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 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 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 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: 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 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: 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.