Abstract: A drum support apparatus including outboard and inboard hubs having outer surfaces adapted for interface fitting with the inside surface of a drum. The hubs while being supported on a shaft that is cantilevered from a frame, provide support for the drum in the form of a plurality of spaced equidistant lobes located on their outer surfaces. The lobes reduce the load required to properly seat the drum against the hubs and thereby decreases the possibility of drum run-out by reducing the contact area when the interface fit of the drum/hub combination occurs. The shaft is supported at its outboard end by a removable support bracket.

Abstract: An automatic feeder for serially feeding successive information bearing members from a supply magazine to a copying station for composite copying in combination with a master text and then from the copying station to a suitable repository, such as a receiving magazine comprises folded paths for guiding the information bearing members to and from the copying station and a reciprocating drive for alternately advancing the information bearing members in the two paths.

Abstract: A scanning mechanism is provided for a copying apparatus which is adapted to increase the number of copies per unit time when copying a smaller size document by increasing the scanning speed between the end of the shorter document and the normal end of scan position. A copying machine employing the above-noted scanning mechanism also forms part of the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for minimizing heating effects and reducing power surges in the fuser element of a copier/duplicator by providing a reduce power, soft turn-on operation during single copy machine cycles followed by a full power turn-on at entry of the copy paper into the fusing station. An adaptive fusing circuit is disclosed so that each of multiple modes of machine operation are properly timed with the fuser soft power-on and full power turn-on features. Available machine modes of operation include chain feeding and large document copying using both a fixed and a movable optical scanning system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use in a multi-mode copier/duplicator for delaying mode changes in response to operator commands to permit vital copier/duplicator functions to be continued without interruption for the copy in process.

Abstract: A development apparatus for developing electrostatic images upon a moving image-bearing surface including flow baffle means for regulating the flow of developer to the development zone. The baffle means is positioned between a supply means and the development zone and extends inwardly of each of the ends of a development means which preferably comprises a magnetic brush. The baffle means comprises stationary magnetic brushes formed of developer material. The stationary magnetic brushes are adapted to limit the flow of developer at the end portions of the development means.

Abstract: An electrostatographic system in which liquid developer material in an image pattern on a photoconductive plate is transferred to a support material by pressing the latter against the plate by air pressure from a perforated chamber adjacent to, but spaced from the plate. The perforations may be angled in the direction of movement of the plate, and the chamber may have an inclined wall.

Abstract: A toner dispenser having a rotatably driven dispensing roll including a cam and cam follower for imparting an axial, vibratory component of motion to the roll. The vibratory motion inhibits agglomerated masses of toner from collecting in the vicinity of the dispensing roll. In those instances wherein the dispensing roll is grooved and the toner dispenser additionally includes a brush-like wiper for dislodging toner particles from the dispensing roll, the vibratory motion also assists in preventing toner from accumulating in the grooved areas of the roll. That tendency is, however, even more effectively counteracted by additionally including a pawl and ratchet indexing arrangement for occassionally changing the alignment between the wiper and the dispensing roll.

Abstract: A sheet feeding and separating apparatus is provided for separating individual sheets from a stack. The apparatus includes sheet feeding means and retard means engaging the feeding means to form a nip for sheet advancement therebetween. A means is provided for adjusting the nip force between the retard means and the feeding means which is responsive to the direction in which a sheet is being advanced. A first nip force is provided when a sheet is advanced in a first direction and a second and different nip force is provided when the sheet is advanced in a different direction.

Abstract: Sheets fed from a supply in a reproducing machine are forwarded against a movable stop and buckled. A chute forming member movable with the stop provides space for buckling when the stop is blocking sheet movement and aids in flattening the buckle when the stop is not blocking sheet movement. In one embodiment the supply consists of two separate sheet stacks. Sheets fed from one of these stacks to the stop are buckled in one direction and sheets fed from the other stack are buckled in the opposite direction. Cantilevered buckle flattening elements disposed adjacent the buckle aid in flattening the buckle when the stop is moved from the sheet blocking position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine in which an arcuate screen member has a plane of curvature substantially normal to the plane of curvature of an arcuate photoconductive member employed therein.

