Abstract: An apparatus, such as an electronic scanning camera, for use in conjunction with an electrophotographic reproduction device, such as a copier, recorder or printer, is provided for making reproductions of images from at least two separate and distinct image informational light paths. The light projected or reflected, from said paths, is received by an appropriate lens system, of the electronic scanning camera, for directing the light to a common image pickup member, such as a charge-coupled device. A pivotal mirror located within the electronic scanning camera has a first position removed from at least a first path. In a second position, the mirror is pivoted such that image light transmitted along a path, other than the first path, is directed, by reflection from the mirror, to the charge-coupled device. In this second position, the back of the mirror blocks light, thereby preventing light transmitted from all but the path which the mirror is reflecting, from impacting on the charge-coupled device.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of the type having an endless movable belt on which an image is formed and transferred in registration to a transfer surface. Registration between the transfer roller and the printhead is provided in part by a sprocket engaging the belt through a series of perforation along an edge of the belt. Prolonged integrity and increased load carrying capacity of the perforations are obtained by having a sprocket drive that drives the belt through its perforations in cooperation with a friction drive for driving the belt.

Abstract: A developer storage support assembly, in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus having a removable development station for selective development of a latent image charge pattern on a moving dielectric member. The storage developer support assembly is constructed so as to isolate the operative parts of the development station, when in storage, from contact that may cause damage, as well as isolate the magnetic section of the development station so that it does not attract metallic particles that may damage the development station or the reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus including an endless photoconductive belt member supported by a plurality of rollers. The photoconductive belt is pivotal about an axis of one of the plurality of rollers for movement into an operational position. Pivoting about the axis, into the operational position, assures that the photoconductive belt will be under tension and positioned accurately in relation to the various process stations of the electrophotographic apparatus. The photoconductive belt is also pivotal about the same axis to a belt replacement position. In the belt replacement position the photoconductive belt is in a slacken condition and positioned for replacement, removal, installation or adjustment with minimal chance of damage to the photoconductive belt or other process stations of the electrophotographic apparatus during replacement, removal, installation or adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting the optical unit of an image forming apparatus so that when the optical unit is removed from its mounting, within the image forming apparatus, for maintenance or the like, it can be easily and accurately reinserted. The mounting apparatus has a bottom wall and vertical walls at opposite ends of the bottom wall, with supporting pads formed on the vertical walls for supporting and aligning the optical unit. A clamp is provided for securing the optical unit to the mounting. When the clamp is laid over the optical unit, the optical unit remains secured within the mounting. An adjustment thumbscrew is provided for moving the optical unit within the mounting.

Abstract: A symmetrically flexible separator device is placed immediately after and removed, by a pair of pads, from the nip between the fuser roller and the pressure roller in order to intercept the leading edge of an image-bearing receiver and thus reduce the risk that the latter would remain stuck to the surface of either the fuser roller or the pressure roller.

Abstract: A fusing roller is provided that has multiple pattern groupings of heat elements of different heating capacities located adjacent heat sensors within the fusing roller. The individual heat elements of the same grouping are of the same heating capacity, while individual heat elements not of the same grouping are of different heating capacity. The difference in heating capacity is due to the differences in coil length of the various heat elements. By controlling the flow of current to any one or more groupings of heat elements, a specific fusing temperature range can be applied to designated areas about the peripheral surface of the fuser roller, thereby maintaining these areas of the fusing roller at a desired fusing temperature.

Abstract: A sheet transport and aligning apparatus that engages with a sheet to shift the sheet laterally during forward transport of the sheet by a roller. The lateral shift brings the sheet into engagement with a light weight pivotal edge guide which aligns to the sheet to establish a line contact with the sheet as the sheet is driven by the conical drive roller. By continuing to drive the sheet, the sheet pivots with the light weight pivotal edge guide until the sheet is in cross-track and skew alignment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compressing and enhancing gray-level, halftone, image data in copiers and printers. The input data is digitally halftoned to provide input halftone cells containing a plurality of individual pixels. The pixel density distribution is examined to determine the relative position within the cell of the densest pixels. The gray-level density value for the entire cell is also ascertained. The distribution determines the particular threshold matrix which is used to convert the density value of the input cell into pixel density values which form an output halftone cell. The various matrices have distribution patterns which place the lower threshold values at the position in the output cell corresponding to the position of the densest pixels in the input cell. The cell density value and the matrix selection designator are stored in memory at different bit levels.

