Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal pressure fixing device for a copier, comprising a pressure roll and a fixing roll for heating and pressing an image-receiving material carrying a toner image, whereby during the passage of the image-receiving material between the rolls the latter are in pressure contact with each other, whereas during a standstill of the copier or in the case of a copier malfunction, the pressure of the rolls is discontinued. There are provided a device for lifting the pressure roll toward the fixing roll and for separating the two rolls, and a clutch and brake mechanism interacting with this device. Resilient elements adapt the center distance between the pressure roll and the fixing roll to the changes occurring in diameter of these rolls, in such a way that the preset roll pressure between the rolls remains constant.

Abstract: An improvement in an electrophotocopying machine having a photosensitive member. The improvement includes at least two rollers for charging the photosensitive member or at least two rollers for transferring a toned image from the photosensitive member to a plain copy sheet. The rollers are mounted on a turret adjacent the photosensitive member. The improvement also includes a mechanism for rotating one of the rollers into its operating position adjacent the photosensitive member and the other of the rollers into a cleaning position removed from the photosensitive member, and a cleaning device for cleaning the other roller in its cleaning position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an object scanning system wherein the illumination scanning means employed travels at a rate which is greater than that of a flat photoreceptor moving in the same direction. In one embodiment, a dual rate mirror assembly scans a document on a platen at a first rate which is greater than the process speed set for a photoreceptor belt. The image is projected through a lens and precessed by a mirror arrangement along the belt surface in a direction opposite to the belt travel. The precession rate can be set relative to the scanning flyback time, so as to reduce or eliminate an interdocument gap on the photoreceptor and to lower process speeds for a given copy rate.

Abstract: A reproduction machine having a recirculating document handler, a display, and the means to enter a diagnostic mode for immediate access of time periods between sensors detecting document travel in the document handler. Upon entering the diagnostic mode, the first requested event of six events or time periods is displayed, the display providing the number of the event and the time period in milliseconds. To successively display the remaining events or time periods between different sets of sensors, it is only necessary to activate a suitable push button on the operator console to display the remaining events in succession.

Abstract: Xerographic reproducing apparatus including a frame assembly made up of upper and lower molded plastic frame members, each frame member having sheet guiding elements integrally molded therein so that a sheet of copy paper being processed through the reproducing apparatus is guided along its path by the sheet guiding elements in the upper and lower molded plastic frame members. In a specific embodiment each of the frame members may have several machine element mounting means integrally molded therein and they are pivotally mounted relative to each other in clam shell fashion at one end and when in the closed position are securely positioned by cooperating datum points. With such construction control over the positioning of machine elements and in particular the paper path may be achieved at the time of construction and the cost and complexity of construction can be substantially reduced.

Abstract: An electrostatic display, recall or print apparatus in which a magnetically toned latent electrostatic pattern or image on an electrostatic strip is inspected, and either advanced to a fusing station for being made permanent, or withdrawn to a detoning station for magnetic detoning, from which the strip may once more be advanced and reused for the application of a different electrostatic image and for retoning.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically feeding sheet material such as fan fold paper to a photocopier in which the apparatus may be movable towards and away from the window of the photocopier either by disconnecting the apparatus completely from the photocopier by means of readily releasable clamps or by pivoting part of the apparatus away from the window of the photocopier whereby the apparatus may be used not only to photocopy fan fold paper but used in a conventional manner to photocopy normal documents. Control signals to operate the apparatus are derived by a light sensitive means viewing the light source within the photocopier through the window of the photocopier.

Abstract: A printing plate making attachment for a graphic art camera taking the place of the ordinary silver halide film cartridge back. The attachment includes an endless belt of flexible electrophotograhic film that is charged by a source of corona, exposed and then rotated to a location where an ink-receptive toner in liquid form is applied to the resulting latent image under bias conditions. A supply of plate material such as paper, aluminum, plastic or other flexible substrate material is included and a single sheet of the plate material is fed into the nip of a pressure roller engaging against the endless belt, causing the toned image to be transferred from the belt to the plate material. The plate material containing the toned image is then fed past a fixing station and thereafter dispensed as a completed plate. The plate is suitable for us in an offset printing press.

Abstract: In an electronic copier of a type that includes a document scanner, a memory device and a printer, a complex servo system is generally used to provide phase synchronous operation between such copier components. In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided wherein an electronic copier is operated in a "free running" mode without such phase synchronization. Specifically, in accordance with a disclosed embodiment of the invention, a composite information signal corresponding to an original document is stored in the memory device in the form of document information sandwiched by leading and trailing pilot signals. Upon playback, certain copier functions are so coordinated with the termination of the leading pilot signal that problems which would be expected in the absence of a servo system, such as image registration errors, are avoided.

Abstract: This patent describes a user interface device (UI device) used for machine control. The UI device is comprised of a video display capable of presenting desired images to the machine operator and a touch sensitive device capable of detecting operator requests by means of the operator touching the surface of the video display. A standard keyboard may also be employed when typed responses are required of the operator or for infrequent use a QWERTY keyboard may be displayed on the Display. The UI device is controlled by a general purpose computer, which also controls the on-line machine. Visual elements presented to the user on the UI device's display include instructions in text (orthographic display), and images (imaginal display). Displayed images may include and log status indicators (E. g., meters, thermometers) and buttons which the operator can touch to signal control requests.

