirit so as to receive an impression of the pattern carried by a master sheet, in a well known manner.

My aforesaid prior applications are directed to a rotary main roller and a counter roller cooperating therewith to press against each other a master sheet and a copy sheet which pass together between the main and counter rollers. The copy sheet is guided along a given path to the main roller, and along this latter path there is situated, spaced from the main roller, moistening means for applying spirit to that face of the copy sheet which subsequently is pressed against the master sheet. The structure further includes a pressure roller which presses the copy sheet against the main roller just prior to engagement of the copy sheet with the master sheet, and this pressure roller engages the face of the copy sheet which has just previously been moistened by the moistening means.

In order to assure accurate registration of the main feed roller and counter roller, which is necessary for perfect pattern duplication, guide means are provided for guiding the master roll from its holder to its point of contact with the copy paper, thereby enabling the position of the master sheet to be shifted while it is being fed to insure its accurate registration with the copy paper. The guide means comprise a holder for loosely supporting a roll of the master sheet parallel to and spaced from the main and counter rollers, together with first, second and third idler rollers and a rod, all parallel to and spaced from each other and said holder and main and counter rollers. The first idler roller is located above the holder and in front of the main and counter rollers. The second idler roller is located between the first idler roller and the main and counter rollers. The third idler roller is located in front of and above the level of the first and second idler rollers. The rod is located between the second and third idler rollers and intersects the line tangent to the top of the second idler roller and the bottom of the third idler roller.

Accordingly, the guide means maintains the mast sheet under sufficient friction along a sufficiently long path so that finger pressure on the master sheet adjacent either side edge thereof against the first idler roller causes shifting of the master sheet on the idler rollers in the direction outwardly of such edge.

In a machine of the type described above, in order to provide for adequate impregnation of the transfer ink in the main sheet by the liquid or fumes which have been applied to the copy paper from the moistening trough, it is desirable to provide an increased time of contact between the copy paper and the master paper before they pass between the main and counter rollers respectively.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a spirit duplicating machine of the type described above having improved means for transferring the pattern from the master sheet to the copy paper which increases the time of contact therebetween.

In the production of a pattern from the master sheet, since only selected portions of the master sheet are needed rather than the complete master sheet, it is desirable to be able to reproduce pre-selected portions of the master sheet on its copy sheet as needed.

It is, accordingly, a further object of the present invention to provide a spirit duplicating machine of the type described above, in accordance with the above-mentioned object, having means for selectively engaging the copy paper with the moistening means for applying spirit to the copy sheet and concurrently selectively engaging the copy paper with the master sheet.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention there is provided in a spirit duplicating machine of the type described having a main feed roller, a counter roller parallel to and coacting with said main roller for pressing against each other a master sheet having an inked pattern thereon, and a copy sheet pressing together therebetween to thereby transfer the master sheet pattern onto the copy sheet; and copy sheet control means.

The copy sheet control means comprises first and second copy sheet idler rollers spaced in parallel arrangement from each other and the main feed roller, with the first copy sheet idler roller being disposed above the level of the second copy sheet idler roller.

The copy sheet, after having been suitably moistened, is extended over the second and first copy sheet idler rollers respectively and thence over the main feed roller. The master sheet is disposed over the copy sheet at the first copy sheet idler roller and thence over the counter roller. The master sheet is thus disposed in registration over the copy sheet at the first copy sheet idler roller and thence over the counter roller. The master sheet is thus disposed in registration contact with the premoistened copy sheet as the master and copy sheets travel together from the first copy sheet idler roller until they pass together between the main roller and counter roller thereby effecting the transfer of the master sheet pattern onto the copy sheet.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and features thereof may best be understood with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the machine of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentray elevational view of the machine of the invention as seen from one side.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partly in section on the line 3—3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, the structure of the present invention includes a main roller 10 which is illustrated as turning in a clockwise direction, this main roller cooperating with a counter roller 12 which is situated directly over the main roller 10 for pressing together the master sheet M and copy sheet C. A moistening means 14 is provided for applying spirits to that face of the copy sheet C which subsequently is placed against the master sheet M by the rollers 10 and 12. A means is provided for guiding the copy sheet C along a different path to the main roller 10, and this latter means includes the structure for positioning the copy sheet supply roll 16 (see FIG. 2) as well as the turntable guide rolls 403 and 18 around which the copy sheets passes before reaching the moistening means 14.

3,306,196

After passing over moistening roller 92 the copy sheet C is threaded over idler rollers 400 and 401 making contact with master sheet M as hereinafter described.

