Abstract: The present invention provides a device for eliminating the residue waste of aqueous ammonia solution, comprising a first portion of ammonia gas and a second portion of steam, of a developer system in an ammonia type diazo machine. The device provides for separating the first and second portions, recirculating the first portion to the developer system, condensing the second portion to form water and conveying the water via an inlet duct to an evaporator tank. A heater is provided for heating the evaporator tank to vaporize the water therein and an outlet duct is provided for expelling the water vaporized in the tank to an exhaust system of the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing diazotype copy sheets is provided and comprises a duct element having an ingress and an egress end, a distribution element having an ingress end and a closed end, a manifold at the ingress ends of the duct and the distribution elements and a heater element proximate the duct element. All of the elements are enclosed within a developer tank provided with a perforated section adjacent a copy sheet developing station. Aqueous ammonia is supplied to the ingress end of the duct element and travels in a first path by gravity towards the egress end thereof. In its travel in the first path the aqueous ammonia is vaporized by the heater element thereby causing separation of the aqueous ammonia into a first portion of residue water comprising hot water and a trace of ammonia, and a second portion comprising ammonia gas and steam.

Abstract: A vertical rise sheet feeder is provided comprising means responsive to the weight of a stack of sheets for positioning and maintaining the stack at a feed level for the feeding of a single sheet at a time from the top of the stack. The sheet feeder includes a fixed platform and a vertically movable platform for supporting the stack. The movable platform is powered by a stabilizer means and its movement is regulated by linkage means interconnected by a torsion bar. The torsion bar controls operation of the linkage means in unison and provides a degree of freedom to the movable platform for maintaining the top of the stack in an aligned position such that a feed roller means exerts uniform and equal forces on the sheets to provide for accurate and positive feeding of the sheets from the stack. The feeder also includes a sheet locating and guiding means for maintaining the stack of sheets centered on the movable platform and for guiding the sheets as they are fed from the stack.