Abstract: A magnetic brush support member, the process of making it and a magnetic brush apparatus incorporating the support member are provided. The support member includes at least one surface for supporting a magnetic brush. The support member is formed of a composite comprising a metal binder component and a particulate second phase component. The second phase material is selected to have a greater abrasion resistance than the metal binder. A portion of the second phase protrudes from the metal binder at the support surface. The support member may be formed by casting or powder metallurgical techniques followed by removing a portion of the metal binder from the support surface to allow the second phase particles to protrude therefrom. Magnetic brush apparatuses adapted for cleaning or developing in electrostatographic machines are provided which include one or more of the magnetic brush support members.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for removing contaminants from the surface of an electrostatic imaging member. The apparatus includes elements for cleaning the surface to remove toner particles and other particulate materials therefrom, and elements for removing the contaminants from the surface after it has been cleaned by the cleaning elements. The contaminant removal elements comprise at least one brush which moves relative to the surface wherein the brush exerts a normal force per unit fiber against the surface of at least two milligrams. A reproducing apparatus and process are also provided.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for use in feeding sheets in an electrostatographic reproducing machine includes a sheet stack support drawer movable between an extended position and an operative position. A pivotally mounted belt separator and retard member move with the drawer and in the extended position are elevated relative to the bottom of the drawer. A pivotally mounted loading baffle moves to a raised position when the drawer is extended to locate the front edge of the stack and retracts when the drawer is moved to the operative position. A sensing arrangement is provided to sense both the presence of sheets on the drawer and engagement of the drive within the machine with the sheet separator when the drawer is moved to operative position. A guide arrangement is provided for flattening curled edges of sheets as they are fed along a path from the sheet feed apparatus.

Abstract: A development apparatus and a reproducing machine utilizing the development apparatus is provided for developing images on a moving imaging surface. The apparatus includes at least one developing member. The member extends across the imaging surface to define a gap of a given width. A device is provided for maintaining a substantially uniform gap width which includes an element for supporting the development member for movement both toward and away from the surface from the imaging surface and also for tilting movement with respect to the imaging surface.

Abstract: A reproducing machine including a device for forming an image of information on an original document and a device for transporting the document past the imaging device. The transport device comprises a strip member. The strip member supports the documents and moves past the imaging device to present the documents for forming an image thereof. The strip member may have a plurality of original document receiving pockets.

Abstract: A belt type separator contacts a stack to feed a sheet to a retard nip formed between the belt and a retard member. The belt is supported by a first pulley downstream of the stack and a second pulley adjacent the stack which is pivotable relative to the first pulley. Frictional resistance encountered by the belt at the nip will cause the normal force with which the belt bears against the stack to increase. Oppositely skewed rolls are used to tension sheets fed to a sheet aligning abutment. When the separator is positioned below the stack, a pivotable lever may be used to hold the stack against the separator. The pressing effect of the lever may be overridden upon an increase of the force with which the separator engages the stack.

Abstract: An impeller member, a cleaning apparatus utilizing the impeller member, and an electrostatographic reproducing machine utilizing the cleaning apparatus are provided for cleaning particulate material from the surface of a re-usable image retaining member and for transporting and storing the particulate material. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning device for removing the material from the surface of the image retaining member and a storage device for storing the material removed by the cleaning device. A transport device for transporting the material from the cleaning device to the storage device includes an impeller member having a first portion extending from an end thereof for moving the particulate material transversely of the storage device and a second portion of the member adjacent to the first portion for moving the material rearwardly into the storage device.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus for forming an image on a first and an opposing side of a copy sheet in a single pass including a moving photosensitive surface, a means for forming a first image on a first portion of the photosensitive surface and a second image on a second portion of the photosensitive surface, and means for transferring the first image and the second image to the first and the opposing side respectively of a copy sheet in a single pass of the copy sheet to the imaging surface. Preferably, the transferring means includes means for securing the trailing edge of the sheet to the imaging surface and means for pivoting the sheet about the surface. A process of duplex imaging in a single pass is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding individual sheets. The apparatus includes means for feeding the sheets which comprises at least one roll. Means are included for biasing the roll against the sheet with a first force normal to the sheet for a sheet having a thickness up to a first thickness and for step-wise increasing the first force to a second force normal to the sheet for sheets having a thickness greater than the first thickness. A reproducing apparatus including the above-noted sheet feeding apparatus is also provided.