Abstract: There is described an electrophotographic imaging system which includes a laminated cleaning and/or metering blade for removing residual or excess marking or other material from a surface. The blade comprises a relatively hard layer of a smooth, tough material which has low frictional properties and a relatively soft layer of a resilient material which supplies uniform force at the blade-to-surface interface. In operation, an edge of the relatively hard layer of the blade is supported in pressure contact against the surface and relative motion between the blade and surface is produced whereby the blade removes residual or excess marking material from the surface.

Abstract: In copying apparatus in which documents are manually loaded for copying onto an advanceable document supporting and transporting vacuum web, a document loading and registration system is disclosed for the manual loading of documents onto the web with a non-skewed orientation relative to the web yet without forcing the lead edge of the document against a registration stop. A low friction document supporting surface extends to closely adjacent the web for partially slidably supporting the rear portion of a document during its loading while the front portion of the same document partially overlies the web, and a fixed document edge stop provides manual registration for the rear edge of the document on the document supporting surface.

Abstract: An automatic document handler for supplying and removing documents from the platen of a processing apparatus such as a copying machine. The document handler includes a document supply tray adapted for holding documents awaiting copying and for receiving documents returned thereto from the platen after copying thereof. To assure a clear return path into the tray for documents returned from the platen and prevent contact by the returned document with documents previously returned to the tray, a rotatable double bar separator is employed, each document returned being received in the space defined between the two bars of the separator. Prior to the receipt of the next document in the return tray, the double bar separator is rotated 180.degree. to remove the previously returned document from between the bars and hold the document against the stack of documents in the tray to provide a clear path for receipt of the next document therein.

Abstract: A toner powder reclaiming apparatus for use with the developing system of an electrostatic reproduction machine including a rotating drum in the path of movement of an airflow containing electrically charged toner particles which become attracted to the drum. A scraper blade is in contact with the drum for cleaning the toner of the collecting surface thereon. The toner particles thereby removed are directed automatically into the toner supply contained for the developing system.

Abstract: Sorting apparatus for collating both simplex or side one up and duplex or side two up copies from a copying machine. The sorting apparatus includes tray assemblies arranged .[.axially.]. .Iadd.radially .Iaddend.of a rotatable member adapted to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A conveyor transports sheets toward a first or second feed zone adjacent the path of the tray assemblies. The direction of the tray assemblies and feed zone selected depend on the sorting mode of operation desired by the machine operator. The copy sets are unloaded at a gate into a tray member which is slideably reciprocated on receiving alternate sets to stagger the sets into separately identifiable stacks in the tray member.