US3843253A

US3843253A - Automatic paper feed and cutting mechanism for photocopier machine

Info

Publication number: US3843253A
Application number: US00339732A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Mikan; R Williamson
Original assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Current assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date: 1973-03-09
Filing date: 1973-03-09
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22

Abstract

A dual roll paper supply is elevatable by a motor drive into a position of easy access for replacement of depleted rolls and is automatically retractable into operable engagement with paper feeding and cutting mechanism within an automatic photocopier. Automatic supply sensing means effects an immediate transfer of paper feeding from a depleted roll to a second reserve roll within the machine, while an electric control circuit including relays, solenoids and microswitches effects cutting of uniform lengths of paper for the electrostatic production of master copy plates.

Description

Unlted States Patent 1191 11 1 3,843,253 Mikan et al. 1 Oct. 22, 1974 1 AUTOMATIC PAPER FEED AND CUTTING 3,474,692 10/1969 Sames 355/29 ux MECHANISM FOR PHOTOCQPIER 3,639,055 2/1972 Schleifenbaum 355/29 MACHINE 3,645,157 2/1972 DiGiulio et al. 355/13 X 3,710,664 1/1973 Eveland 83/205 X [75] Inventors; Donald G, Mikan, Ridgefield; 3,727,499 4/1973 Boston 355/13 X Robert J. Williamson, Jr., Hamden, both of Conn- Primary ExaminerRobert P. Greiner [73] Assignee: Pitney-Bowes, lnc., Stamford, Conn. Attorney f or F'rmw1lham sohow Albert W. Scnbner; Robert E. Meyer [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1973 v 1 1 pp 339,732 57 ABSTRACT A dual roll paper supply is elevatable by a motor drive into a position of easy access for replacement of de.

33/650, 242/58, 242/56 R, pleted rolls and is automatically retractable into oper- [5 Int. able engagement with paper feeding and cutting of

Search

29, 16, mechanism an automatic photocopier Auto- 226/1 56 R, 83/203, 205, 650 matic supply sensing means effects an immediate transfer of paper feeding from a depleted roll to a secl l References Cited ond reserve roll within the machine, while an electric UNITED STATES PATENTS control circuit including relays, solenoids and micro- ,143947 8/1964 Limberger 242/553 x Switches effect? cutting of uniform lengths 0f Paper for 3145197 4/1966 Small the electrostatlc production of master copy plates. 3,418,047 12/1968 Lee et a1 3,425,777 2/1969 White 1 Clam 11 D'awmg PATENTEDucI 22 1974 3.643.253 SHEET 10$ 7 PATENTEUBIIIZZ-M a'aas'zss ROLL FIRST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to improvements in electrostatic photocopier machines, and more particularly to an improved supply, feed and cutting mechanism whereby an entire days supply of photo master paper may be easily installed by an office worker, such as a secretary or inexperienced clerk, simply through placing two light-weight rolls of paper into a motorized carrier which is automatically raised to a convenient waistlevel height for loading and then automatically retracted into the machine where it locks itself. into proper position for automatically feeding paper on command from first one roll and, if and when that roll is used up, the mechanism automatically switches to feeding paper from the second, or reserve, roll. Upon switchover to the reserve roll, sensors automatically change the cutting sequence time to assure continuous cutting of uniform lengths of paper masters regardless of differences in path length of the paper web from the first and second supply rolls.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A general object of the invention is to provide improved means for rapid and automatic production of offset master plates in an electrostatic copier machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for continuously delivering a webof photosensitive paper into a photocopier, cutting the web successively into uniform lengths for platemaking, and transporting the exposed plates to a developing station.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a plurality of supply rolls of photocopy paper in a power driven means for extracting the paper supply from the copier, raising the supply mechanism to a convenient position exterior of the copier for ease of replacing paper rolls, and then retracting the supply into locking operative engagement with the paper feeding and cutting means.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism of the invention with the raised position of a dual paper roll holder shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical view of the paper feed and'control apparatus, seen generally in the right hand portion of FIG. 1, showing in greater detail the paper path, paper hold, and control microswitches;

