Abstract: A sheet feeding device wherein a roll pair in contact to the top sheet of a sheet stack is adapted to buckle the top sheet to enable subsequent engagement of the buckled portion of the sheet by a hooked belt to feed the buckled sheet off the stack in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the buckle roll pair.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet from a stack thereof includes a feeder for engaging a first portion of the stack. Apparatus are provided for supporting the stack including a mechanism for fanning out the first portion of the stack. The fanning out mechanism includes a member arranged for movement between first and second positions. In the first position the member is operable during sheet feeding for supportingly engaging the first portion of the stack against a contact force of the feeder. In the second position, the member is disengaged from the stack to allow it to fan out. Preferably, the stack is supported in a generally vertical orientation.

Abstract: To insure that fresh toner dispensed into a magnetic brush developing apparatus is thoroughly stirred and mixed with developer which has been stripped from a magnetic roll, the member used to strip the developer from the roll is disposed beneath the toner dispensing opening, and is formed from two inclined plates joined together by a spring to form a continuous inclined surface extending from the roll, the lower plate being connected to a vibration generator.

Abstract: An interlinear feeder for use in a copying machine wherein an original to be copied is moved stepwise at a predetermined interval with a mask being disposed thereunder, characterized in that a member driven in connection with the motion of the original is equipped with a predetermined number of pitch change plates arranged in parallel and having protrusions formed at individually different intervals, and limit switches, each of which is disposed opposite to the protrusions of the corresponding pitch change plate, are connected respectively to the contact circuits of a selector switch provided in an original-feed control circuit.

Abstract: A method of preventing double-sheet feeding within copiers or printing machines and the like comprising the steps of (1) cutting the paper in an inclined direction and then (2) arranging the inclined ends of the paper at right angles to each other to thereby separate the sheets.

Abstract: A pressure heat fixing device consisting of a pair of heated fixing rollers rotating in pressure contact with one another and a temperature means supported to contact with the surface of the heated fixing roller, characterized by the provision of a suitable driving means adapted to reciprocatingly displace the said temperature detecting means along with and parallel to the axis of the heated fixing roller.

Abstract: A document discharging device for discharging copied documents from the platen of a copying machine wherein vacuum members are provided in the platen cover to lift the copied document from the platen as the cover is raised, guide arms being provided to guide the lifted document into a discharge tray when the lifting vacuum is shut off.

Abstract: An improved electrophoretic development method comprising providing a liquid developer system having a backing electrode and a developer electrode, wherein the development electrode comprises a plurality of individually biased electrodes. According to this improved method, as an electrostatically imaged insulating member is contacted with the liquid developer and directed through a development zone defined by said electrodes, the leading edge of said insulating member selectively activates the individually biased development electrodes in synchronization with the travel of the insulation member through said zone, and the trailing edge of said insulating member selectively inactivates the individually biased development electrodes upon the withdrawal of the insulating member from said zone. This method is especially suitable for preparation of reversal images by electrophoretic development.

Abstract: A fixing device in an electrophotographic copying machine, wherein stripping members each being in contact with the surface of a heating roll 21, and conveying rolls which serve to convey a support material while the latter being held therebetween, are positioned on feedout sides of the heating roll for thermally fixing a thermoplastic material on the image support material and a pressure roll characterized in that said conveying rolls have their peripheral speeds higher than that of said heating roll.

Abstract: To prevent toner from being deposited on or adhering to certain parts within a developing apparatus, the parts are coated with a conductive layer having no affinity with the toner.

Abstract: A hot-air or radiant heat fixing device for copying machines wherein the device is provided with either a hot-air generating means or a radiant source of energy for elevating the temperature of toner images carried by support material to thereby effect coalescence of the toner particles forming the images to render them tacky.A corona discharge device is disposed intermediate the hot air or radiant energy source and the supporting body or material carrying the toner images such that the corona discharge generated thereby improves the efficiency of heat transfer from the energy source to the toner material forming the images.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying machine having (1) a xerographic surface on which a latent electrostatic image is formed, (2) a developing station for developing the latent image by contacting the latter with developer material, and (3) a transfer station for transferring the developed image to support material, has a developer material replenishment device which replenishes developer material in the developing station in accordance with the amount of support material fed to the transfer station.

Abstract: A paper tray for copying machines includes a tray body having a movable side plate and an elastic member operatively connected to the movable side plate whereby as the tray is inserted into a copying machine, the elastic member in cooperation with an actuator on the copier, urges the movable side member against paper placed in the tray and thereby automatically compensates for paper skew as well as paper irregularities.

Abstract: An automatic document ejector for use with a copying machine wherein the document is automatically gripped along its lead edge as the platen cover is closed, the gripper being adapted to pull the document from the platen for ejection into a document receiving tray as the platen cover is lifted following completion of the copying cycle.

Abstract: A resilient, patterned liquid developer applicator having raised and depressed areas for applying liquid developer to latent electrostatic images, is doctored by contacting it first with a squeegee roller to meter the depressed areas and subsequently with a relatively rigid raised area cleaning blade. The applicator has a resilient surface with a hardness of more than 60 Shore A and is provided with a plural number of finely divided discrete depressions and raised portions, and the squeegee doctor roller has a non-absorbing surface which has a hardness generally greater than the hardness of the surface of the applicator so that developer is squeezed from the depressions when the raised areas are deformed by the action of the squeegee roller.

Abstract: A sheet distribution apparatus for distributing sheets discharged from a reproducing machine. An improved apparatus sequentially distributes sheets into a plurality of bins comprising sheet receiving shelves arranged in a horizontal array. A guide belt is arranged to receive the discharged sheets and guide them into the respective shelves. The guide belt is coiled upon a take-up reel at one end at its other end a device is provided for sequentially advancing the belt along the entrance openings of the bins to distribute the sheets into the respective bins.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for collating sheets into sets. The sheets are conveyed along a desired path and a plurality of sheet receiving bins are arranged along the path. Guide members associated with each of the bins are arranged to sequentially remove a sheet from the conveyor and guide it into its respective bin. The guide members are actuated by a drive system which includes a cam comprising a web having a cam surface with at least one discontinuity and follower members associated with each of the guide members in responsive engagement with the cam surface. The discontinuities can comprise slots, holes, or notches in the web. The web may be wound up on a take-up reel or it can comprise an endless type belt.

Abstract: A camming system for a copier machine for providing multiple paths for a cam follower from a start of scan position. The camming system includes a cam, a cam follower, and a drive to drive the cam follower to and from a start of scan position while in contact with the cam. The cam is adapted to be rotated about the center of curvature of the cam follower axis during rotation of the cam so that the cam follower always starts its path from the same start of scan position.

Abstract: A convenient reflecting material is a ceramic fiber felt in which the container is partially embedded, the felt being bleached by the radiation from the source to form a pure white reflector conforming to the exterior of the container. The ceramic fiber felt is virtually indestructable, and costs only a few pence. The felt can be made sufficiently thick that the reflector acts as a heat insulator so that heat losses to the back of the reflector are low. The time for the system to warm-up is dependent almost entirely on the source and its enclosing tube, as little heat passes into the reflector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a single copy from a plurality of originals includes a means for positioning a first original or mask having an open portion or portions therein over an exposure platen, a means for laying a second original or master bearing a plurality of areas of information over the open portion of the first original to produce a copy bearing the information from one area and a means for moving the master between copies to produce another copy bearing information from a different area.