US3148611A

US3148611A - Photocopy machine

Info

Publication number: US3148611A
Application number: US77084A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burton D Eisner; Leo D Sacre; George C Kent
Original assignee: American Photocopy Equipment Co
Current assignee: American Photocopy Equipment Co
Priority date: 1960-12-20
Filing date: 1960-12-20
Publication date: 1964-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-15

Description

B. D. EISNER ETAL PHOTGCOPY MACHINE Sept. 15, 1964 Filed Dec. 20 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 md i u Secr@ @.Qek

uvt'cn.. ZD. armer LSC D. dencre A w%/M 9' /MA/ CAvroraNnsvJ Sept. l5, 1964 B. D. ElsNER ETAL PHOTGCOPY MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1960 l c. rf. I \//1( yAMM/a/ CAT-ranma Sept. 15, 1964 lB. D. ElsNER ETAL PHOTGCOPY MACHINE 3 f m bv .M und fm m @aw/o M? ve n. wmf/f ww GBL Sept. l5, 1964 B. D. E|`SNER ETAL PHO'I'OCOPY MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec, 20, 1960 i Mvs/QQTQRJ A IQBGeOge. clQdeyft .Si 5 W2 lz. |60, 166' orlf'm ID. Iglu-ner' Lec 1). Je( cr-g wr// M4 03AM CAT-romavf United States Patent O 3,148,611 PHTCUPY MACHINE Burton D. Eisner, Highland Fari-r, Leo D. Sacre, Prospect Heights, and George C. Kent, Elmhurst, Ill., assignors to American Photocopy Equipment Company, Evanston, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 20, 196i), Ser. No. '77,084- Claims. (Cl. 95-77.5)

The present invention relates to photocopy machines and more particularly to a machine for olice use which is capable of making superior copies but which may be made and sold at a cost which is substantially less than that of comparable machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a photocopy machine capable of carrying out the transferdiffusion process but which is extremely simple and compact, having a minimum number of simply formed parts and which is easily manufactured and easy to service. It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine having an improved exposing arrangement which avoids the necessity for a transparent exposing cylinder and the special mounting provision which must normally be provided. Conversely, it is an object to provide an exposing means in which a liuorescent lamp, used as a light source, is in direct contact with the sheet being exposed. It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a novel exposing arrangement which includes a fluorescent lamp in rolling engagement with a resilient roller.

It is another object to provide a novel arrangement for mechanically rotating the lamp for supplying current thereto While the lamp is being rotated. In this connection it is an object to provide novel socket and mounting arrangement for a fluorescent tube which is characterized by freedom from binding, smooth rotation without necessity for lubrication, and long trouble-free life.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel shielding arrangement for concentrating the light in the exposure area which surrounds the lamp and which is maintained stationary as the lamp rotates.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide, in a photocopy machine, a novel one-piece base construction together with means for supporting and driving the rollers required for transport of the sheets. It is a related object to provide a photocopy machine in which the various parts are simply dropped into place with a novel, ngertip-operated locking arrangement to lock the parts in seated position so the complete assembly and disassembly of the machine requires only a few minutes time. It is an object of the present invention in one of its aspects to provide a sheet separator having a novel mounting arrangement permitting the separator to be simply hung in position with respect to the developing trough for easy removal when the solution is changed and with the separator locked in place when the housing is added.

It is an object of the present invention in one of its detailed aspects to provide a novel electrical arrangement for controlling the light output of the exposing lamp under the control of a setting knob and which insures positive starting of the lamp regardless of the setting in which the knob may be left.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of an ofice copying machine embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the machine with the housing removed.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken through the right hand end of the machine along the line 3 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary section taken through the light shield and associated roller.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken through the lefthand end of the machine along the line d-i in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective showing the unitary base member prior to installation of the rollers and other parts and showing the inserted members in exploded position.

FIG. 6 is a fragment showing the securing of the light shield to one of the bearing sleeves.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a lamp socket forming a part of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section taken through the lamp socket of FIG. 7 along the line 8-8 and with the end of a lamp ready to be inserted.

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line 9 9 in FIG. 8 showing the slip ring construction.