FIG. 5 is a vertical end view of the apparatus of FIG.

along the line 4, partially cut away;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the paper cutter for the upper feed roll as shown generally in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the paper cutter for the lower feed roll as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG.8 is a detail of the clutch drive and stationary knife blade;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG.'6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the control switches and related circuitry; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the swing arm control for loading and locking the paper supply system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in greater detail to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a parallel pair of vertically disposed swingable arms 11a, 1112 are pivotally supported on a horizontal shaft 12 mounted on a rigid structure frame indicated generally at 14. In and between the

arms

11a, 11b is mounted a first driven pressure roller 15 in frictionalengagement with a first idler roll 16, and a corresponding second driven roller 17 engaged with a second idler roll 18.

Driven rollers

15 and 17 are each connected, respectively, through

electromagnetic clutches

19 and 20, chains 61, 61a, and a gear train 61b to a main drive motor 21. Also mounted on and supported by

swing arms

11a, 11b are a first pair of cooperating paper roll holders 22 and a second pair of cooperating paper roll holders 24 thereabove as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The paper roll holders are adapted to receive and rotatably support the hubs of first and second rolls 2S and 26 of electrophotographically sensitive paper. Pivotally mounted on swing arm 11a are a pair of spring loaded

feeler arms

27 and 28 carrying

rollers

27a and 28a positioned to bear upon the outer surfaces of

paper rolls

25 and 26 and to operate associated microswitches whenever the outer diameter of their respective paper rolls diminishes to the point that paper on that roll has been depleted. For example, when the supply of paper on roll 26 has been depleted, feeler arm 28 actuates microswitch 29 mounted on arm 11a by depressing the switch tab 29a which extends through an opening in the arm 11a. This disengages first drive clutch 20 and simultaneously engages second drive clutch 19 whereby paper web is fed from second supply roll 25 through the cutting and processing mechanism as will hereinafter be described in detail. A corresponding switch 29' is provided for similar cooperation with the sensing arm 27.

The sequential operational steps involved in loading the paper supply system will now be described with specific reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings. The operator first moves a momentary spring loaded manual switch 30 to its upward position which sumultaneously energizes a solenoid 30a to release a latch 31 (FIG. 3) and energize a swing arm drive motor 32 to operate in a forward direction. Motor 32, through a right angle worm gear drive and clutch 34 drives a chain 35 to rotate a sprocket wheel 36 which is mounted by a bushing 37 and bolts 38 to arm 11a, whereby

arms

11a, 11b are caused to swing upwardly (in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1) about the axis of shaft 12. The motor 32 continues to operate only so long as the operator maintains finger pressure on spring loaded switch 30, so that when the

swing arms

11a, 11b are elevated to their horizontal position as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 the switch 30 is released and motor 32 stops. The operator then proceeds to remove and discard spent paper roll spindles and to replace fresh rolls, such as 25 and 26, in

holder pairs

22 and 24. The leading edge 39 of paper from roll 25 is passed between rollers and 16 (as seen more clearly in FIG. 3) by the operator turning a knob 40 mounted on the end of roller 17 (FIG. 2). In the same manner, the leading edge of paper from roll 26 is passed over guide roller 41 through paper guide chute 42 and between

rollers

17 and 18 by a slight turn of knob 44 which is mounted on the end of roller 17. A brake 45 is mounted on the shaft of upper driven roll 17 adjacent to manual knob 44 to prevent wasting over-ride of this drive roller when its electromagnetic clutch is de-energized. A similar brake 46 is mounted on the shaft of lower driven roller 15, adjacent to manual knob 40, to accomplish the same purpose when clutch 19 is disengaged. Thus the clutch 20 in combination with brake 45 cooperate to produce positive limited driving action of paper drive roll 17, and in the same manner clutch l9 cooperates in combination with brake 46 to provide positive limited driving action of lower drive roll 15. The manual knobs 40 and 44 over-ride the respective clutches 19-20 and the brakes 45-46 when the operator initially loads the machine with paper rolls and 26 to start the leading edges of paper from the two rolls into the bite between the two