Abstract: A control device is disclosed for controlling the operation of an original document feeder. A detector is provided for detecting the presence of an original at a position along the feed path, and a jam detecting device in coupled to stop the operation of the feeder within a predetermined time period unless the jam detector function is released, in response to said original detector, prior to the expiration of said predetermined time period.

Abstract: A scanning continuously variable reduction electrophotographic copier includes a servo motor for driving the document scanning carriages. Servo motor, and therefore carriage motion parameters of velocity, duration of acceleration and deceleration, length or time duration of travel and time of start of scan are selectable to produce a selected reduction ratio within a continuous range of reduction ratios. In one embodiment, three partially overlapping hybrid servo loops are used, one for acceleration and deceleration, another for constant velocity motion and a third for precise stopping control. In another embodiment, a single loop controls the entire motion.

Abstract: A magnetic brush developing device for an electrostatic copying apparatus wherein a magnetic brush is formed on a surface of a developing roller includes a magnet roller rotating inside of a cylindrical sleeve which is located adjacent to the surface of an electrostatic latent image retaining member to which a developing material is circumferentially applied. The magnet roller stops at a rotary angle such that a bristle of the magnetic brush on the sleeve is spaced from the surface of the electrostatic latent image retaining member, whereby a bristle of the magnetic brush is prevented from remaining in contact with the electrostatic latent image retaining member. Thereby, the developing material is prevented from causing the surface of the electrostatic latent image retaining member to change chemically, the developing material is prevented from causing the electrical characteristics of the surface to fail, and the developing material is prevented from adhering to the surface.

Abstract: An improved heated fuser roll for use in a fuser apparatus for fixing toner images to a support surface is disclosed. The fuser roll includes a circular sleeve member having at least one heating unit positioned within the sleeve member. Each heating unit includes (i) a plurality of axially disposed thermally conductive members each formed of a chordal section having a curved surface positioned in contiguous relation to the inside curved surface of the sleeve member and a substantially flat surface, (ii) a plurality of wafer shaped heating elements formed of a semiconducting ceramic material having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and exhibiting a Curie temperature transition point at which the resistance of the material increases with increasing temperature, and (iii) resilient means. Each of the heating units is separated from each other by an insulating member.

Abstract: A photocopy machine having a drum and associated rollers driven by a flexible drive belt. A first gear train is connected between the drive belt and the drum for driving the drum at a low speed. A second independent gear train is connected between the drive belt and the rollers for driving the rollers at a relatively high speed, the gear trains being connected to the belt at points separated from one another. The drum and rollers are mounted in a drawer frame providing "pull out" movement with respect to a main frame. First and second one-way clutches of the axially separable type are interposed in the respective gear trains and axially oriented between the frames for completing separate drive connections in the trains when the drawer frame is closed in operating position, with the drive connections being broken when the drawer is pulled out for inspection or servicing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copying machine operator console having a keyboard (17), a copying number display (23), a message display (13,15) and a control means (19) operating the copy number and message displays. The control means causes the message display to prompt an operator to enter a number of desired copies using predetermined keys of the keyboard and also causes the message display to sequentially display selected messages instructing an operator to enter with said predetermined keys machine function selection information. The control means also causes the copy number display to display the operator selected number of copies.

Abstract: An electrophotographing method for use in a copying apparatus employing a sensitizing screen having a great number of fine apertures, made in a drum shape, and a transferring means having a conductive base plate and a charge storage layer formed on the base plate. The transferring means is constructed in the form of a drum. During the process of obtaining a great number of copies from a primary electrostatic latent image which has been stored on the sensitizing means, a secondary electrostatic latent image is formed and regenerated on the transferring means from the stored primary latent image.

Abstract: A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus, wherein a magnetic developer image formed on the surface of an endlessly moving image bearing member is transferred onto an image transfer member, which comprises: a cleaning device to remove the magnetic developer remaining on the surface of the image bearing member; a magnetic field forming source situated in the vicinity of the cleaning device to confine the magnetic developer; a magnetic developer absorbing device having a surface to lead the confined magnetic developer from the surface of the image bearing member to a position away from it; a separating and guiding device which separates the magnetic developer from the magnetic developer adsorbing device, and guides the same outside the confining magnetic field; and a developer conveying device which conveys the removed toner in the direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the image bearing member at a position where the confining magnetic field does not extend substantially.

Abstract: A cleaning device for removing developer from the surface of a reusable and movable image bearing member comprises a cleaning member which extends transversely of the movement direction of the image bearing member, a device for transporting the removed developer along the transverse direction, a passageway for leading the transported developer to a collecting element, and a rotatable helical member for preventing the deposition of the removed developer on the passageway.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying apparatus which includes a rotatable photoreceptor member having a photoconductive surface for repeated formation of an electrostatic latent image of an original thereon. A casing is disposed around the photoreceptor member and included a corona charger for uniformly charging the surface. An exposure device is provided for exposing the charged surface to image light of the original through an optical assembly including an illuminating light source so as to form the electrostatic latent image of the original thereon. A system is provided for eliminating harmful gases generated by the corona charger disposed within the copying apparatus.