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary cross section taken through the developing trough along line 1li-1@ in FIG. 2.

FIG. l1 is an electric circuit diagram showing the means for starting the lamp and for adjusting the illumination.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section taken through one end of the expeller rollers and showing the bearings therefor.

FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line 13--13 in FIG. 12 showing the spring clip and hold down arrangement used for the expeller rollers.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to be limited to the illustrated embodiment but intend to cover the various alternative and equivalent constructions included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. l a photocopy machine 2b@ constructed in accordance with the present invention, having a base 21 and a housing 22. As will become apparent as the discussion proceeds, the front portion of the machine includes an exposing assembly 23 having an inlet slot 24 and an outlet slot 25. The rear portion of the machine comprises a developing assembly 216 having an inlet slot 27 and outlet slot Z8. At the right hand side of the machine is an exposure control knob 36, the machine being turned on and orf by means of a switch 31.

The operation of the various parts will be described in detail in the paragraphs which follow. It will be understood at the outset that the photocopy machine employs the well-known transfer diffusion process. A copy sheet and the original yto be copied are fed into the slot 24, exiting through the slot 25 and with the degree of exposure being controlled by the knob Sti. Following this the copy sheet is separated from the original and placed face to face with a transfer sheet. The two are inserted into the slot 27 so that both sheets are wetted with developer iiuid, following which the sheets are brought together face to face under pressure for ejection from the slot 23 as a pair. After allowing a short time for the development and transfer to be completed, the sheets are peeled apart, with one sheet being retained as a positive copy of the original.

Turning to the internal construction shown in FIGS. 2-5, the base 21 of the machine is of rectangular shape including a left-hand partition 35 and a right-hand partition 36 running from front to back within the machine and interconnected by a longitudinal partition 37. The partitions are preferably molded integral with the base 2i, the left and right hand partitions being utilized to mount the various rotating elements. The partitions serve to define an exposure compartment 4I at the front of the machine, a development compartment 42 behind it, a motor compartment 43 at the left hand end, and a control compartment 44 at the right hand end.

In accordance with the present invention, exposure is accomplished by providing a fluorescent tube in rolling contact with a resilient roller, the latter being driven by a suitable electric motor drive and with means being provided for supplying current to the tube as it rotates. Thus, in the present embodiment a resilient roller 50 provided mounted upon a shaft l supported by

bearings

52 and 53. The bearings are in the form of bushings of bronze or the like seated in

notches

55, 56 formed

inthe partitions

35, 36 respectively. Arranged adjacent the roller is a fluorescent tube 6d. For the purpose of mounting the tube so that it may be free to rotate with the resilient roller, antifriction sleeves 6l, 62 are provided slightly offset from the ends of the roller and made of some material having a low coeicient of friction with respect to the glass of which the tube is constructed. Commercially available plastic materials such as Teflon, Nylon or Delrin may be used. Means are provided for seating the sleeves 6l, 62 in the

partitions

35, 36. To this end arcuate notches 65, 66 are formed in the partitions and the sleeves are peripherally grooved as indicated at 67, 68 to maintain the sleeves centered in the partitions.

In accordance with one of the aspects of the invention, clamps are provided for locking the roller bearings and the sleeves in place in the partitions, the clamps being indicated at 7l, 72. Taking the right hand clamp 72 by way of example, it will be noted that it is pivoted at 73 and held down by a small pivoted latch 74. The clamp includes a downward projection 75 which engages the bearing 53 of the roller and an arcuate cutout 76 which follows the contour of the sleeve 62, being received in the slot 66 which is formed in the sleeve. lt will be apparent, then that both the resilient roller and the tube may be released simply by releasing the latches and swinging the clamps 7l, 72 upwardly.

