Abstract: A document feeding apparatus and electrostatographic reproducing machine. The apparatus includes a viewing platen and a document feeder for feeding documents over the platen. The document feeder includes at least one feed member urged against the platen to form a nip therebetween for passage of documents. The feed member is formed of a multi-component material comprising a solid polymeric component impregnated with a non-volatile liquid. The multi-component material is selected to reduce the difference between the coefficient of friction between the feed member and the platen and the coefficient of friction between the document and the platen.

Abstract: A manual sorter and reproducing machine including the sorter. The sorter has a plurality of sheet receiving bins arranged one behind the other from front to back. The bins include sheet supporting surfaces which are oriented to provide efficient sheet stacking and jogging as well as ease of use and operator convenience. The sorter is adapted to be positioned adjacent the sheet output device of the machine with its front to back direction being transverse to the direction in which sheets are generally fed into or removed from the sheet output device.

Abstract: Coding of a group of characters for recognition by a machine and by a human viewer is provided by coloring each character with a predetermined plurality of colors arranged in predetermined locations within a character configuration. Each character configuration in a set of characters is segregated into a plurality of sectors and each sector is coded by a predetermined one of a plurality of colors which differs from the color coding of an adjacent sector. Apparatus for forming the color-coded characters by printing and by a photoelectrophoretic process is disclosed. Apparatus for automatically recognizing characters colored according to the predetermined code comprise color detecting elements positioned in an array at a reading station for generating output electrical signals representative of the color-sector coding and circuit means coupled to the detection means for translating the color-sector signals into an electrical signal representative of a character in a set.

Abstract: A photoelectrophoretic imaging machine for producing, in a preferred embodiment, full color copies from opaque originals or, alternatively, copies from transparencies. station passing the sandwichIn a preferred embodiment, the formation of photoelectrophoretic images occurs between two thin injecting and blocking webs at least one of which is partially transparent and the image formed is transferred to a paper web. The injecting and blocking webs may be disposable, thus, cleaning systems are not required. The injecting web is provided with a conductive surface and is driven in a path to the inking station where a layer of photoelectrophoretic ink is applied to the conductive web surface. The inked injecting web is driven in a path passing a deposition scorotron at the precharge station and into contact with the blocking web to form the ink-web sandwich at the imaging roller in the imaging zone.

Abstract: An imaging member to be viewed in reflection comprises a front surface reflection rejection layer on one side of an imaging layer and a reflection layer on the other side of the imaging layer, the reflection rejection layer comprising one or more rectangular blocks of transparent material having a height, H, and a base, L, characterized by the relationship H = 3/2 L TAN .theta.' + 2 n L TAN .theta.', where .theta.' is the angle of refraction of readout radiation into said transparent material and n is selected from the group consisting of zero and positive integers.

Abstract: A system which transforms a liquid crystal composition having a mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal or other optically active materials and nematic liquid crystal materials from an electrically induced dynamic scattering state into an aligned nematic state by changing variables of an applied electrical field, and an imaging system wherein such a liquid crystal member is imaged in a desired image configuration by such an electrical field-induced transition system. Such systems exhibit high optical contrast and may be viewed without the aid of light polarizing devices.

Abstract: A system employing at least one separation roller continuously contacting the outside surface of a web and tracked to move in a fixed approximately elliptical path, for compensating for web motion during separation of the web from another surface to enable a bead of accumulated material built up at the line of contact between the web and the other surface to pass therebetween without changing the web velocity. During the separation period, the advancing velocity of at least one surface is reduced so that at least one surface is advanced at a slower rate than its rate prior to separation, or stopped. In a preferred embodiment, the system is employed in photoelectrophoretic imaging to bypass a bead of imaging suspension built up at the imaging nip during separation of two webs immediately after completion of imaging to thereby permit dissipation or passage of the liquid bead without changing the advancing web velocity by reason of the separation operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting particulate development material from a container to a remote location for development of an electrostatic latent image. Also disclosed is a multilayered donor belt for use in a particulate development system.

Abstract: Substrates treated in the conventional manner for aligning molecules of liquid crystalline compositions are imagewise altered to form a latent alignment image which is subsequently developed with a liquid crystalline composition.

Abstract: Lasers and methods of lasing include introducing light to an optical wave guide from a pumping light source. The wave guide is formed of a deformable elastomer film having a laser active material therein. The film is deformable by an electric field impressed across the thickness of the elastomer film. The electric field causes spatially periodic deformation of the elastomer cross-section, to produce distributed feedback and cause lasing. In one embodiment of the invention, electrodes are spaced from each other by a distance which is a function of the desired laser frequency and in another embodiment the elastic modulus of the film itself is varied as a function of the desired laser frequency.

