Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a moving photoconductive member is developed with a liquid developer material having a liquid carrier and toner particles to form a toner particle image. The toner particle image is and liquid carrier are transferred from the photoconductive member to a sheet of support material. An electrically biased electrode having a slit therein coupled to a vacuum pump removes, through the slit, liquid carrier from the gap between the electrode and photoconductive member. The electrical bias on the electrode generates an electrical field sufficient to maintain the toner particle image substantially undisturbed as air and liquid carrier are withdrawn from the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a set of sheets is stapled together. A predetermined length of wire is fed to the stapler. A wire cutter is positioned along the wire as a function of the movement of the clamper clamping the sheets of the set. The wire cutter cuts the wire at the cutting position and a forming bar forms the cut wire into a staple. A driving bar then drives the staple through the set of sheets to staple the sheets together.

Abstract: An apparatus in which an elevator movably supports a drawer having a tray associated therewith. The tray receives successive sheets at a loading station. The elevator moves continuously downwardly to maintain the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the tray at a preselected location in the loading station until the drawer and tray are positioned at a discharge station located interiorly of a housing. The sheets are transferred from the tray to the drawer which advances the sheets from the discharge station to an unloading station located externally of the housing. A door opens, in synchronism with the movement of the drawer, to enable the sheets to pass from the discharge station to the unloading station located exteriorly of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining the outermost surface of a stack of sheets at a selected elevation of the type having a stacking tray for holding the stack, a drive system adapted to move the tray, a position sensor for detecting the position of the outermost sheet of the stack, and a drive controller for controlling the drive system in response to signals received from the position sensor. The drive controller utilizing signals generated by a travel limit sensor, whereby the sensor indicates, with an active signal, the presence of the stacking tray at either a first or a second travel limit position. The drive controller further utilizing signals generated by a motion sensor, whereby the sensor signal is indicative of displacement of the stacking tray. The apparatus further including a sensor actuating apparatus, operatively connected to the stacking tray, for actuating the travel limit and motion sensors.

Abstract: A printing machine in which the magnification of an image of a computer form is adjusted so that a copy thereof fits on a selected size copy sheet. The width and the number of holes of a computer form are inputted into the printing machine. In addition, the size of the selected copy sheet is inputted into the printing machine. This information is used by the printing machine to calculate the magnification of the image and to form an image of the computer form with the magnification adjusted so that the copy of the computer form fits on the selected size copy sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops a latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in an electrophotographic printing machine. The apparatus includes a housing having a chamber storing a supply of developer material, a magnetic transport roll, a donor roll and a developer roll magnetic. The developer material includes carrier and toner. The magnetic transport roll delivers developer material to the magnetic developer roll and toner to the donor roll. Toner is delivered from the magnetic developer roll and donor roll to the photoconductive member to develop the latent image.

Abstract: A device which electrically grounds a rotating shaft. A brush is mounted removably on the rotating shaft. The brush has conductive fibers extending outwardly over a portion thereof. As the shaft rotates, the conductive fibers of the brush periodically contact an electrically grounded member to electrically ground the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus which regulates offsetting stacks of sheets reproduced from at least one original document. In one mode, successive stacks of uncollated sheets are offset from one another, and, in another mode, offsetting of stacks of collated copy sheets is inhibited.

Abstract: An apparatus which controls the parameters in a processing station of an electrophotographic printing machine having a photoconductive member. A test patch having a half tone image is recorded on the photoconductive member. The test patch is developed with developer material to form a developed half tone image on the photoconductive member. In response to the average density of the developed half tone image on the photoconductive member, the parameters of the processing station are regulated.