In accordance with the present invention, the resilient roller has a length which is sufficient to accommodate the width of the original and copy sheet inserted in the entry slot 2- while the ends of the tube are extended beyond the ends of the roller in both directions, with an auxiliary friction roller being provided on the shaft of the resilient roller for engaging the iiuorescent tube to insure driving of the latter even when the sheets are interposed between the resilient roller and the tube. Thus, in the present device the shaft Si is extended to the right (FIG. 2) and a narrow drive wheel 78 formed of relatively stiff rubber or rubber-like material on a core which is pinned to the shaft by a pin 79. The auxiliary drive wheel 7 8 is preferably placed close to the tube-supporting sleeve 62 so that relatively high pressure may be applied by the wheel against the tube to insure positive driving without, however, setting up unbalanced forces in the tube. This auxiliary driving arrangement insures that the original and copy sheet will each be in contact with a driven element moving at the same speed thereby to prevent any possibility of slippage between the original and copy sheet during the exposure step. Preferably the resilient roller has a diameter which is slightly larger than the drive wheel '78 so that when the latter is in contact, the resilient roller is pressed into conformity with the tube over an arc of contact indicated at a in FiG. 3a.

Further in accordance with the invention, sockets are provided at the ends of the lamp, offset from the ends of the roller 5@ and the bearing sleeves 6l, 6?., for conducting current to the pins of the lamp while the lamp rotates, with the sockets being non-rotatable yet floatingly mounted so that no stresses are applied to the pins or to the ends of the lamp and so that there is no possibility of the tube binding in the bearing sleeves. The left and right hand sockets used in the present embodiment are indicated at 8l., 82 in FiG. 2, with the details of the socket Si, which will be taken as representative, being set foith in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. Thus, the socket 81 includes a base member which is of cup shape having a cylindrical wall 83 and an end or mounting portion S4. Telescoped within the base is a rotating pin receiving member 8S of cylindrical shape having contacts 86, S7 for engaging the pins 68 of the tube 66. For the purpose of conducting current to the contacts 36, S7 as the member 85 rota-tes, the latter is provided with a central contact button 91 and a circular slip ring 92 (FlG. 9). Engaging the button and slip ring are carbon brushes 93, 94 received in openings 95, 96 formed in the base member, with outward bias being provided by springs 97, 93. For the purpose of retaining the rotating member S5 within the portion 34, the member is provided with an annular shoulder 99 which is engaged by a wire clip 160. The clip is in the form of a closed loop but having parallel sides which register with slots llttll, T102 (FG. 2) formed in the wall 33 of the base member. It will be apparent, then, that the outward urging of the

springs

97, 98 is resisted by engagement between the shoulder 9 and the straight run portions of the wire clip litltl. The ends of the clip are preferably secured together. To disassemble the unit the ends are released and are sprung outwardly so that the clip clears the shoulder 99 permitting withdrawal of the rotating member 85. It is found, however, that such disassembling is unnecessary and the brushes may be operated continuously for several thousands of hours without maintenance. Any dusting which may occur due to Wear is, in fact, advantageous since the graphite thus released provides additional lubrication for the rotating member S5.

In carrying out the invention, means are provided for keying the sockets Si, $2 to the base and for floatingly mounting them so that they are free to move or twist a limited degree in any direction with automatic disengagement when the tube is removed. in the present instance, this is accomplished by a vertically arranged guide il@ having spaced upright portions lll, H2 which register loosely with slots M3, lid formed in the base of the socket. The guide is secured to the base of the machine by a screw 115, with resilience being provided at the point of mounting by a spring M6. It will be apparent, then, that when the tube rotates in the bearing sleeves 6l, 623, any relative motion at the ends of the tube is taken up by the slight rocking action which the mounting permits. Thus, any slight misalignment of the guides lllltl with the bearing sleeves and any inaccuracy in the tube or the contact pins thereon are constantly taken up by bodily movement of the sockets without irnposing any strain whatsoever upon the tube. In practice, when the tube rotates, the sockets can be seen to wobble slightly as the above-mentioned inaccuracies are compensated. It should be noted, however, that in spite of the freedom provided by the socket mounting, the sockets do nevertheless tend to keep the tube constantly centered endwise in the mounting sleeves.