The master sheet M moves from the master sheet supply roll 42, around first, second and third idler rollers 200; 201 5 and 202 respectively until it meets copy sheet C at point 402 on the surface of idler roller 401. Rollers 10, 12 and idler roller 401 are so spaced such that the distance between the point of contact 395 between rollers 16 and 12 and point 402, which represents the extent of contact 390 j q between master sheet M and copy sheet C, is approximately three inches. The increase of the extent of contact 390 enabled by the preferred embodiment of the present invention over that of my aforesaid prior applications is an important feature of the present invention and jg is significant, as follows. By virtue of the increased extent of contact, and hence increased time of contact between the master paper M and copy paper C before they pass pinch rollers 10 and 12, there is assured adequate impregnation of the transfer ink in the main sheet by the liquid 20 or fumes which have been applied to the copy paper from the moistening trough 88 by means of moistening roller 92. Accordingly, there is assured an adequate transfer of the pattern from master sheet M to copy sheet C without resorting to an additional pressure roller to press the copy 25 sheet against the main roller just prior to engagement of the master sheet by the copy sheet.

Upon reference to FIG. 2 it will be noted that the machine includes a frame means 34 having a pair of sidewalls 36 (only one shown). The counter roller 12 in- 30 eludes a shaft SO supported for rotation within slide blocks 54 (only one shown), which are guided for vertical movements in suitable openings 56 (only one shown) formed in the sidewalls 36b and 36« respectively. Springs (not shown but similar to the corresponding springs de- 35 scribed below and used in conjunction with roller 10) urge the slide blocks 54 downwardly, and thus the counter roller 12 is supported by rotation by bearing means supported by the frame means 34 for movement toward and away from the main roller 10. 40

The shaft 38 which carries main roller 10 is supported for rotation by bearings (not shown) which are directly carried by the sidewalls 36, respectively, so that the axis of rotation of the main roller 10 is fixed. Reduced shaft portions of the main roller shaft 10 respectively carry circular cam rings 42 (one shown) adjacent to and outside 45 of the sidewalls 36, respectively. A sprocket wheel 46 is fixed to shaft 38 and is driven bj' chain 48 which is in turn driven from a suitable motor (not shown), so that the main roller 10 is directly driven in order to operate the machine. 50

Reduced portions of the shaft 50 of the counter roller 12 turnably carry a pair of identical levers 62 (one shown) either of which can be manually turned by the operator, and these levers 62 respectively carry cams 64 which can respectively be turned into and out of engagement with 55 the cam rings 42 in a manner described in greater detail below.

Any suitable meshing gears (not shown) may be provided on shafts 38 and 50 so that the drive is transmitted from main roller 10 to counter roller 12. This is fully go explained in my aforesaid prior application. Outwardly of wall 36, shaft 50 fixably carries a sprocket 68 which through a chain 70 drives a second sprocket 72 carried by the shaft 74 on which the master sheet take-up roll 28 is wound. Optionally, shaft 74 may be driven from sprocket gg 72 through any suitable slip clutch (not shown). Shaft 74 also carries a further sprocket (not shown) which through a suitable chain 80 drives the shaft 84 which carries the copy sheet pick-up roll 30. These shafts 74 and 84 are supported for rotation by the sidewalls 36 of the 70 frame means 34.

The moistening means 14 includes a trough 88 and a moistening roller 92 which dips into the spirit within trough 88 and which, of course, is capable of engaging the face of the copy sheet C which is to be subsequently 7a pressed against the master roller M, as pointed out above. In order to selectively raise or lower the moistening means 14, the trough 88 has a downwardly directed surface 88b which engages one or more came 98 (one shown) and these cams are fixedly carried by a rotary shaft 180 supported for rotation by the sidewalls 36 of the frame means 34. Shaft 100, which carries the cam 98b has a small pinion gear 450 mounted thereon. A second larger gear 452, operative to engage pinion 459, is fixedly mounted on a laterally extending stub shaft 454 which is suitably rotatably mounted in the frame. An actuating lever 456, having a handle 46® at one end thereof, is fixedly secured at the other end to the periphery of gear 452, lever 456 being guided in its motion by guide bracket 45S.

Thus the operator by moving lever 456 up and down, turns gear 452 which, drives gear 450 to rotate cam 986. Cams 98 are provided with flats 98x, which are horizontal and uppermost and flush against the flat bottom of trough 88 in the cam position corresponding to the lowermost trough position, By virtue of the arrangement of gears 452 and 45® the moistening trough 14 may be raised or lowered with greater ease and precision than was possible in the arrangement of the prior application. Accordingly, by selectively moving lever 456 to apply or withdraw moistening roller 92 from the copy paper passing thereover and disengaging rollers 10 and 12, selected portions of the master sheet may be reproduced on the copy sheet. An important feature of the present invention is thus demonstrated in that pre-selected portions of the master sheet may be reproduced as needed without having to reproduce the complete master sheet.

