Abstract: A belt photoreceptor in a xerographic printer is entrained on a roller formed from a set of discs. Each disc defines an outer circumference and a flexible main portion. The outer circumferences of a set of discs effectively form a single outer surface of the roller. The discs are flexible and can move against each other, to allow stabilization of the photoreceptor belt, but are in sufficient contact with one another to enable heat to be distributed evenly across the roller.

Abstract: An isolation coupling which provides for isolation of torsional vibration, from a drive component to a drive component, such as a driven shaft, due to non-constant drive forces. The vibration isolation coupling includes a drive assembly connected to the drive component, and a driven assembly connected to the driven component. The drive assembly and the driven assembly are axially aligned, such as being mounted on the shaft of the drive component for example. A member, having torsional compliability, interconnects the drive assembly to the driven assembly. Accordingly, vibrations imparted to the drive assembly are isolated from the driven assembly by such torsional compliability of the member.

Abstract: Image-forming apparatus includes a finite length image member such as a seamed photoconductive loop. Images are formed on the image member in one of three different sized image frames, the first image frame being 1/2 the in-track length of the third image frame and the second image frame having an intermediate length. Relatively small size images, for example letter size images are formed in the first size frames while relatively large sized images, for example, ledger sized images are formed in the third size frames. Intermediate sized images, for example images for B-4 receiving sheets are formed in the second or intermediate size image frames. Receiving sheets in duplex are passed through a finite length duplex path which has a speed profile which is substantially the same for receiving sheets bearing images formed in the first and third frame lengths but is different, for example faster, for images formed in the second size image frame while use of the same duplex path for the three frame sizes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a finite length recirculating duplex path without a duplex tray and having an inverter. A receiving sheet is delayed in the inverter by a time which is variable in order to vary the recirculating path time. Preferably, the time is varied according to the length of receiving sheet used so that maximum usage can be made of the image forming apparatus. A preferred inverter includes entrance and exit nips and a stop at the end of a paper chute. The stop is positioned to receive the leading edge of a sheet fed into the chute and hold the sheet through a variable time delay. The stop is then moved toward the exit nip at the end of the time delay to begin to move the receiving sheet out of the inverter. The receiving position of the stop is variable to receive sheets of different intrack length.

Abstract: A sheet inverter generally of the type having a chute for receiving a moving sheet fed in through an input nip and out through an output nip includes an edge engaging stop which is resilient or movable to push the sheet into the output nip. The chute is defined by a pair of paper guides that are curved at one end to bend the leading edge of the sheet into a crosstrack curve that improves its beam strength while the trailing edge is not curved in the crosstrack direction, allowing it to be easily fed into the output nip.

Abstract: In a reproduction apparatus, such as a copier, having a fusing station which includes a heated coated fuser roller and a pressure roller forming a nip for fusing a receiver passing through said nip, the fusing station is mounted for lateral movement in relation to the movement of the receiver through the nip.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus for use with a host reproduction apparatus to form properly collated sets of copies produced by the reproduction apparatus. The finishing apparatus includes first and second stapling units each having a stapler head and a clincher head for stapling an edge of a stack of copy sheets. The stapler head of the first stapling unit and the clincher head of the second stapler unit are located to a first side of a stack member supporting a stack of sheets, and the clincher head of the first stapling unit and the stapler head of the second stapling unit are located on a second and opposite side of the stack supporting member.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus having a logic and control unit (LCU) and selectable copy sheet supply units includes a mechanism for determining the sheet weight of copy sheets to be handled therein. The mechanism includes a platform for supporting one such sheet on a desired surface, and a proximity sensor that is connected to the LCU and mounted at a predetermined height above the sheet supporting surface. The mechanism also includes a variable voltage sheet buckling device for creating a buckle in the supported sheet sufficient to actuate the proximity sensor. Means are provided in the logic and control unit for reading the voltage level of the sheet buckling device at the actuation of the sensor, and for correspondingly reading from a truth table a predetermined sheet weight for the read voltage level.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus for producing copies of an original document on copy sheets includes a mechanism for determining the size of the original document. The document size determining mechanism includes an optical document scanner, logic and control means and an advanceable multi-section document cover belt. The multi-section belt has a white section and a dark section which are selectably advanced over a document so as to create a color contrast between the color of the document and the color of the selected document cover forming section.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus such as a copier or printer has an endless imaging member such as a flexible web which has a splice and a number of processing stations. The imaging member is divisible into a plural number of imaging portions as well as a non-imaging portion about and including the splice. The imaging member is movable in the copier or printer about a fixed path, and the processing stations are mounted at fixed points along the fixed path. To significantly increase the productivity of the copier or printer, a plural number of sensors are mounted spaced from each other about the fixed path for quickly sensing the splice for use in registering the imaging portions of the imaging member to the processing stations.