in accordance with one of the detailed aspects of the invention, the tluorescent tube 6d is provided with a cylindrical shield liZtl of C-shaped cross section which extends around the tube for the purpose of concentrating a strip of light upon the original and copy sheet over the region of compression of the resilient roller, the arc of exposure being indicated at e in PIG. 3a'. This substantially limits exposure to the region a where the original and copy sheet are pressed intimately together. in order to maintain the shield and bearing sleeves stationary while permitting free rotation of the tube, the shield is supported on the bearing sleeves 6l, 62 and keyed both to the bearing sleeves and the clamps 7l, i2 which retain them. This keying is accomplished by providing ears 31.21 at the ends of the shield which are received in registering notches 122 formed in the sleeves. To accommodate the ears 121, the clamps are notched out as indicated at 123 (FTG. 3). Proper positioning of the light shield is assured since the clamps cannot be closed until the ears and notches are in register. Preferably in putting the assembly together, the

sleeves

61, 62 are secured to the ears 121 on the shield and the tube is then telescoped into this assembly. The sockets are then plugged in and the tube is lowered into seated position in the base, registering the sockets in the guides 111i. The axis of the tube 60 is preferably positioned above the axis of the roller 50 to make the tube more easily inserted and to give the sheets a forward component of movement as they are inserted into the machine.

Prior to passing on to the development section of the unit, reference may be made to the electric circuit which furnishes the current to the liuorescent tube Gil) as shown in FIG. 11. Here it will be noted that the fluorescent tube has the

usual filaments

131, 132 and an inductive ballast 133 is used. To start the tube, a starting pushbutton 134 is provided which completes the circuit of the filaments to bring them up to operating temperature. Upon release a gaseous discharge takes place within the tube and the filament circuit, being no longer needed, is broken. In order to vary the light output of the tube a series rheostat 135 is provided. By use of this rheostat, the current under actual operating conditions may be Varied over relatively wide limits between, say, 350 milliamperes maximum and 50 milliamperes minimum with corresponding variation in light output. In accordance with one of the detailed features of the invention, the starting pushbutton 134 is provided with a set of auxiliary contacts 136 so that the series rheostat is shorted out during the time that the filaments are turned on. This insures positive starting even though the rheostat may be adjusted to its low level position.

Turning to the developing compartment 42, a developing trough 140 is provided. This trough extends from side to side in the machine, having its forward edge 141 aligned with the

outlet slot

2,8. The trough includes a lower set of internal arcuate ribs 143 and an upper set of internal ribs 144 defining a pasasgeway 145 which is followed by the copy sheet and the transfer sheet, insuring that the sheets pass under the level of the developer fluid indicated at 146. To replenish the developer fluid, an auxiliary container 147 is provided having a barometric feeding arrangement 148 insuring that additional huid is added as the level drops within the trough. This container is supported upon a tray 149 which forms the top of the trough and which is removable for cleaning purposes, the ribs 144 being integral with the tray. The trough may be molded integral with the base Z1 if desired.

In carrying out the present invention, a novel sheet separator is used, having means for supporting the same on the

partitions

35, 36 in a position of alignment with the inlet slot 27, with the lower edge of the separator extending downwardly into the trough and with means for preventing removal of the same when the housing is in place on the machine. To understand the present construction, reference is made to FIG. where it will be noted that the separator consists of an assembly of three plates of metal spaced from one another. Thus the separator, indicated at 150, has a central plate 151 and

side plates

152, 153. The central plate 151 is longer than the two side plates and extends upwardly through the receiving slot 27, while the side plates are flared outwardly to guide the leading edges of the two sheets and to insure that they are conducted along the desired path. The central plate 151 is, moreover, formed with a set of ngers 154 along its lower edge so that the sheets which are inserted face to face, are spread apart for the entry of developing iuid between them. For the purpose of supporting the separator on the

partitions

55, 36, the separator is provided with laterally extending ears 1:51a, 152e: which are received in registering notches 15361, 154a formed in the partitions. Thus, in assembling the unit, the trough is placed in position and the separator is simply dropped into place with the ears thereon registering in the notches in the partition members. After the housing is secured in position, it will be noted that the are of the

side plates

152, 153 prevents withdrawal of the separator through the receiving notch 27.