driving rolls

15 and 17 and their respective pressure engaging idler rolls l6 and 18. With the proper supply thus loaded, the operator then merely depresses momentary switch which energizesswing arm drive motor 32 to operate in reverse thereby lowering

swing arms

11a, 11b (in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 12) until they are retracted into the base of the machine as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1. When the latch 31 (FIG. 3) engages, the paper supply assembly mounted on

arms

11a, 11b is locked into operative position and the machine is ready to produce electrostatic master copies as will now be described.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings the paper supply assembly indicated generally at 13 includes two substantially identical paper drive and

cutting systems

47 and 48 mounted on and between

swing arms

11a, 11b. The first and lowermost paper drive system 47 includes an input paper guideway 49 through which the leading edge ofpaper from roll 25 is inserted by the operator into the bite between

driving pressure rolls

15 and 16 at the time of loading as described above. Subsequently when the driven roll 15 is rotated by a chain drive 61 (FIG. 2), when the control circuit of FIG. 10 calls for paper feed, the leading edge 39 of paper web from roll 25 is driven by rollers 15-16 past the open knife edge 50 into the bite of drive rollers 51-52, thence through guideway 53 into the bite of drive rollers 54-55, through guideway 56 into an electrostatic charging box 57, and from there into the bite of drive rollers 59-60. It is to be understood that the successive driven rollers in this path, 15, 51, 54 and 59 are all driven simultaneously and at the same rate by the common drive chain 61, through clutch 19 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, as the paper web exits from between drive rollers 59-60 of paper supply assembly 13 it engages an upwardly curved guide 62 which deflects the paper web upwardly into engagement with the front surface of a vertical moving belt conveyor indicated generally at 64. Belt 64 moves in a clockwise direction (as seen in-FIG. 4) around an upper roller 65 and a lower roller 66. At least one of the

rollers

65 or 66 is driven by a suitable drive belt, and preferably both are driven as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1. The vertical conveyor belt 64 is actually formed of a plurality of separate parallel flexible pierced bands 67, 68 and 69 having parallel vertical spaces 70-71 therebetween, as shown in FIG. 5. The several belts, 67, 68 and 69 which comprise the conveyor 64 pass through openings in a plenum chamber 73 so that the upwardly moving portion of the belt overlies the left surface of the chamber (as seen in F IG. 4). This surface is pierced with openings 72 and a pair of

vacuum fans

74 and 75 are mounted on chamber 73 whereby vacuum is created between the front and back of conveyor 64 to hold the paper web flat against the exposed face of the conveyor belt 64. Mounted on the front portion of chamber 73 in the vertical space 70 between belts 67 and 68 are vertically disposed

microswitches

76, 77 and 78, each in a position to be operated by the leading edge of paper web as the same is moved vertically upward by the conveyor belt assembly 64. The upper microswitch 76 actuates a short duration high intensity electronic flashlight to expose an optical image of copy focused on the vertical master paper Referring once again to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 it will be seen that the

paper cutting systems

47 and 48 mounted on the paper supply assembly 13 (FIG. 3) each include a pair of horizontally extending knife blades, 50 and 50' and -80 respectively. Blades 50 and 80' are movable, while

blades

50 and 80 are stationary. Both blades of each cutting system are normally spring biased into their open (separated) positions whereby the paper web passes fully therebetween as it is driven forward by the paper drive rollers. When paper is being fed into the machine from the lower paper supply roll 25 the microswitch 78 (FIG. 4) is deactivated by the control circuit of FIG. 10 and the paper web is carried by the vertical conveyor belt 64 upwardly to the point where the leading edge of paper passes over microswitch 77 which causes energization of solenoid 81.

