Abstract: A thermostatic device particularly usable in sensing the surface tempoerature of a rotatable member in a fuser includes a rotatable roller mountable in rolling engagement with a moving surface. A heat sensor located inside the roller senses temperature variations in the roller. For example, a pin that is spring-urged against the inside surface of the roller, moves a switch between open and closed conditions as the inside diameter of the roller varies with a change in its temperature. Alternatively, a bimetallic disc positioned in engagement with the inside surface of the roller is sensed to open or close a switch in response to the roller temperature reaching a given threshold.

Abstract: The surface temperature of a fusing roller is controlled by sensing both the surface temperature and the temperature of a source of heat for said roller. Each temperature is compared to a nominal temperature for each to derive two error signals. The two error signals are combined to give a combined error signal, which is used to control the amount of energy applied to the source. The source can be an internally heated core or heated external roller riding on the fusing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming multicolor toner images includes an endless web having rows of perforations along each edge. In one embodiment, two or more drums have sprockets on each end. These sprockets engage the rows of perforations in the web. Toner images of different color are created in each drum by creating electrostatic images and toning those images with toners of different colors. The toner images are transferred in registration to the web. The number of perforations in the web is chosen to create a small amount of slack between the drums which permits the sprocket teeth to orient the web with respect to each drum thereby preventing misregistration due to skew, for example, because of misalignment of the axes of the drums. According to a second embodiment a similar registration scheme is used with images that are formed by exposing and toning the same portion of a photoconductive web with toners of different color.

Abstract: Multicolor electrophotographic apparatus secures the ends of a receiving sheet in a trough which runs parallel to the axis of rotation of a transfer roller. An inclined surface in the trough gradually declines the transfer sheet away from the periphery of the transfer roller to prevent a photoconductive drum from receiving a jar as it rides off the edge of the transfer sheet. Preferably, the means defining the declining ramp surface also defines vacuum holes for securing the ends of the receiving sheet.

Abstract: A scuff separating device capable of feeding difficult to separate sheets from the outside of a stack includes a feed belt or roller for contacting the outside sheet and feeding it off the stack. A retard roller is supported by a support arm pivoted about a pivot downstream, and rests on the feed belt or roller and prevents double feeds. A brake on the retard roller prevents rotation when more than one sheet is in the nip but permits rotation when one or no sheets are in the nip.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a transfer member, for example, a transfer drum with a line of small closely spaced laser drilled vacuum holes to hold a receiving sheet to the drum surface. To maintain the continuity of a transfer field but be free from clogging, the holes are narrow near the surface of the drum but wider as they extend deeper in the drum.Conical holes are drilled in the drum by a laser. In one embodiment, a short focal length lens focuses a laser bear near the surface of the drum which beam spreads below the surface to form a conical hole.

Abstract: A sheet separating device is particularly usable in an intermediate tray of a copier. A drive belt separates the outside sheet from a stack and feeds the sheet through a nip with a retard roller. The retard roller is braked by a motor. The motor is adjustable between a braking condition in which it prevents rotation of the retard roller when two sheets are in the nip and a free-wheeling condition in which it permits rotation when one sheet is in the nip. When applied to an intermediate tray of a copier, the logic and control of the copier knows when one sheet is left in the tray and switches the motor to its free-wheeling condition.

Abstract: A multicolor reproduction is made by uniformly charging a photoconductive member, imagewise exposing that member to create a first electrostatic image, developing the first electrostatic image with a toner of a first color to create a first toner image, preferably uniformly recharging the photoconductive member, imagewise exposing the charged member creating a second electrostatic image, developing the second electrostatic image by the application of toner of a second color to the exposed areas. The process can be repeated for any number of colors. The multicolor image is then transferred in a single step to a receiving sheet. The second and subsequent development steps are carried out by a magnetic brush developing device employing hard magnetic carrier particles that are tumbled through a development zone which tumbling does not adversely affect the prior toner images.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus for a toner container has a toner cavity over which the containing portion of the container is slid. To prevent skiving of toner into the workings of the machine, a guide forces at least the leading part of the containing portion through a higher path with respect to the cavity as it moves over the cavity than the path it takes moving back to a position beside the cavity. A toner container for such a receiving apparatus includes a flange with extensions of the flange away from the container for cooperating with the guide of the apparatus.

Abstract: A variety of sizes of color prints are made electrophotographically utilizing a single large size receiving sheet, for example, a receiving sheet that is 12.times.18 inches. The large size receiving sheet can be secured to a transfer roller to be cycled through the repeated single color transfers. The receiving sheet is large enough to receive one multicolor image of the largest size or an array of smaller sized multicolor images. The receiving sheet with smaller images is cut to size after transfer.