For the purpose of drawing the sheets through the developing trough and for squeegeeing them together under substantial pressure, a pair of

expeller rollers

161, 162 are provided having

shafts

163, 164 and arranged at the outlet edge of the trough. To support the

rollers

161, 162 centered on the

partitions

35, 35, bushings 165 made of anti-friction material are used as shown in detail in FIG. 12. A typical bushing includes an annular groove 166 for registering with suitable notches formed in the upper edge of the partitions. For the purpose of providing pressure between the rollers, a spring clip 167 is used having hooks 16% received in notches formed on the bushing. The bushings are preferably formed of plastic material having a low friction coeilicient as, for example, used in the

anti-friction sleeves

61, 62.

To maintain the bushings 165 seated in the

partitions

35, 36 spring clips 171, 172 are used. Taking the spring clip 171 by way of example, it is of inverted, U-shaped construction, being pivoted at 173 and having a detent 174 which engages a suitable notch along the edge of the associated partition. And in order to lift the clips against the force of the detent, each clip is provided with a iinger hold 175.

Having understood the construction and mounting of the expeller rollers, attention may next be given to the means employed for driving the expeller rollers and also for driving the resilient roller 51) previously mentioned. Power is derived from a motor unit 131i which is located at the left hand side of the machine in the compartment 43. This motor unit includes a motor 181 and a gear box 152 terminating in an output shaft 133. For driving the resilient roller 56 the shaft includes a cog pulley 134 about which is trained a cog belt 185 which engages a driven cog pulley 186 mounted on the shaft 51 of the roller. An idler 187, which is vertically adjustable, permits the taking up of any slack in the belt. To drive the

expeller rollers

151, 162, the output shaft 133 of the motor unit includes a drive gear 19t). In mesh with the gear 19h is an idler gear 191 which, in turn, drives a driven gear 192 mounted on the shaft of the expeller roller 161. At the opposite end the expeller rollers are coupled by a pair of

gears

193, 194 so that driving power is fed positively from one roll to the other thereby insuring that both rollers rotate at precisely the same speed.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various minor changes may be made in the construction without departing from the invention. For example, the drive belt for the roller 5i) may be simply trained about the tube 6i) so that the roller is driven via the tube. Thus in the claims which follow, the term rotating means shall be interpreted to include both direct and indirect driving of the roller. Or if desired, the tube may be made stationary with reliance being placed upon the resilient roller for propeliing the sheets although at some sacrifice in performance. Also, it is conceivable that other tubular light sources may be used so that the term fluorescent should be read in a generic sense. The sleeves which support the lamp need not be complete but may be in the form of spaced sections if desired.

it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that a machine constructed as described above may be made and sold at a small fraction of the cost of comparable machines. In the first place, it will be noted that the usual frame members and supports for the rotating members have been eliminated. The rotating parts are, instead, supported on the two partition members which form an integral part of the base 21. The base itself may be formed as a single molded piece as shown in FiG. 5 using any dimensionally stable plastic material, high impact polystyrene being preferred. The bearings for the rotating parts, although of extremely simple construction, nevertheless have a useful life and only rarely will require replacement. When replacement is required, it is simply a matter of inserting a substitute bushing.

The device is not only simple in construction but it is simple to use even by untrained ofiice personnel. The switch 3l is operated to turn the device on and the control knob 3@ is adjusted within a predetermined range depending upon the color and the density of the original. The original and copy sheet are inserted into the opening 2d for subsequent discharge at the front of the machine, following which the copy sheet and transfer sheet are inserted face to face through the slot 2'7 but with the sheets on opposite sides of the separator plate lSl. The sheets are peeled apart after emerging from the slot 2S at the rear of the machine. As the developer is consumed, it is automatically replenished from the container liti-'7. To replace the container 147, it is suflicient to lift oif the outer housing which exposes the exhausted container and another is substituted in its place on the tray M9. When the developer solution becomes exhausted so that replacement is necessary, the sheet separator l5@ is simply lifted to clear the front edge of the developing trough and the trough is slid rearwardly out of the machine for washing and lilling with fresh developer. The expeller rollers may be free for cleaning simply by releasing the clips 171, ll'72. The rollers are removed as a unit, being held together by the spring clips 167 Should it become necessary to clean the roller 50 or to replace the tube ell, this is accomplished simply by releasing the clamps 7l, 72 following which both the resilient roller and the tube may be lifted out of engagement with the

partition members

35, 36, the lamp carrying with it the sockets 8l, 82 at the ends thereof. The sockets are removed, and the tube is slid out of the shield and associated bearing sleeves, the process being reversed when putting the unit back together. Complete disassembly can be effected in only a few seconds time. The motor unit and control unit are both in hte form of metallic housings secured to the base by machine screws and either may be removed and replaced within a few minutes when service becomes necessary.