(FIG. 2) which actuates linkage 81a to operate movable knife blade 50' into cutting engagement with stationary knife blade 50 whereby the prescribed length of paper for one exposure is cut. The cut length of paper continues to move upwardly, being held flat against the front surface of vertical conveyor 64 (FIG. 4) by the vacuum therehehind until the entire cut sheet of master paper is in position for exposure. At this position the upper edge of paper on carrier 64 passes over microswitch 76 causing instantaneous operation of the high intensity electronic flash which produces an exposure in less than l/lOOO second focused onto the plane of the vertically moving sensitized sheet. The exposed sheet continues its upward travel on the support of continuously moving vertical carrier 64 and the leading edge of exposed paper is funnelled into a vertical guideway 84 and into the bite of driving

pressure rollers

85 and 86, thence between driving

rollers

87 and 88 and through a curved guideway 89 into a developing system (not shown). Immediately upon the completion of one exposure by the actuation of microswitch 76 as described above, the apparatus is ready to produce another master in the same manner.

When the supply of paper on supply roll 25 has been exhausted, the follower arm 27 (FIG. 3) depresses the tab 29a of microswitch 29 (FIG. 1) which extends through an opening in swing arm 11a. This operates to energize a relay in the control circuit of FIG. whereby power is removed from driving

rollers

15 and 51 of cutting system 47 and driving power is applied to driving

rollers

17 and 23 of upper cutting system 48. Because of interlocking relay connections in the control circuit of FIG. 10 this condition can only occur following a cutting operation by knife blades 50-50' (the last full sheet cut from roll 25) so that no paper remains in the path from cutter system 47. Since .the leading edge of paper web from fresh supply roll 26 was initially fed into the bite between driven roller 17 and pressure roller 18 when the operator loaded the paper supply assembly 13 as described above, this web of paper is now driven through the space between open knife blades 80-80 and into the bite of rollers 23-33 and thence into the upper guideway 91, through rollers 54-55, through electrostatic charging box 57 and rollers 59-60, and onto the bottom guide 62 of the vertical conveyor system 64 (FIG. 4). This moving web of paper, now coming from the upper reserve supply roll 26, is carried upwardly in FIG. 4 by the vacuum carrier belt 64 and when the leading edge of paper web passes over microswitch 78 the second solenoid 82 is energized to operate knife blade 80' which cuts the web to a length as predetermined for one master sheet to be exposed. As mentioned above, the path length from knife blade 80 to microswitch 78 is the same as the path length from knife blade 50 to microswitch 77, so that sheets of equal length are cut regardless of which supply roll is feeding paper. Because of the interlocking circuitry of the electrical control system shown in FIG. 10, the circuit of niicroswitch 77 which controls the first cutter 50' is deactivated when paper is being fed from the reserve roll 26. The sheet of sensitized paper which has now been cut by knife blade 80 continues its vertical travel along vacuum conveyor 64 until the leading edge intercepts microswitch 76 and an exposure is made, and then the exposed sheet is passed on to the developer as described hereinabove.

The means by which the various electromechanical elements such as clutches, brakes, driven rollers, solenoids and cutters, etc. are controlled to operate in the sequential order as described hereinabove will now be explained in greater detail with particular reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 10. The condition shown in FIG. 10 is for operation of paper feed from the upper roll 26 as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Two control relays K-l and K-2 are employed to operate the entire switching system. Relay K-] is a bistable latching relay having two separate operating coils 94 and 95, each with five sets of form C single pole double throw contacts. Relay K-2 is a double pole double throw relay having a single operating coil 96. A third relay K-3 may be a light reed relay which merely supplies a trigger pulse for the command to print. For ease of understanding the several relay contacts are shown physically disassociated from their respective operating coils in the schematic of FIG. 10. AC operating power for the entire system of FIG. 10 is supplied over lines 91-92. For operation of paper feed from the lower roll 25 (FIG. 3) the positions of the contacts of relay K-l are merely reversed from the condition shown in FIG. 10.

