Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Multicolor picture
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-06-12
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Multicolor picture
C355S027000, C355S028000, C355S029000, C355S040000, C226S104000, C226S118100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246462
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for producing photographic copies. Such an apparatus includes a device for shining through or scanning image originals which are processed in the form of a band shaped endless material. Furthermore, a first device is provided for producing the copies and the second device is provided for producing data or image data fields on the band shaped endless material with the copies. A material storage is positioned between the first and the second device.
1. Background Art
An apparatus of the generic type is disclosed, for example, in EP 0 684 505 A1. In such an apparatus according to the prior art, variations in the travel speed of the endless material occur, the cause of which are described further below. This results in that in an optical exposure station of the prior art, for example, a higher operating speed is possible in the device for producing the copies than in the second device for producing the image data fields, here a CRT exposure station. Otherwise, the CRT exposure station is only relatively rarely used, while the conventional optical exposure station is used for each individual copy. In this concrete example, the CRT exposure station is used at the beginning of each order for a specific number of pictures which are possible on a photographic film, for example, 24, 36 or the like, for producing an index print. Such an index print shows all pictures of an order in reduced format so that it is possible to reproduce or inspect all pictures of an order in a small format on a copy format. In such an arrangement according to the prior art, the differences in speed between the different exposure stations or the first and the second device for producing copies or image—or image data fields, must thus be taken into consideration, whereby the prior art suggests a length dependent feed control, whereby the exposed copies are buffered in a material storage between the first device, which means here the conventional optical exposure station, and the second device, which means here the CRT exposure station. Thus, a control of the feed of the material band (also referred to as “material web” in the following) material web is carried out depending on the length in units of measure or other length units, for example, the preselected length of a copy.
2. Summary of the Invention
It is the object of the present invention to further develop a generic apparatus so that it can be more economically and reliably used.
It is in this respect especially an object of the present invention to provide a buffer storage or material storage for a generic apparatus which is able to handle the different input or output speeds.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the material storage is a space in which the material web with the copy or the copy material web is randomly deposited through an input and removed on demand through an output.
Through the use of such a material storage, which could also be referred to as chaos storage, it is possible to carefully guide the material web with the copies into the storage, to store it with little space being required and to again carefully remove it from the storage on demand.
Conventional storages (conventional roller storage) carry out a material storage through rollers in that the copy material band is directed over rollers having a larger or smaller spacing, depending on the amount of excess copy material band (similar to a pulley block). When rollers are used, this cannot only lead to damage of the material web by the surface of the rollers, but also a large mechanical force is created which pulls on the web and may even lead to rupturing of the material web. Furthermore, a conventional storage with its various rollers and the roller lift is also very expensive in terms of costs and space.
Preferably, a deflecting arrangement is positioned at the output of the material storage which ensures that a material web which is fed by jerks and with high acceleration into the material storage does not undesirably get caught between output rollers at an output gap which actually should only grab the end of the material band located in the material storage. Because it has been found that a deposit structure of the material band occurs in corresponding storages which regularly would lead to a loop of the material web being caught in the gap between the output rollers so that the material web could not only be kinked, but also completely destroyed. An adequate length dependent feed control is of course also no longer possible after such an accident. For this reason, a deflecting arrangement, preferably in the form of a high tension electrode, a roller, a ventilator, or the like is provided which ensures that a material band loop which is not intended for the output is kept away from the gap between the output rollers.
When the input and output of the material storage are positioned at different heights, the frequency of the occurrence where a material loop not intended for the output is caught in the gap between the output rollers can be reduced. The output is thereby preferably positioned higher than the input. Nevertheless, even with such a configuration, a deflecting arrangement is very advantageous, since otherwise the although less frequent mentioned disadvantageous occurrences would still massively handicap a regular operation of a generic apparatus.
Of course, the input and the output can be substantially or exactly opposite, especially when the deflecting arrangement functions properly.
It has further proven advantageous to provide one of the side walls of the material storage with openings which extend perpendicular to the lowest plane of extension of the copy material web. It has been found that during feeding of the material web, when it folds itself accidentally in the form of loops in the material storage, significant amounts of air between the loops of the material web must be displaced. Conversely, this amount of air must again be fed in when the material web is pulled out. This can occur through the openings in the walls or side walls of the material storage. Otherwise, the air would have to be removed or fed in through a small gap between the closed walls of the material storage and the copy material web. The thereby occurring pressure or suction situations would stress the material web more and lead to uncontrolled movements which could lead to the material web contacting the inner walls of the material storage in an undesired manner so that the material web could be scratched or damaged.
In order to ensure that a material web section is only then pulled out of the material storage at high speed for processing or exposure in the downstream second device for producing data or image data fields on the band shaped endless material web when a corresponding amount of stored material web is present in the storage, a monitoring device can be provided at the input and/or output of the material storage which monitors the actual amount of stored copy material web. If, for example, because of high exposure times of several copies, a large delay occurs in the first device for producing the copies, it could in some instances occur that not yet sufficient material web is present in the material storage for the next process step in the second device for producing data or image data fields, in order to be able to guarantee a sufficient feed. Without a monitoring device, the material web could be ripped or damaged, in this case, during removal of the material web from the material storage. A length control for the correct placement of a frame region of the material web intended, for example, for an index print or another informative exposure, would in such a case not be possible. Correspondingly, a length controlled transport would only be possible with difficulty when, because of the pressure and suction effects in the material storage the slip between the material web and the transport devices could no longer be calculated because of the randomness of the deposit in the material storag
Ackermann Rudolf
Dunner Albert
Fendt Edmund
Lussky Helmut
Adams Russell
Brown Khaled
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Gretag Imaging AG
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