Because of the simple, light construction and the secure mounting of all the parts, it is found that the copying machine may be abused or mistreated without aifecting its operation, making it ideally suited for use as a portable unit carried from department to department or to outside sources for on-the-spot copying.

We claim:

l. in a photocopy machine for oice use the combination comprising a base, spaced upstanding partitions on said base and extending from front to back, a developing assembly including a developing trough and a pair of expeller rollers along one edge thereof, driving means including an electric motor having an output located adjacent one of said partitions, said expeller rollers each having bearings telescoped over the end thereof together with spring clip means for engaging said bearings to press said rollers together and to maintain them captive with one another for installation and removal as a pair, means in said partitions for receiving the bearings of said eX- peller rollers and for supporting the same, means for maintaining said bearings in seated position on said partitions, and means for coupling the motor output to said rollers.

2. ln an office photocopy machine the combination comprising a frame having a base and having a pair of upstanding partitions, a liuorescent tube transversely arranged with respect to such partitions and having its ends projecting substantially beyond the partitions, a pair of narrow annular sleeves of a material having a low coefcient of friction with respect to glass telescoped over said iluorescent lamp and seated in the respective partitions, a resilient roller having a length which is substantially less than the length of the fluorescent tube and which may be accommodated between the partitions, said roller being arranged in pressing engagement with the fluorescent tube, each socket having a base portion and a pin receiving member rotatable therein for receiving the pins of the tube, each socket having means connected to the base for preventing the base from rotating while permitting limited floating movement with respect to the frame as the tube rotates, means including a driving motor coupled to the roller shaft for rotating the roller and Fluorescent tube at a slow rate of speed, said roller having an annular drive wheel connected to its shaft lying outboard of one of said partitions but spaced closely thereto and frictionally engaging one of the projecting ends of the fluorescent tube for insuring rotation of the tube when the tube and driven roller are temporarily out of Contact by reason of insertion of an original and copy sheet between them.

3. In an office photocopy machine the combination comprising a frame having a base and having a pair of upstanding supports, a fluorescent tube transversely arranged with respect to such supports and having its ends projecting beyond the supports, a pair of narrow annular sleeves of a material having a low coeiiicient of friction with respect to glass telescoped over said fluorescent lamp and seated in the respective supports, a resilient roller having a length which is substantially less than the length of the fluorescent tube and which may be accommodated between the supports, said roller being arranged in pressing engagement with the iluorescent tube and journaled in said supports, sockets at the ends of the fluorescent tube, each socket having a base portion and a pin receiving member rotatable therein for receiving the pins of the tube, each socket having means connected to the base for preventing the base from rotating while permitting limited lioating movement with respect to the frame as the tube rotates, means including a driving motor coupled to the roller shaft for rotating the roller and uorescent tube at a slow rate of speed, said roller having an annular drive wheel connected to its shaft adjacent one of said supports but spaced closely thereto and frictionally engaging one of the ends of the fluorescent tube outboard of the roller for insuring rotation of the tube when the tube and driven roller are temporarily out of contact by reason of insertion of an original and copy sheet between them, and a stationary light shield of C-shape partially encircling the tube and supported out of contact therewith for concentrating the light therefrom in the direction of the resilient roller.

