Abstract: An apparatus in which a latent image is developed with magnetic developer material. A rotating applicator roll transports the developer material. A magnet is mounted rotatably interiorly of the applicator roll and generates a magnetic flux field which attracts the developer material to a portion of the surface of the applicator roll. The magnet rotates under the influence of the magnetic flux field force applied thereon. When the apparatus is developing the latent image, the magnet is prevented from rotating in a first position wherein the magnetic flux field attracts the developer material to the portion of the applicator roll adjacent the latent image. Conversely, when the apparatus is not developing the latent image, the magnet is prevented from rotating in a second position wherein the magnetic flux field attracts the developer material to the portion of the applicator roll spaced from the latent image.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine in which an electrostatic latent image is recorded on a photoconductive surface. One portion of the latent image is a discharged area with the other portion of the latent image being a charged area. The discharged image area is developed with toner particles of a first color and polarity by a first developer unit. No greater than 2% by volume of these toner particles have a diameter greater than about 20 microns. The first developer unit generates a weak magnetic field in the development zone and a strong magnetic field at the entrance and exit of the development zone. A second developer unit develops the charged image area with toner of a second color and polarity. The colors of the toners are different from one another.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member with toner. The toner in the chamber of the developer housing is fluidized and transported thereacross by an elongated member. A donor roller advances the toner particles to a latent image recorded on a photoconductive member. A rotating rod resiliently urged into contact with the donor roller charges the toner on the donor roller. In order to attract toner particles to the donor roller, the elongated member and the charging rod are electrically biased by voltages having the same polarity. The elongated member and the charging rod are electrically biased by voltages of opposite polarity to denude the donor roller of toner particles.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image. A transport roll advances developer material from a chamber to a donor roll. The donor roll advances the toner particles to the latent image. The latent image attracts toner particles from the donor roll. In order to improve the speed with which toner particles removed from the donor roll are replaced, an alternating voltage is applied between the two rolls.The magnetic transport roll is driven to rotate at a surface velocity at least 2, but not more than 5 times that of the rotational surface velocity of the donor roll. Also, the compression pile height (CPH) vs the spacing between the spacing between the donor roll and the transport roller (DRS) is found to be optimal when meeting the ratio CPH:DRS=2:3.

Abstract: An apparatus in which developer material comprising carrier granules and magnetic toner particles is transported closely adjacent to a latent image. The developer roller transporting the developer material is electrically biased. The electrical bias has a wave form that removes a substantially uniform distribution of magnetic toner particle sizes from the carrier granules and develops the latent image therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus which transfers successive different color toner images from a photoconductive belt to a sheet. The toner images are in superimposed registration with one another. Transfer efficiency of successive toner images is improved by neutralizing the charge on the toner image prior to the transfer of the next successive toner image to the sheet. This is accomplished by passing the sheet with the toner image transferred thereto between upper and lower neutralization corona generators. The upper neutralization corona generator applies a charge on the toner image having an opposite polarity to the normal polarity of the toner image. The lower neutralization corona generator applies a charge on the backside of the sheet having the same polarity as the normal polarity of the toner image.

Abstract: An apparatus that monitors the quality of copies reproduced by a printing machine. A signal of an image to be reproduced by the printing machine is transmitted to an electronic subsystem. The electronic subsystem converts the signal to a reference bitmap and transmits the reference bitmap to a raster output scanner in the printing machine. The printing machine reproduces the image on a copy sheet. The image reproduced on the copy sheet is scanned by a raster input scanner and a scanned bitmap generated. A comparison is made between the scanned bitmap and the reference bitmap to determine if the image reproduced on the copy sheet is at an acceptable quality level.

Abstract: An apparatus in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive belt is developed with toner. A donor belt is wrapped about a portion of a magnetic roll to define an extended loading zone. The magnetic roll advances a developer material comprising carrier and toner to the loading zone. At the loading zone, toner is deposited on the donor belt. A plurality of electrode wires are positioned in the space between the donor belt and the photoconductive belt. The electrodes are electrically biased to detach the toner from the donor belt so as to form a toner cloud in the space between the electrodes and photoconductive belt. Detached toner from the toner cloud develops the latent image.