Abstract: A paper supply tray having a constant force spring operated elevator platform for holding a stack of print receiving material is provided for use in a reproduction apparatus. The constant force spring in conjunction with a sheave and cable system moves the elevator platform such that the top sheet of the stack of sheets contained on the elevator platform is positioned for serially feeding by a sheet feeding mechanism. As sheets are fed from the stack, the constant force spring moves the elevator platform over a vertically guided path to maintain the top sheet of the stack in position for feeding by the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A multiple interface safety switch actuating mechanism, operable by actuators on the doors of a cabinet, is provided. The switch actuating mechanism, through abutting contact with a biased shaft activated switch, enables an apparatus, contained within the cabinet, when the doors of the cabinet are closed and disables the apparatus, contained within the cabinet, when a door of the cabinet is open. The switch actuating mechanism is maintained in a first position when both doors are open, in a second position upon the closing of one door and in a third position upon the closing of both doors. Accidental activation of the switch actuating mechanism is prevented by a slotted plate mounted in front of the switch actuating mechanism to preclude other than the door actuators from activating the switch actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus for laminating a material such as paper stock. A delamination system is provided for the laminating of the paper stock and the automatic separating of the substrate of the laminate from the paper stock while the releasable surface of the same laminate remains laminated to the paper stock. Once the paper stock is laminated and the substrate of the laminate removed from the laminated paper stock an image is transferred to the laminated paper stock. The image transferred to the laminated paper stock appears as if the image had been printed on said paper stock.

Abstract: A universal sheet feed cassette for use in an apparatus using various commercially standard and commercially nonstandard sheet sizes during its operation. The universal sheet feed cassette discloses the size of the sheets contained within the cassette by a tracking of the movement of the cassette's movable guide. The apparatus in which the cassette is loaded can then detect the sheet size contained within the cassette. Once the sheet size is detected, the apparatus adjusts its operating parameters to adapt to the size sheet contained within the cassette.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus, such as a copier, having a document feeder mounted on top of a scanner, a restraining mechanism is provided to restrict the pivotal travel of the feeder in relation to the pivotal travel of the scanner. This restraining mechanism, while allowing the feeder to pivot from the scanner so that one may copy items such as books, restricts such pivoting in relation to the scanner, when the scanner is pivoted from its normal operation position. This prevents the feeder from pivoting to a point where it would make contact with objects to the rear of the copier that may damage the feeder.The restraining mechanism is comprised of a cable connected to the feeder and the copier housing, with said cable being fed over cable guides, a sheave and a pendulum means.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a page output from electronic input data consisting of text and line graphics information and of pictorial information. The text and graphics information is converted to two-bit per pixel data and stored in a page buffer. The pictorial information is originally stored at its originating pixel resolution and at a bit level sufficient to represent the full color content. This pictorial data is expanded to a finer pixel resolution at a four-bit level, per color, at the time data is to be merged with the text and graphics data. The merging is accomplished in a band or line buffer which combines the two-bit and four-bit data. A location table is used to keep track of the bit level transitions and to signal the output device that the data is in a particular format.

Abstract: An improved fixing assembly for fixing toners or the like on a receiving medium. The improved fixing assembly having a mechanical wide nip formed by a pair of nip forming belts with at least one of the belts being formed by multiple overlapping loops of cold rolled stainless steel. The ends of the stainless steel are secured to the loop adjacent to each end of the stainless steel. The stainless steel flexible formed belt may be coated and heated. Each belt is driven by a pair of internal friction drive rollers with the drive rollers being driven by a toothed belt engaging the drive rollers. The width of the nip is adjusted by changing the center distance between the friction drive rollers of the flexible belts.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a page output from electronic input data consisting of text and line graphics information and of pictorial information. The text and graphics information is converted to two-bit per pixel data and stored in a page buffer. The pictorial information is originally stored at its originating pixel resolution and at a bit level sufficient to represent the full color content. This pictorial data is expanded to a finer pixel resolution at a four-bit level, per color, at the time data is to be merged with the text and graphics data. The merging is accomplished in a band or line buffer which combines the two-bit and four-bit data. A location table is used to keep track of the bit level transitions and to signal the output device that the data is in a particular format.

Abstract: Status and control panel for a remotely located printer. The panel includes input keys and a display device which can display various text strings, icons, screens, and multiple screen sequences. Each display format is prestored in volatile memory in the panel and addressed by display instructions from the associated device over a serial communications line. The display formats are pre-loaded in the memory at the time the device is first powered-up. Some of the input keys on the control panel are defined by the display on the LCD. Icon description language is used to store data about standard icon images, and an interpreter on the panel is used to convert these descriptions into dot-matrix format for use by the LCD.

Abstract: Electrophotographic process control in copiers and printers using test patches at different locations within the image frame. Test patches or areas are placed at various locations in subsequent frames to reduce any memory discontinuities encountered when high density areas are repeatedly placed at the same location within an image frame. The overall image frame includes a plurality of image or picture areas which contain unrelated information data and at least one these areas is replaced with a process test area in some or all of the subsequently produced frames. The test area includes several test strips of varying density which may also be positioned differently within the test area in subsequent frames. The variation in location of the test areas and the position of the test strips can be by random selection or by a predetermined pattern which places the areas and strips at several possible locations.

Abstract: A system for converting gray-level input data into binary output data and efficiently preserve much of the original sharpness information. The input data is divided into halftone cells which correspond to several pixels in the original image information. The halftone cells are further divided into subcells which correspond to a plurality of pixels in the halftone cell. The subcells are thresholded with a matrix of threshold values to determine which binary pixels are to be rendered. Any error between the rendered pixels and the average density value of the subcell input values is propagated to adjacent subcells. The thresholding of the subcell pixels can use a separate threshold value for the individual pixels or can use an average threshold value for the entire subcell.