Still referring to FIG. 10, the coil designated L8 is the energizing coil for the upper brake 45 in FIG. 2, L9 is the energizing coil for lower brake 46, L10 is the energizing coil for the upper clutch 20, and Lll is the energizing coil for the lower clutch 19. The brake coils L8 and L9, and the clutch coils L10 and L1] are all DC operated and accordingly direct current power is supplied for each of L8 through L11 by full wave rectifiers CR1 through CR4 as shown in FIG. 10. The brake operating circuits each have an R-C network, Cl-Rl for L8 and C2-R2 for L9, to enable instantaneous application of maximum operating voltage for positive instant braking operation. Thus, employing brakes designed for 24 volt operation, a maximum initial surge of approximately volts is applied from full wave rectifier CR1 until capacitor C1 is fully charged, at which time resistor R1 drops the brake holding voltage to the prescribed value of 24 volts. Network C2-R2 operates in the same manner when lower brake coil L9 is energized. Brake coil L8 operates to stop and lock the upper brake 45 (FIG. 2) which is mounted on the upper driven roller 17 (FIG. 3), and coil L9 operates in the same manner on brake 46 of lower driven roller 15. The brake coils L8 and L9 are normally energized. Brake coils L8 and L9 are only de-energized during paper feeding. Operation of the drive clutch coils L10 and L1] is initiated by a command to print when the operator closes a print switch connected to reed relay K-3. A start pulse generated by closure of K-3 turns on triac gate 03 through a resistor R11. Operation of Q3 energizes coil 96 of relay K-2. Relay K-2 is then locked in through the upper roll cut switch 78, normally closed contact of relay K-l, and a normally open contact of K2 as shown in FIG. 10.

Operation of relay K-2 simultaneously de-energizes upper brake coil L8 and energizes upper clutch coil L10. Closure of relay K-2 applied DC charging current to a capacitor C3 from a voltage divider formed by R6 and R7 through a diode rectifier D3 until a charge of approximately 15-20 volts is built up on capacitor C3. When the knife switch 78 (FIG. 4) is operated by the leading edge of paper passing the'reover, relay K-2 drops out and the charge previously built up on capacitor C3 triggers triac gate 01 which energizes the upper knife solenoid 82 as shown in FIG. 10. Knife solenoid 82 remains energized until capacitor C3 has fully discharged through R4 and R5 and O1 is released.

An optical coupler OCI which is energized when bistable latching relay K-l is in the state shown in FIG. supplies a signal to a display board to indicate to an operator when either or both rolls of paper have been exhausted. The single pole double throw switch S in FIG. 10 is the microswitch 29 operated by follower arm 28 which rides on the surface of the upper paper supply roll 26 as described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 of the drawings. While the upper roll is supplying paper switch S15 remains in the position shown in FIG. 10. However, when this supply roll is almost exhausted and the feeler arm has moved in substantially to the paper roll core, S15 transfers to the number 2 contact thereby conditioning coil 94 of relay K-l to transfer to its second bistable state. Relay K-l, however, can only operate during a cut cycle when switch 78 is open because otherwise the K2 contact between C3 and relay coil 94 is open. So upon receipt of the next command to print, this K2 contact closes, connecting C3 to coil 94, relay K-l transfers to its second state and thereafter paper supply is fed from the lower roll. At this time one signal lamp is lighted on the display board, through energization of optical coupler OCl, to signal the operator that one fresh roll of paper may now be added to replace the exhausted upper roll. Resistor R5 is a dummy load simulating the impedance of coil 94 of relay K-I whereby a constant discharge rate is assured for capacitor C3 regardless of the position of switch S15. R9 is a similar dummy load for coil 95.

The lower roll operation of braking, clutching and cutting is carried out by the lower brake L9, the lower clutch L1], the lower knife solenoid 81 and the lower roll cut switch 77, through K! in its second state, in exactly the same manner as described above in reference to the mode of upper roll operation. Ifthe lower supply roll of paper should now be used up before the exhausted paper roll has been replaced, follower switch 816 which is the microswitch 29 operated by follower arm 27 as described hereinbefore with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 will then transfer to the opposite condition shown in FIG. 10 and a second signal light will by illuminated on the display board through operation of optical coupler 0C2. In this condition further printing is inhibited and, if desired, an alarm may be sounded to call the operator to replenish the paper roll supplies. The lowermost pair of relay contacts on relay K-l as shown in FIG. 10 operate

signal lamps

97 or 98 which indicate the mode-in which the apparatus is operating at any given time, and to indicate to an operator whether the upper or lower supply roll should next be loaded.