Means are provided to adjust the height and tilt position of the raised trough 88. Horizontal block 9 is fixed to vertical side frame piece 38h by means of screws 8. A pair of screws 7 are adjustably threaded downwardly through threaded bores of block 9, with the screw heads above the block and their tips below the block, The tips of screw 7 abut the top of an end wall of trough 88 when the trough is raised. If the tips of screws 7 are in a common horizontal plane, trough 88 will be horizontal. If slight tilting of trough 88 about the axis of roller 92 is provided, this can be obtained by appropriate adjustment of the abutment screws 7. Also, the adjusted position of these screws determine the height to which the trough can be raised. Accordingly, the screws 7 are operative to adjust the tension of copy sheet C against moistening roller 92.

In the preferred embodiment of my aforementioned prior applications, a pressure roller was provided which was operative to press the copy sheet against the main roller prior to engagement of the master sheet by the copy sheet in order to impress the spirit into the fibers of the copy sheet to enhance the quality of the copy. The preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, eliminiates the aforementioned pressure roller and the associated biasing mechanism, as well as a stationary guide for guiding the master sheet into the pinch rollers, with the resulting simplification of the apparatus. The apparatus of the present invention, instead provides a pair of idler rollers 40® and 431 which serve to provide an increased time of contact between the copy paper and the master paper before they pass between the pressure rollers 10 and 12 to insure adequate impregnation of the transfer ink in the main sheet by the liquid applied to the copy paper in the moistening trough. Accordingly, there is insured a satisfactory transfer of the markings from the master sheet to the copy sheet without resorting to an added pressure roller as shown in my aforementioned prior applications.

With the above-described structure, during normal operation the drive will be transmitted from the main roller by means of the above-mentioned transmissions to the counter roller 12, the pressure roller 20, and the takeup rolls through the chain and sprocket drives described above, and to the moistening roller 92, also describedabove.

3,306,196

Whenever it is desired to thread the machine the operator need only turn the levers to displace the counter roller 12 away from the main roller 10, so that the threading operation can be very easily carried out. At the same time, the operator can turn the lever 102 so as to 5 lower the moistening means 14, and in this way also the threading operation need not be hampered by the moistening means.

It will be appreciated that the mechanisms associated with the rollers 10, 12 and 20 and the moistening means 14 are described and claimed in my aforesaid applications, and this invention has particular references to the guide means for the master sheet M and particlularly the idler rollers 230, 201 and 202 guide rod 203 referred to above. 15

The frame means 34 includes, in addition to the walls 35 referred to above, any suitable base framework including front leg means 205. A laterally extending trough 286 is secured to leg means 205 by means of bracket 207. The master sheet supply roll 22 is loosely and turnably 20 received upon the semi-cylindrical inner surface of trough 205, shown in FIG. 2, with the master sheet 10 being drawn upwardly from the rear of the roll, as shown in the drawing. The roll 22 may be wound on any suitable spindle 293. 25

The first idler roller 209 is mounted on shaft 203, the ends of which are turnably received in extensions 210 of the respective frame walls, one such extension 210 being shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the first idler roller 200 is located at the front of the machine, above the roll 22, 30 with the axis of roll 200 slightly below the level of the axis of roller 10. The paper M is carried over the front and top of roller 200.

The roller 201 is located closer to the rollers 10 and 12 than roller 2S2 and red 203, the roller 201 being sup- 35 ported upon shaft 211 the ends of which are journalled in the frame walls 36. The paper is threaded under, around the rear of, and over roller 291. The run Ml of the paper M between the top of roller 200 and the bottom of roller 201 is optionally substantially horizontal. 40

The roller 202 is supported upon shaft 212, which shaft is journalled within the frame wall 36. Roller 202 is located intermediate the front or first idler roller 200 and rear or second idler roller 291, and is located above the level of roller 201. The paper is threaded in a run 45 M2 from a point Pl of roller 201 near its top to a point P2 of roller 292 near its bottom and is threaded around the front and over the top of roller 202. The ensuing rearward return run of the paper is designated by the reference character M3. 50

The rod 203 is provided with extensions of reduced diameter which extend through the frame walls 36a and 366, outwardly of which they are threaded to receive tightening nuts 213, so as to prevent turning of rod 203. The two runs M2 and M3 extend under rod 293, and the 55 vertical position of rod 203 is such that it bears frictionally against the two runs M2 and M3, as shown in FIG.

