Abstract: A strip of exposed and developed film has a series of exposures and corresponding exposure identification numbers. The strip is conveyed through a scanning station on its way to a printing station. The exposures and identification numbers are scanned in the scanning station to produce output signals indicative of density changes. The signals are processed to generate groups of data which are combined into a data set. Each group includes the position of a respective exposure on the strip, the identification number for the exposure and the position of the identification number on the strip. Film transport is carried out in such a manner that scanning of the strip and processing of the resulting signals are completed before arrival of the strip at the printing station. A control unit uses the data set to position the exposures in the printing station and to print the exposures. The control unit also uses the data set to mark a copy of an exposure with the identification number of the exposure.

Abstract: A machine for developing photographic material comprising more than one tank and means for continuously conveying photographic material through the development machine, reduces the entraining of chemicals from one tank to the next, when the conveying distance is 40 to 200 cm.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and squaring a stack of sheets has a support plate having a generally horizontal and flat support surface adapted to support the stack of sheets, a guide projecting upward from the support surface and having an abutment face directed in a predetermined direction generally parallel thereto, and a generally horizontal rod vertically spaced from the surface and stack and extending in the direction. A pusher element carried on the rod is slidable thereon in the direction, friction alone linking the element and rod together in the direction. This pusher element is engageable with a sheet on the surface. A stop facing opposite to the direction is also engageable with the element. A drive reciprocates the rod in the direction through a predetermined stroke toward and away from the guide. Thus on displacement toward the guide the element engages and pushes a sheet opposite the direction until the sheet engages thereagainst, at which time the element slides on the rod.

Abstract: In a copying machine a copy-receiving device is provided which includes a table with a plate inclined to a horizontal at a predetermined angle and supporting thereon sets of copies or sheets to be stapled together by a stapling device which is insertable into the copy-receiving device and arranged at the lower end of the inclined plate. The stapling device is actuated by a drive motor, a crank drive with a pulling bar having an end portion with a compression spring thereon, and an actuating arm pivotally connected to the end portion of the pulling bar. The spring compensates for various thickness is of the stacks of sheets being stapled and provides for displacement-free stapling of the sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for squaring, stapling, and stacking copies is used in combination with a copier that produces a succession of sheet copies and has a housing adapted to be positioned adjacent the copier, an upper support plate in the housing positioned to receive the copies from the copier and having a downstream end remote from the copier, and a stop flap at the downstream end and pivotal between a position blocking copies from sliding down off the downstream end and a freeing position permitting copies to slide down off the downstream end. A downwardly inclined lower support plate in the housing below the downstream end of the upper plate is positioned to receive copies sliding in the freeing position of the stop flap off the downstream end of the upper plate. A stapler is fixed in the housing adjacent the upper plate upstream of the downstream end thereof and an actuator is connected to the stapler for closing same on a stack of copies on the upper plate for stapling same together.

Abstract: An arrangement for transporting a sheet-like data carrier with reversing its direction of movement and at the same time maintaining its original orientation has first and second transporting paths and a reversing path, a turnable lever located between the first and second transporting paths and having a length and a mounting point selected so that one of the supporting rollers arranged on the lever can be brought to abutment against one transporting roller of the second transporting path and simultaneously the other supporting roller of the lever comes to a position below the first transporting path, a sensing element arranged at the reversing path and operative for sensing a front edge of the data carrier, and a controlling element operative to control the movement of transporting rollers of the reversing path and the turnable lever in response to the sensing by the sensing means, so that reversing of transporting direction of the transporting rollers of the reversing path and turning of the turnable lever t

Abstract: A developer device for electrostatic copiers includes a housing in which toner is circulated. The circulating toner is dropped in free fall at a predetermined location. Underneath that location are two side-by-side lengthwise extending channels into which the falling toner is substantially uniformly distributed. Guide baffles in one channel direct the incoming toner along the channel in one direction, and guide baffles in the other channel direct toner in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A copying apparatus has imaging equipment provided along the upstream end of a transport path for a copying sheet through its housing, and a fuser assembly including a fuser casing and a fuser heater downstream of this imaging equipment along the path. The entire fuser assembly is pivotal about a horizontal pivot in the housing from an operative position with the heater facing downwardly toward the conveyor path to a servicing position with the fuser assembly completely outside the housing and the fuser heater facing upwardly for servicing.

Abstract: The cleaning arrangement of an electrophotographic copying machine scrapes off the machine's copying drum residual toner clinging to the surface of the copying drum subsequent to image transfer, and the residual toner is conveyed generally horizontally into a toner-collection compartment. The toner-collection compartment accommodates a generally rigid but collapsible fold-up cardboard toner-collection container which is thrown away after one use. The throw-away toner-collection container, when in collapsed condition, is flat so that a sizable number of such throw-away containers can be kept on hand without requiring an inconvenient amount of storage space.

Abstract: An electrostatic copier has a rotatable copy drum and a developing unit which can be inserted and removed from the copier in toto. The developing unit is provided with bearing members which at least partly and loosely embrace the shaft of the copy drum.

