Abstract: An electrophotographic printing in which successive copy sheets are supplied from a supply source thereof. A tray is arranged to have a stack of copy sheets disposed thereon. When one marginal region of the stack of copy sheets has a greater thickness than the other marginal region, a support is interposed between the tray and the lowermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets so that at least the opposed marginal regions of the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets are at substantially about the same level.

Abstract: A multicolor printing system of the type in which a plurality of latent images are recorded therein. Each one of the plurality of latent images are developed with a different color liquid developer material to form a plurality of different color liquid images. The different color liquid images are transferred, in superimposed registration with one another, to an intermediate member to form a multicolor liquid image thereon. Thereafter, the multicolor liquid image is, in turn, transferred to a sheet and fused thereto.

Abstract: A variable speed pulley adapted to be mounted on a shaft has a resilient member with an exterior surface adapted to support a belt thereon. The compression of the resilient member is controlled to adjust the location of the exterior surface of the resilient member. The effective diameter of the pulley increases or decreases as a function of the location of the exterior surface of the resilient member.

Abstract: An apparatus which transports and mixes developer material in the chamber of a developer housing. An auger advances a portion of the developer material from one end to the other end of the housing. The auger has an expansion chamber extending over a portion of the chamber through which at least a portion of the developer material flows. The expansion chamber increases the mixing of the developer material and the triboelectric charge of the toner particles.

Abstract: A device for use in an electrophotographic printing machine which prevents magnetic particles moving with a photoconductive belt from contaminating processing stations located thereafter. A magnet is mounted on a support located before one of the processing stations. The magnet generates a magnetic flux field attracting magnetic particles moving with the photoconductive belt to prevent contamination of processing stations located thereafter.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing material in which a housing is adapted to store a supply of material therein. The housing has an exit aperture for discharging the material therefrom. The exit aperture is sealed by inner and outer seals. The outer seal prevents access to the inner seal when the exit aperture is in a closed position. When the housing is moved from the closed position to an open position, the inner seal moves over the outer seal to an open position wherein the exit aperture is spaced from both the inner and outer seals so that material may be discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A dual mode apparatus in which set of sheets are delivered to an operator. The operating mode of the apparatus is selected, and sets of sheets are received and supported at a loading station. In response to the selected mode of operation, sets of sheets are advanced from the loading station to the unloading station for delivery to the operator. In one mode of operation, the sets of sheets are advanced from the loading station to the unloading station after the completion of each job. In another mode of operation, the sets of sheets are advanced from the loading station to the unloading station after the maximum number of sets of sheets have been stacked at the loading station independent of the number of jobs.

Abstract: An apparatus in which particles are moved from one end of a duct to the other end thereof. The particles in the duct are fluidized. A pressure differential is generated which moves the fluidized particles in the duct from one end of the duct to the other end thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus in which shutters used to occlude the region of the platen not supporting the original document being reproduced are calibrated. After the fully open position of the shutters is determined, the size of each original document being reproduced may be determined. In calibrating the shutters, an original document having a predetermined size is positioned on the platen with one set of perpendicular edges thereof being located at a registration position. The shutters are moved from the fully open position to another set of perpendicular edges of the document. The distance that the shutters move between the open position and the edges of the document is measured. With this information, the distance between the open position and the registration position may be determined as a function of the size of the original document and the distance that the shutters move. After the location of the open position of the shutters has been calibrated, the size of other original documents may be determined.

Abstract: An apparatus in which the approximate thickness of a set of sheets is determined. A tray supporting a stack of sheets thereon is periodically indexed a preselected distance each time the thickness of the stack of sheets decreases by a specified amount. The approximate thickness of the set of sheets is calculated as a function of the number of times the tray is indexed and a constant corresponding to the preselected distance the tray indexes.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a container in which an auger having vanes is disposed in the chamber thereof for moving particulate material stored therein. A threaded sealing member is adapted to engage the auger vanes so as to be driven along the container on rotation of the auger. The sealing member is mounted slidingly within the container but is restrained from rotating about the auger. On rotating the auger, in one direction, the sealing member moves along the auger to a storage position located beyond the auger vanes.