4. ln an office photocopy machine the combination comprising a frame having a base and having a pair of upstanding partitions, a liuorescent tube transversely arranged with respect to such partitions and having its ends projecting substantially beyond the partitions, a pair of narrow annular sleeves of a material having a low coefficient of friction with respect to glass telescoped over said fluorescent lamp and `seated in the respective partitions, a resilient roller having a length which is substantially less than the length of the fluorescent tube and which may be accommodated between the partitions, said roller being arranged in pressing engagement with the fluorescent tube and journaled in said partitions, sockets at the ends of the fluorescent tube, each socket having a base portion and a pin receiving member rotatable therein for receiving the pins of the tube, means including a driving motor coupled to the roller shaft for rotating the roller and iiuorescent tube at a slow rate of speed, said frame having guide means providing loose keyed engagement with the sockets to enable a limited amount of floating movement of the sockets perpendicular to the tube axis while maintaining the tube longitudinally centered with respect to the resilient roller.

5. In an oice photocopy machine the combination comprising a frame having a base and having a pair of upstanding partitions, a uorescent tube transversely arranged with respect to such partitions, and having its ends projecting substantially beyond the partitions, a pair of narrow annular bearing sleeves of a material having a 10W coefficient of friction with respect to glass telescoped over said fluorescent lamp and seated in the respective partitions, a resilient driven roller having a length which is substantially less than the length of the fluorescent tube and which may be accommodated between the partitions, said roller being arranged in pressing engagement with .the uorescent tube and having a shaft seated in said partitions, sockets at the ends of the fluorescent tube, each socket having a base portion and a pin receiving member rotatable therein for receiving the pin of the tube, each socket having guide means connected to the base for preventing the base from rotating while permitting limited oating movement with respect to the frame as the ube roates, means including a driving motor coupled to the roller shaft for rotating the roller and fluorescent tube at a slow rate of speed, each of said partitions having clamps i@ for securing the bearing sleeves and rollers shaft seated in said partitions and for permitting simultaneous removal thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,744,323 Mayer Jan. 21, 1930 2,616,344 Patience Nov. 4, 1952 2,783,697 Eisner Mar. 5, 1957 2,793,574 Uterberger May 28, 1957 2,875,677 Ellis Mar. 3, 1959 2,925,025 Conner Feb. 16, 1960 2,946,272 Eisner July 26, 1960 2,996,969 Kaufman Aug. 22, 1961 3,001,463 Reick Sept. 26, 1961 3,031,942 Carlson May 1, 1962

Claims

2. IN AN OFFICE PHOTOCOPY MACHINE THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A BASE AND HAVING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING PARTITIONS, A FLUORESCENT TUBE TRANSVERSELY ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PARTITIONS AND HAVING ITS ENDS PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND THE PARTITIONS, A PAIR OF NARROW ANNULAR SLEEVES OF A MATERIAL HAVING A LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION WITH RESPECT TO GLASS TELESCOPED OVER SAID FLUORESCENT LAMP AND SEATED IN THE RESPECTIVE PARTITIONS, A RESILIENT ROLLER HAVING A LENGTH WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE FLUORESCENT TUBE AND WHICH MAY BE ACCOMMODATED BETWEEN THE PARTITIONS, SAID ROLLER BEING ARRANGED IN PRESSING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLUORESCENT TUBE, EACH SOCKET HAVING A BASE PORTION AND A PIN RECEIVING MEMBER ROTATABLE THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE PINS OF THE TUBE, EACH SOCKET HAVING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BASE FOR PREVENTING THE BASE FROM ROTATING WHILE PERMITTING LIMITED FLOATING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FRAME AS THE TUBE ROTATES, MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVING MOTOR COUPLED TO THE ROLLER SHAFT FOR ROTATING THE ROLLER AND FLUORESCENT TUBE AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, SAID ROLLER HAVING AN ANNULAR DRIVE WHEEL CONNECTED TO ITS SHAFT LYING OUTBOARD OF ONE OF SAID PARTITIONS BUT SPACED CLOSELY THERETO AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING ONE OF THE PROJECTING ENDS OF THE FLUORESCENT TUBE FOR INSURING ROTATION OF THE TUBE WHEN THE TUBE AND DRIVEN ROLLER ARE TEMPORARILY OUT OF CONTACT BY REASON OF INSERTION OF AN ORIGINAL AND COPY SHEET BETWEEN THEM.