Abstract: A color image reproduction system wherein there are recorded in superimposition on an imaging member a plurality of images respectively corresponding to the color content of different colors of an original image. Each recorded image is in the form of a surface deformation phase grating which is at a different angular orientation from the phase grating(s) of the other image(s). In operation, the imaging member is sequentially exposed to an original image through spatial light modulating means with illumination of appropriate color at least two times, in each instance employing illumination of a different color and positioning the spatial light modulating means at a different angular orientation. In a preferred embodiment three exposures of the imaging member are made using red, blue, and green light and there is provided a full color reproduction of a full color original image.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus, in which an original is subjected to reflex imaging, is provided with exposure control for selectively varying the angle of incidence upon a platen of a predetermined amount of light emanating from a light source. Exposure control is provided by an electrooptic cell comprising a layer of liquid crystalline composition between two electrodes and having a reflecting surface. The exposure system of the present invention is particularly suited for use in automatic copying machines having compact scanning apparatus.

Abstract: Process for preparation of a solid phase dispersion of photoconductive materials in an insulating binder matrix from a film forming insulating polymeric resin and an organo-selenium compound capable of undergoing selective decomposition in response to an appropriate stimulus; whereby, elemental selenium is extruded from said organo-selenium compound and deposited in the binder matrix. Because this extrusion/deposition of elemental selenium can be performed selectively, it is possible to prepare binder films having photoconductive image patterns which are suitable for use in range extended and conventional xerography.

Abstract: A coating applicator system comprising a stationary coater blade, reciprocating valve and applicator plates and, interposed between the valve and applicator plates, a stationary metering plate which includes a metering cavity. In operation, a quantity of photoelectrophoretic imaging suspension is supplied to the metering cavity in the metering plate when the valve and applicator plates are cammed in. When the reciprocating plates are cammed out, a metered amount of the suspension is deposited on the coater blade and when the plates are cammed in the imaging suspension is caused to move into a coating gap to supply a uniform quantity of suspension to a surface to be coated.

Abstract: A web drive system consisting of two independent speed controlled servos used to drive at least two webs is provided for use in a photoelectrophoretic web machine. The servo drive systems cooperate in the transporting of the webs to eliminate speed differential tensions between the two webs held together by friction and electrical tacking force. The first servo system may be bi-polar controlled. The second servo system may be uni-polar controlled and switched between speed and torque control modes. When the webs are held apart, the second servo system will be in speed control and whenever the webs are in contact, the second servo system is switched to the torque control mode.

Abstract: A light diffraction technique is set forth for monitoring the behavior of small liquid jets operating in the Rayleigh mode. This monitoring enables measurement of jet parameters, and thereby further enables on-line control of these parameters.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing magnetic material on a support member having an electrostatic latent image thereon.

Abstract: An electro-optic display having a plurality of sets of overlapping grid address layers, wherein each set of address layers comprises electrode means for allowing transmission of light through only one half of the total area of the display, and successive sets of layers have increased numbers of individual electrodes which comprise each layer, the number of individual electrodes increasing in the progression 2.sup.n where n is the number of sets of overlapping grid layers, and the alternate individual electrodes on any one layer, which comprise one half of the total area of the display, are commonly connected for attachment to a source of electrical potential, and the other alternate electrodes, which comprise the other half of the total area of the display, are commonly connected for attachment to a source of electrical potential, so that any one of (2.sup.n).sup.

Abstract: Coding of a group of characters for recognition by a machine and by a human viewer is provided by coloring each character with a predetermined plurality of colors arranged in predetermined locations within a character configuration. Each character configuration in a set of characters is segregated into a plurality of sectors and each sector is coded by a predetermined one of a plurality of colors which differs from the color coding of an adjacent sector. Apparatus for forming the color-coded characters by printing and by a photoelectrophoretic process is disclosed. Apparatus for automatically recognizing characters colored according to the predetermined code comprise color detecting elements positioned in an array at a reading station for generating output electrical signals representative of the color-sector coding and circuit means coupled to the detection means for translating the color-sector signals into an electrical signal representative of a character in a set.

Abstract: A roller and mount assembly contained on a movable carriage, the mount adapted to allow the roller to pivot in at least one major direction in response to non-uniform transverse contact between the roller surface and the surface to be contacted.