Abstract: An intermediate sheet storage tray assembly for use in a reproduction apparatus includes a tray portion for receiving and holding tabbed sheets, and a feed device associated with a first edge of the tray portion for refeeding the tabbed sheets out of the tray portion. The intermediate sheet storage tray assembly further includes a mechanism for rotating the tray portion about a vertical axis so that the tabbed sheets in the tray portion are refed out of the tray portion even-edge first.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus having a flexible web member and detack roller assembly that includes a plurality of rotatable rollers over each of which a copy sheet and the flexible web member (while in intimate contact), can be trained. The plurality of detack rollers include a first, small diameter roller for forming a small web-wrap angle and a large sheet separation angle, and a second, larger diameter roller for forming a relatively larger web-wrap angle and a relatively smaller sheet separation angle. The first and second rollers are mounted on a frame for selective indexing into training engagement with the flexible web member.

Abstract: A toning station having an applicator with a rotatable component and a mixing device directly below it in a chamber are both rotated to tone an electrostatic image. To not tone an electrostatic image that is passing the applicator, the mixing device is not rotated while the rotatable component of the applicator is rotated for a short period of time to clear a developer position adjacent the electrostatic image of developer. A supply of developer in the chamber has a low enough level that when the mixing device is not rotating it does not come under the magnetic influence of the applicator but when the mixing device is rotating it is within such influence.

Abstract: A series of single color toner images are formed on one or more image members and transferred in registry to an intermediate member to form multicolor images. A first multicolor image is transferred from the intermediate member to the first side of a copy sheet, the copy sheet is inverted and a second multicolor image is transferred to the second side of the copy sheet. Preferably, the first multicolor image is not fused prior to transfer of the second multicolor image to the copy sheet, and the two multicolor images are fused to the copy sheet simultaneously.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining a constant copy output rate in color copiers having a transfer station which produces more than one color copy at substantially the same time. The time lapse between making another set of color copies, necessitated by transferring several color image frames in sequence, is utilized to provide the constant output rate. The sheet transport system between the transfer station and the fuser station is controlled such that it delivers the copy sheets to the fuser at time intervals different than that at which they are received from the transfer station. According to the preferred embodiment, the conveyor is stopped for a predetermined time between delivering each sheet to the fuser from the same set.

Abstract: A development apparatus in an electrostatographic copier or printer includes a constant force lift mechanism for automatically and gradually lifting a toner container so as to maintain contact between toner in the container and a toner replenishment roller. The mechanism includes a cam and spring assembly consisting of pivotable L-shaped cams that are connected by a horizontal tension spring for automatically lifting and lowering the toner container in response to the weight of toner in the container.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copier-printer having a continuous intermediate transfer roller. Several color component images are transferred in registration to the intermediate roller and then the composite image is transferred to a hard copy material such as a paper sheet. The images transferred to the intermediate roller come from specific locations on a seamed photoconductive belt. The roller circumference is not an integral fraction of the belt length, thereby allowing the belt position to precess along the roller during component image transfers. The seam of the belt is confined to a precess region between image areas on the roller. This precessing allows the roller to be varied in size by an amount dependent upon the amount of allowed precessing and the number of component images transferred.