Abstract: An optical copier has a transparent exposure plate which supports a portion of an original document to be copied and exposes the latter to light rays during the copying operation. The transparent plate extends across an opening of a frame, being inwardly offset with respect to a support surface of the frame. A lid is mounted on the frame for pivoting between a closed position in which the lid covers the transparent plate, and fully open position. A marginal portion of the frame holds the lid in its fully open position so that the lid serves to support another portion of the original document. A hinge which mounts the lid on the frame may include a connecting link and two pivots which respectively connect the link to the lid and to the frame. The hinge may be mounted either on the lid or on the frame for an easy detachment therefrom, for instance, by resiliently yieldable bearing blocks which engage with snap action behind an edge portion which surrounds an orifice.

Abstract: An arrangement for transporting toner from a supply to a latent-image developing station of an electrostatic copier. The arrangement includes a rotatable transporting element having a shaft, an eccentric cam spaced from the shaft, a pivot arm pivotable into and out of contact with the cam and a freewheel drive connecting it with the shaft, and an adjustable stop which determines the extent to which the pivot arm can pivot towards the cam.

Abstract: A copying machine has a scanner movable in a forward direction to scan a master sheet and in a reverse direction to return to its starting position. A drive shaft of the machine rotates similarly forwardly and backwardly to displace this scanner and is connected to a pair of cams, one of which controls a pickup arm for sliding the uppermost sheet off a paper supply stack and the other of which is connected to a pair of pinch rollers which advance the picked up sheet through the imaging mechanism of the machine. Each of these cams has an operating portion which actuates the respective machine element during forward rotation of the cams, but which is brought out of engagement with the respective cam follower during reverse operation of the machine so that during return of the scanner to the starting position the pickup arm and pinch rollers are not operated.

Abstract: Relative movement is effected between an original to be copied and an optical projection system. During such movement, the projection system projects the image of successive strip-shaped portions of the original onto successive strip-shaped portions of a recording medium, to form a gap-free reproduction of the original. The projection system includes a plurality of optical elements at least two of which are of positive refractive power and project an image of a strip-shaped portion of the original into an intermediate image plane and from there onto the recording medium. At least one of the optical elements of the projection system comprises an element having a lenticular layer of positive refractive power and a reflective layer combined therewith.

Abstract: An electrostatic copier of the type wherein an electrostatic image pattern is formed on the photoconductive surface of a travelling endless carrier, to which pattern toner particles are attracted to form a visible image which is then transferred to an image carrier, has a toner removing apparatus for removing residual toner particles from the photoconductive surface. The apparatus has a roller adjacent the surface and a doctor blade above the roller which strips toner particles from the surface so that they fall onto the roller. During rotation of the roller these particles are stripped off the roller and enter through a slot into a tube in which a polygonal cross-section member rotates which entrains the particles and conveys them to another slot of the tube to eject them from this other slot into a storage chamber.

Abstract: A drum assembly for an electrostatic copier having a stationary frame comprises a cylindrically tubular drum whose outer surface carries a light-sensitive coating. A pair of rings are snugly engaged with the outer ends of the drum and are mounted via roller bearings on the frame for rotation about a common ring axis. A support sleeve is non-rotatably fixed to the frame between the rings and within the drum and has an outer surface which normally lies out of contact with the drum and only serves to support the drum as it is being fitted into the machine, so as to protect its delicate light-sensitive coating. One of the rings can be removed from the frame so as to allow axial withdrawal of the drum.

Abstract: A copying apparatus is disclosed wherein an original is scanned by a light beam which is then transmitted along a path to the photosensitive surface of an imaging drum. A pair of baffles is arranged symmetrically relative to the aforementioned path and a motion-transmitting arrangement is provided, which is controlled from outside the copying apparatus and which serves to synchronously pivot the baffles into and out of the path to thereby control the amount of light which reaches the photosensitive surface of the drum.

Abstract: A sheet-holding cassette for a copying machine is formed as a box containing a stack of copy sheets. This box is adapted to be held in the machine with the uppermost sheet of the stack engageable with the paper-advance roller of the machine. A slot is provided in the upper wall of this cassette as well as a guide next to this slot and a deflector in back of this slot so that an extra sheet can be slid along the upper wall of the machine and into the cassette to lie at least at its front edge on top of the stack of sheets in the cassette. Thus as the paper-advance roller is reciprocated down onto the stack it will pick up this extra sheet rather than the top sheet of the stack, allowing a copy to be made on a single extra copy sheet without having to reload the machine.

Abstract: An electro-photographic copier has a strip-shaped latent-image carrier which is payed out from a supply and taken up by a take-up. An image-forming station is provided at which an image of an original to be copied is formed on the image carrier, and a guide arrangement guides the image carrier on its way from the pay-out to the take-up in a path including at least adjacent the image-forming station a planar portion in which successive image-receiving increments of the image carrier travel past the station in substantially planar condition.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying apparatus wherein the original is placed face down onto a stationary transparent holder which is located above a reciprocating carriage for a lens element. The latter images the original onto a light receiving surface which travels along a straight path while the carriage moves in the same direction as the light receiving surface. The carriage can be moved by an eccentric drive, by a wiper which is attached to an endless belt or chain, or by a cam and follower assembly. The original is illuminated by flash lamps which are fired automatically while the carriage moves in the same direction as the light receiving surface.