Abstract: An apparatus which cleans a photoconductive surface having residual charged particles of opposite polarities thereon. Oppositely electrically biased cleaning brushes remove particles from the photoconductive surface with each brush being located in the chamber of a different housing with each housing electrically biased to the same magnitude and polarity as the brush located within the housing. The particles are then attracted from the cleaning brushes to electrically biased detoning rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus which mixes developer material in the chamber of a developer housing. A pair of augers transport the developer material in a recirculating path from one region of the chamber to another region. A generally planar member is interposed between the augers to separate the augers from one another. The planar member has an aperture in at least one marginal region configured to allow developer material to gently move between the first auger and the second auger and being adapted to reduce back up of the developer material and flow unevenness.

Abstract: An apparatus which delivers to an operator offset batches of sheets reproduced from at least one set of documents. The operator selects the number of sheets or sets of sheets successive batches to be offset from one another. In this way, the number of copy sheets in the batch may range from a partial set of copy sheets to multiple sets of copy sheet. Also, the operator may select no offset within a job providing a straight stack with no distinction between batches or sets.

Abstract: An infrared densitometer which measures the reduction in the specular component of reflectivity as marking particles are progressively deposited on a moving photoconductive belt. Collimated light rays are projected onto the marking particles. The light rays reflected from at least the marking particles are collected and directed onto a photodiode array. The photodiode array generates electricl signals proportional to the total flux and the diffuse component of the total flux of the reflected light rays. Circuitry compares the electrical signals and determines the difference therebetween to generate an electrical signal proportional to the specular component of the total flux of the reflected light rays.

Abstract: A method of calibrating registration of a sheet with a sheet gripper on a moving transport. The sheet gripper is adapted to move the sheet in a recirculating path in a printing machine. Movement of the sheet gripper and sheet is timed from a reference time until each reaches a loading zone. The times are compared to a preselected time and the movement of the sheet gripper and sheet adjusted to correspond to the preselected time. In this way, the sheet and sheet gripper arrive at the loading zone simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus in which an contaminants are removed from an electrode positioned between a donor roller and a photoconductive surface. A magnetic roller is adapted to transport developer material to the donor roller. The electrode is vibrated to remove contaminants therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member with developer material of carrier granules and toner particles. A housing has a developing chamber and a mixing chamber. As toner particles are depleted during the printing process, additional toner particles are furnished to the mixing chamber. A mixing roller is located in the mixing chamber. An arcuate portion of the housing is closely adjacent to the mixing roller. An electrical bias is formed between the arcuate portion of the housing and the mixing roller. Toner particles charged to one polarity are attracted to the arcuate portion of the housing with toner particles charged to the opposite polarity being attracted to the mixing roller. As the mixing roller rotates, developer material is advanced to a receiving zone. The advancing developer material moves the toner particles attracted to the arcuate portion of the housing to the receiving zone.

Abstract: A photoelectrophoretic imaging apparatus in which a disposable, electrically biased blocking web has a portion thereof in contact with a moving heated member. A disposable imaging web, electrically biased to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the blocking web, contacts the heated portion of the blocking web. Photosensitive particles dispersed in a normally solid waxy binder matrix are interposed between the imaging web and the blocking web. A light image is projected onto the heated portion of the imaging web contacting the blocking web causing selective migration of the photosensitive particles in the liquefied waxy binder matrix in image configuration.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine in which successive electrostatic latent images are recorded on a moving photoconductive belt. Each latent image is adapted to be recorded in a designated region on the photoconductive belt. The designated regions are separated from one another by an inter-image zone. A test patch is recorded in the inter-image zone. The number of designated regions on the photoconductive belt is adjusted so that the size of the inter-image zone is increased enabling a portion of the latent image to be recorded in the inter-image zone without overlapping any portion of the test patch.

Abstract: An apparatus which mixes developer material in the chamber of a developer housing. An auger transports the developer material in an axial direction from one region of chamber to another region thereof. In addition, as the developer material is being advanced in the axial direction, it is being moved in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of movement. In this way, the charge characteristics of the developer material are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus which controls the dispensing of marking particles into a developer unit used in an electrophotograhic printing machine adapted to reproduce a copy of an original document. The quantity of marking particles required to reproduce the copy of the original document is predicted and the dispensing of marking particles controlled in response thereto.