Abstract: A reel on which a supply of binding tape is mounted. The reel has a hub adapted to be mounted on a shaft with at least one flange extending radially outwardly therefrom. The flange is adapted to engage a braking member to maintain the binding tape unwinding from the reel under tension as the reel rotates. The flange is mounted in a core of the reel with a pair of opposed, spaced frames extending radially outwardly from the core. The binding tape is wound about the core between the frames. A tape cleaning tool is molded integrally with the hub. The tool is molded operator removable from the hub and facilitates cleaning of the tape guides during routine maintenance.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops a latent image recorded on an image receiving member with marking particles. A chamber in a developer housing stores a supply of charged marking particles. The marking particles having a charge distribution. A donor roll is positioned in the chamber of the housing to transport marking particles closely adjacent to the latent image to develop the latent image. A rotating, elongated member moves the marking particles. An electrical bias is applied between the elongated member and the donor roll to selectively attract marking particles from the elongated member to the donor roll. The marking particles attracted to the donor roller have a charge distribution with a selected range. The range of the charge distribution of the marking particles attracted to the donor roller is less than the range of the charge distribution of the marking particles being moved by the elongated member.

Abstract: An apparatus in which copy sheets are sorted into sets of copy sheets and positioned at a discharge region by trays mounted slidably on a frame in the finishing station of an electophotographic printing machine. Each tray has an entrance region and an exit region Copy sheets are received at the entrance region of the trays. Successive trays are moved to the set discharge region where completed sets of copy sheets are removed from the exit regions thereof.

Abstract: A printing machine in which an image recorded on an electrostatic master is developed with liquid developer material and the excess liquid developer material eliminated therefrom. A meniscus is formed between a roll and the electrostatic master. The roll is adapted to remove the excess liquid developer material from the developed image. The meniscus is formed by electrically biasing the roll as the roll moves from a non-operative position remote from the electrostatic master to an operative position adjacent thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which provides job integrity and security for each sheet transported to and from a printing station including periods when a printing machine has cycled down enabling an operator to remove sheets therefrom. Each sheet transported to the printing station and each sheet delivered from the printing station is counted. A controller compares the number of sheets transported to the printing station to the number of sheets delivered from the printing station and the number of any sheets that may have been removed by the operator from the printing machine as a result of a cycle down. Operation of the printing machine will be inhibited if the number of sheets transported to the printing station do not equal the number of sheets delivered from the printing station and the number of sheets removed by the operator.

Abstract: An apparatus in which the triboelectric charge of developer material toner adhering to carrier is measured. In the development system, a magnetic roller transports developer material closely adjacent a donor roller. The donor roller is electrically biased relative to the magnetic roller so that toner is developed onto the donor roller. The instantaneous current flow electrically biasing the donor roller is integrated and is indicative of the triboelectric charge to the developer material.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in an electrophotographic printing machine having a reservoir for storing a supply of developer material and a magnetic rush roll for transporting material from the reservoir to each of two donor rolls. The developer material has carrier granules and toner particles. The donor rolls receive toner particles from the magnetic brush roll and deliver the toner particles to the photoconductive member at spaced locations in the direction of movement of the photoconductive member to develop the latent image recorded thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus which positions a stapling device relative to a set of sheets. The stapling device is moved between a non-operative position spaced from an edge of a set of sheets to an operative position adjacent the edge of a set of sheets. Once in the operative position, the stapling device is transported in a direction substantially parallel to the edge of the set of sheets to a selected stapling position.

Abstract: An apparatus in which successive developer units are moved to a development zone to develop with different color toner successive latent images recorded on a photoconductive member. Developer units remote from the development zone are sealed to prevent the escape of toner therefrom and the contamination of the developer unit.

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.