Abstract: A scuffer wheel drives a copy sheet into a registration corner on a tray of a printing machine. The vibration and hop of the scuffer wheel is damped by having the periphery of the scuffer wheel engage a leaf spring mounted over a slot in a thin plate mounted on the tray. This prevents sheet migration and misalignment of the sheets of the stack with respect to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus which transports a sheet through a transfer station to transfer an image from an image receiving member thereto. A stationary member has at least a portion thereof positioned closely adjacent the image receiving member to define a transfer zone therebetween. A substantial portion of the sheet is vacuum tacked to the transfer member. The sheet is moved relative to the transfer member to advance through the transfer zone so that the image is transferred from the image receiving member to the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying release oil to a fuser roller pair in a xerographic copier comprises an elongated trough containing a supply of oil in the base thereof, and wick for drawing up the oil from the trough and applying it to a metering roller. The metering roller applies the oil to a donor roller which, in turn, transfers the oil to the heated roller of the fuser roller pair. An upper guide device is provided on the exit side of the fuser by ribs formed integrally on the underside of the trough. The trough and guide ribs may thus have a compact configuration that is suited to inexpensive manufacture, e.g. by molding, as a one piece item. A lower guide member is fixed to the fuser assembly. Also, stripper fingers are mounted integrally on the trough adjacent the upper guides, the fingers being provided with slots through which the ribs extends.

Abstract: An apparatus which compensates for the velocity mismatch between adjacent sheet transports. A plate, interposed between the sheet transports, supports the sheet until the leading edge thereof advances from the first sheet transport to the second sheet transport. When the leading edge of the sheet is received by the second sheet transport, the plate pivots away from the sheet to a location remote therefrom. Since the first sheet transport advances the sheet at a greater velocity than the second sheet transport, the sheet forms a buckle to compensate for the velocity mismatch between sheet transports.

Abstract: A multifunction blower in which a common housing is employed to both increase and decrease the pressure of incoming air in separate chambers thereof. The increase and decrease in air pressure is adjustable by changing the impellers of the pressure and vacuum assemblies used therein.

Abstract: An apparatus which dries and fuses a liquid image of liquid carrier and toner particles to a sheet. The sheet passes through a nip defined by a support member cooperating with a roller. The roller contacts the liquid image on the sheet. Heat is applied to the liquid image to fuse the toner particles to the sheet and vaporize at least a portion of the liquid carrier therefrom. The side of the sheet opposed from the side having the liquid image thereon is maintained at a lower pressure than atmospheric pressure to reduce the amount of heat required to vaporize the liquid carrier and remove the vaporized liquid carrier therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a copy of an original document has selected portions thereof color highlighted. An editing device, associated with an electrophotographic printing machine, selects the portions of the copy to be reproduced in a highlight color with the remainder of the copy being reproduced in another color. The printing machine, in response to the signal transmitted from the edit pad, records a latent image on a photoconductive surface having a plurality of charge levels. These charge levels are developed simultaneously with different color developer material. The resultant developed image has different colors therein. This developed image is transferred to a copy sheet and fused thereto forming a color highlighted copy.

Abstract: A reproducing machine in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with a liquid developer material comprising at least a liquid carrier having pigmented particles dispersed therein. The developed image is transferred from the photoconductive member to a sheet of support material. The sheet of support material having the developed image thereon is dried to remove substantially all of the liquid carrier transferred thereto. The pigmented particles are permanently fused to the sheet of support material in image configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus which transfers a developed image from a photoconductive surface to a copy sheet. The apparatus includes a corona generating device arranged to charge the copy sheet. This establishes a transfer field that is effective to attract the developed image from the photoconductive surface to the copy sheet. A sheet guide, adapted to have a portion thereof contiguous with the corona generating device, maintains the copy sheet substantially wrinkle free as it is being guided into contact with the photoconductive surface in the transfer field.