Reference is now had to FIG. 11 of the drawings which shows schematically the electrical control circuit for raising and lowering the paper supply system as described generally hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings. In FIG. 11 a single pole double throw switch 30 is manually operable in its upward position to cause the swing arm drive motor 32 to elevate the paper roll carrier from within the copier machine (as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1), and in its downward position switch 30 reverses motor 32 to lower the paper supply carrier into operating position within the copier machine. Switch 30is spring biased to normally'remain in its neutral center position as shown in FIG. 11. One side of the AC power line, designated AC Hi, is connected to the single pole armature of switch 30 and the other side of the power line, designated AC L0, is connected to the motor 32 as shown. A control relay K6 having two normally open contacts and one normally closed contact is connected between the lower terminal of switch 30 and the AC Lo line. For simplicity of exposition the three contacts of relay K6 are shown physically disassociated from the K6 operating coil in FIG. 11. A latch switch 8-39 which is associated with the drawn carriage latch 31 in FIG. 3 is operated, as is the latch 31, by a solenoid 30a connected between the upper contact of switch 30 and the AC Lo line. When the operator raises switch 30 a circuit is closed thereby to energize solenoid 300 which immediately releases latch '31 (FIG. 3) and then closes switch S-39 to apply power through the normally closed contact of relay K6 to the upper side of motor 32, causing the motor to elevate the paper supply carriage as shown in FIG. 1. An upper limit switch S-36 is mechanically intercepted by the rising paper carriage when the swing arms reach their uppermost position as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1, to disconnect power from motor 32. Thus switch S-36 prevents any inadvertent over-riding of motor 32 and possible damage to the machine in the event that the operator may hold the switch 30 in its raised position longer than necessary to fully elevate the carriage.

After the paper supply roll or rolls are replaced by the operator, switch 30 is then manually depressed momentarily to close its lower contact and thereby cause motor 32 to operate in the opposite direction whereby the swing arm carriage is lowered back into its normal operating position within the copier machine as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 of the drawings. Closure of the lower contact of switch 30 energizes the coil of relay K6 which now opens its normally closed contact and closes both of its normally open contacts. AC power is now applied through closed relay K6 to the lower side of motor 32 causing it to operate in the reverse direction to lower the paper supply carriage. When the carriage has been lowered to an angle of 45 degrees, a mechanical switch 5-37 is closed by engagement with the frame of the copier and relay K6 now locks in through one of now closed but normally open contacts so that the relay K6 remains operated even when the operator releases switch 30. Motor 32 continues to lower the carriage until it is seated into its lowermost operating position, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, latch 31 (FIG. 3) locks and lower limit switch S-38 opens, de-energizing relay K6 and motor 32.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be saidto fall therebetween.

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

1. A multi-roll paper supply system for an electrostatic photocopier comprising in combination:

A. a first paper feeding and cutting means including:

1. means rotatably mounting a first paper supply roll;

2 a first pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel to said first paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;

3. a first normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on at least one pressure roll of said first pair;

4. a first electromagnetic brake on said clutch driven roll;

5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated first knife blade adjacent said driven rolls;

B. a second paper feeding and cutting means includmg 1. means rotatably mounting a second paper supply roll;

2. a second pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel to said second paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;

3. a second normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on at least one pressure roll of said second pair;

4. a second electromagnetic brake on said clutch drive roll;

5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated second knife blade adjacent said driven rolls;

C. motor means for continuously driving said first and second clutches;

D. means normally energizing said first and second brakes into holding condition whereby said first and second rolls are prevented from rotation;

E. first control means operable upon command to selectively de-energize said first brake and simultaneously therewith to energize the corresponding first clutch mounted on the same one of said first driven rolls, whereby paper from the first paper supply roll is fed by said first pair of driven rolls into a focal plane position of said photocopier;

F. first and second switches located in said focal plane position operable by said paper passing thereover; said first and second switches being located equal predetermined distances from said first and second knife blades respectively;

G. second control means operable by said first switch to de-energize said first clutch, energize said previously de-energized first brake and energize said adjacent solenoid operated first knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper fed by said driven rolls is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path length between said first switch and said first knife blade;

H. third switch means in said focal plane operable by paper passing thereover to initiate an electronic flash for image exposure;

I. paper supply sensors on each of said first and second supply rolls; and

J. further control means responsive to said first sensor means sensing a substantially empty first supply roll to permit said second control means to be operable by said second switch to de-energize said second clutch, energize said previously deenergized second brake and selectively energize said adjacent solenoid operated second knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper is now fed to said focal plane position by said second driven roll and is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path length between said second switch means and said second knife blade.