1. The paper rearwardiy from rod 293 passes over the top of idler roller 401 where it comes into contact with copy paper C and thence between the rollers 10 and 12. ⁶⁰The position of rod 203 relative to roller 201 is such that the run of paper M4 between rod 293 and the rollers 10 and 12 remains in substantial flush contact with the run M2 until the point Pl of roller 201 is reached.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the holder $⁵206 serves loosely to support the roll 22 parallel to and spaced from the respective main and counter rolls 19 and 12. The first, second and third idler rollers 2G6, 201 and 202 and the rod 2C3 are all parallel to and spaced γθ from each other and from the holder and from the main and counter rollers. The first idler roller 2S9 is above the holder 206 and in front of the main counter rollers 10 and 12. The second idler roller 201 is between the first idler roller 200 and the main and counter rollers 75 and 12. The third idler roller 202 is in front of the' second idler roller 201 and above the level of the first and second idler rollers 200 and 201. The rod is between the second and third idler rollers 201 and 202 and intersects the imaginary line which can be drawn between the points Pl and P2, this being substantially the line which would be tangent to the top of the second idler roller 201 and the bottom of the third idler roller 202. Accordingly, the master sheet M extended from the holder over the front and top of the first idler roller 200, under, behind and over the second idler roller 201, under rod 283, in front of and over the third idler roller 202 and back under rod 203 is frictionally engaged in the double thickness of runs M2 and M3 by such rod 203.

It is further clear that the imaginary line which is tangent to the bottom of rod 203, and the contact or press line of the main and counter rollers IQ and 12 is tangent to the top of the second idler roller, substantially engaging it at point Pl, so as to maintain the master sheet M in engaging double thickness in the portions of the runs M2 and M3 between rod 203 and the point Pl when the paper is extended from the rod to the main and counter rollers in the manner shown. Since it is difficult to show the two thicknesses of paper, for convenience, the drawing shows the arrow 214 designating the path of movement of the run M2 between the point Pl and the rod 293 while the arrow 215 is provided to designate the direction of movement of the run M3 between the rod 293 and the point Pl. The run M4 serves as a coplanar extension of the portion of run M3 between rods 2®3 and point Pl.

There is provided in the present invention dual feed means for putting in place two copy paper supply rolls of two different widths so that either one or the other may be easily threaded through the respective rollers. The dual feed means includes upper and lower saddles 404 and

405 respectively, and fixed by any suitable means (not shown) to the frame leg 406. Saddles 4G4 and 485 are similar in construction, and accordingly, only saddle 405 is described herein. Thus saddle 404 may carry copy paper of one width size and saddle 405 may carry copy paper of a second width size. It is clear, however, that only one of either copy paper rolls on saddles 404 or 405 is threaded into the machine at one time. When saddle 404 is being used, the copy paper sheet is extended in front of idler roller 403 and behind idler roller 13, over moistening roller 92, around idler rollers 400 and 401 and thence through pressure rollers 10 and 12 to the take-up roller.

When saddle 405 is being utilized, the copy sheet is extended over an auxiliary idler roller 403a, which is similar in construction to idler roller 493, then in front of idler roller 403 and behind idler roller 18 and thence in a manner similar to that described above with respect to saddle 404.

The copy roll 16 is carried by shaft 124 which is received in a semi-circular notch 408 in saddle 405. Shaft 124 just turns frictionally in the two saddles located at opposite ends thereof, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2.

In order to suitably and selectively brake the rotation of the copy paper supply roll, a brake 410 is provided at one end of shaft 124, although, if additional braking force were required, a second similar brake could be located at the other end of shaft 124. To secure brake 410 to frame leg 406, a plate 412 is fixed to frame leg

406 to extend horizontally therefrom. Brake 410 is of the split ring type, comprising a lower half 414 and an upper half 416 having a horizontal extension 418 fixed to the upper face of plate 412 by means of bolts and nuts 420 and 422, respectively. At the other end, brake 410 is split at 424, being provided with a pair of parallel jaw extensions 426 and 428 adjustably secured together by means of wing screw 430 having its shank 431 extending through the corresponding smooth opening in

3,306,196 extension 426 and threaded opening in extension 428, respectively.

Ring portions 414 and 416 are made of a suitable resilient metal and accordingly, tend to keep extension 426 and 428 apart to an extent determined by the adjustment of wing screw 430. Ring portions 414 and 416 are lined with a leather ring 434 which surrounds and frictionally engages shaft 124 on which is mounted the roll of copy paper. Thus by adjusting the braking tension of lining ring 434, selective adjustment of the. braking shaft 124 is achieved. The above-described braking arrangement which provides a selective braking force to the rotation of the copy paper supply roll, replaces, the more cumbersome and less efficient braking system, comprising a brake pulley and counter weight in my aforementioned applications.

In order to further provide the desired tension on the· main sheet M, a brake (not shown) is provided for shaft 211 carrying second idler roller 201. The structural features of this brake are shown in detail in my aforesaid applications.

While there has been shown a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that it is not wished to be limited thereto, since modifications can be made in the structural arrangements and it is contemplated in the appended claims to cover any such modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of this, invention.