Abstract: An endless imaging web is supported by a large diameter drum and at least one small diameter roller. First and second electrostatic images are created and toned on the same portion of the web as it is backed by the drum. The toners are of different color to create a multicolor image on the imaging web. The multicolor image is transferred to a receiving sheet, which receiving sheet is separated from the web as the web passes around the small diameter roller. Two small diameter rollers can be also provided which facilitate single-pass duplexing.

Abstract: A primary imaging member, for example, a photoconductive web is used to form a series of primary toner images. Each toner image in the series is transferred to a separate secondary imaging member. The secondary image members can be drums covered by blank master sheets. Masters are formed on the secondary imaging members defined by the primary toner image. For example, the primary toner images can be fused to the master sheets to form xeroprinting masters. The masters are used to form transferable color images that are transferred back to the primary imaging member in registration to form a multicolor image. The multicolor image can be transferred to a receiving sheet.

Abstract: An endless transfer web is supported by a large diameter drum and at least one small diameter roller. Two or more imaging drums are positioned in transfer relation to the transfer web where it is backed by the large drum. Different color toner images are transferred in registration to the web to form a multicolor image which is transferred to a receiving sheet. The receiving sheet is separated from the web as the web passes around the small roller. The imaging drums can be electrophotosensitive drums with separate electrophotographic stations or drums which hold masters, for example, xeroprinting masters on their periphery.

Abstract: A particulate material collection bottle for a reproduction apparatus includes an opening for receiving a tube through which particulate material is fed. A detent at the opposite end of the bottle from the opening fits in a complementary detent in the receiving apparatus to wedge the bottle between the detent and the tube. To permit the opening to receive a barb on the tube it is oblong in shape and has a compressible seal around its exterior. Recessed rib portions of opposing side walls form a handle to assist insertion of the bottle in the apparatus. A projection from one wall of the apparatus is positioned to activate a sensing means to indicate the presence of the bottle in its appropriate position. A foldable paper seal is positioned below the opening. It can be folded across the opening after a full bottle has been removed.

Abstract: A container for supplying toner to a receiving apparatus of a copier or printer includes a containing portion having an opening in its bottom. A cover for the opening is slidable between positions covering and uncovering the opening. The cover includes a hinge permitting rotating a major portion of the cover to an unprotruding position when the cover is not covering the opening.

Abstract: Xeroprinting is performed without fusing a master toner image. A master toner image is made by conventional electrophotography, for example, by charging, imagewise exposing and applying toner to a photoconductive imaging member to create a first toner image. The first toner image is charged with charges of a first polarity opposite that of the toner image and the member is erased with erase illumination through its base. This creates a toner image with a charge opposite that of the original toner image which is tightly held by opposite charges which have migrated to the portion of the electrophotosensitive member just under the toner. The imaging member is then toned again with toner of the same polarity as the original toner to create a second toner image that overlies the first toner image. The imaging member is again erased through its base, and the second toner image is transferred to a receiving sheet without disturbing the first toner image.

Abstract: Apparatus for splicing together opposite ends of a sheet of material, such as a photoconductor, to form an endless loop includes a generally cylindrical drum on which the sheet material is wrapped. The drum has edge portions that can be adjusted relative to each other to vary the circumference of the drum, and the sheet is wrapped on the drum with opposite ends of the sheet being in overlapping relationship adjacent the edges of the drum. The drum edges are adjusted relative to each other while a sensor detects the relationship between perforations or other identifiable features on the sheet. When a predetermined relationship is obtained, the opposite ends of the sheet are bonded together to form an endless loop. The apparatus produces a loop that is cylindrical in shape with the pitch of the perforations across the splice being equal to the pitch of the perforations in other portions of the loop.

Abstract: A fusing roller of the type having a thin internal resistance heating layer is electrically contacted by an internal conductive annular element positioned adjacent the end of the roller core. The resistance layer is applied to a common surface formed by the outside of the core and the annular element. Preferably, the resistance layer is covered by a protective layer. With this structure, the contacting device is protected from external damage, for example, from that caused by release oil contamination.

Abstract: A loop is formed between upstream and downstream pairs of rollers by driving the downstream pair slower than the upstream pair and/or by a direction changing guide. The downstream pair of rollers is axially movable to bring an in-track edge of a sheet to a predetermined sensed position to cross-track register the sheet. The loop permits cross-track movement of the sheet despite engagement of the sheet with the upstream pair of rollers.

Abstract: An electrophotosensitive member is uniformly charged and portions to be toned by one type toner are erased. Those portions are filled in with a charge of different potential, for example, a charge of polarity opposite to that of the original charge. The charged member is imagewise exposed and developed with two toners selectively attractive to the different charge potentials. With this method a multicolor image can be formed iwth a single exposure.