Claims

1. A multi-roll paper supply system for an electrostatic photocopier comprising in combination: A. a first paper feeding and cutting means including: 1. means rotatably mounting a first paper supply roll; 2. a first pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel to said first paper supply roll and in proximity thereto; 3. a first normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on at least one pressure roll of said first pair; 4. a first electromagnetic brake on said clutch driven roll; 5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated first knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; B. a second paper feeding and cutting means including 1. means rotatably mounting a second paper supply roll; 2. a second pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel to said second paper supply roll and in proximity thereto; 3. a second normally de-energized electromagnetic clutch drive mounted on at least one pressure roll of said second pair; 4. a second electromagnetic brake on said clutch drive roll; 5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated second knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; C. motor means for continuously driving said first and second clutches; D. means normally energizing said first and second brakes into holding condition whereby said first and second rolls are prevented from rotation; E. first control means operable upon command to selectively deenergize said first brake and simultaneously therewith to energize the corresponding first clutch mounted on the same one of said first driven rolls, whereby paper from the first paper supply roll is fed by said first pair of driven rolls into a focal plane position of said photocopier; F. first and second switches located in said focal plane position operable by said paper passing thereover; said first and second switches being located equal predetermined distances from said first and second knife blades respectively; G. second control means operable by said first switch to deenergize said first clutch, energize said previously deenergized first brake and energize said adjacent solenoid operated first knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper fed by said driven rolls is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path length between said first switch and said first knife blade; H. third switch means in said focal plane operable by paper passing thereover to initiate an electronic flash for image exposure; I. paper supply sensors on each of said first and second supply rolls; and J. further control means responsive to said First sensor means sensing a substantially empty first supply roll to permit said second control means to be operable by said second switch to de-energize said second clutch, energize said previously deenergized second brake and selectively energize said adjacent solenoid operated second knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper is now fed to said focal plane position by said second driven roll and is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path length between said second switch means and said second knife blade.

2. a first pair of rotatably driven pressure rolls on axes parallel to said first paper supply roll and in proximity thereto;

4. a first electromagnetic brake on said clutch driven roll;

4. a second electromagnetic brake on said clutch drive roll;

5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated second knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; C. motor means for continuously driving said first and second clutches; D. means normally energizing said first and second brakes into holding condition whereby said first and second rolls are prevented from rotation; E. first control means operable upon command to selectively de-energize said first brake and simultaneously therewith to energize the corresponding first clutch mounted on the same one of said first driven rolls, whereby paper from the first paper supply roll is fed by said first pair of driven rolls into a focal plane position of said photocopier; F. first and second switches located in said focal plane position operable by said paper passing thereover; said first and second switches being located equal predetermined distances from said first and second knife blades respectively; G. second control means operable by said first switch to de-energize said first clutch, energize said previously de-energized first brake and energize said adjacent solenoid operated first knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper fed by said driven rolls is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path length between said first switch and said first knife blade; H. third switch means in said focal plane operable by paper passing thereover to initiate an electronic flash for image exposure; I. paper supply sensors on each of said first and second supply rolls; and J. further control means responsive to said First sensor means sensing a substantially empty first supply roll to permit said second control means to be operable by said second switch to de-energize said second clutch, energize said previously de-energized second brake and selectively energize said adjacent solenoid operated second knife blade all substantially simultaneously, whereby paper is now fed to said focal plane position by said second driven roll and is cut to a preselected length as determined by the paper path length between said second switch means and said second knife blade.

5. a normally de-energized solenoid operated first knife blade adjacent said driven rolls; B. a second paper feeding and cutting means including