Abstract: A developing apparatus for supplying toner includes a toner hopper configured to hold unused toner, a developing tub, and a toner hopper mounting part provided between the developing tub and the toner hopper. The toner hopper is adapted to be mounted to and removed from the toner hopper mounting part. The toner hopper mounting part includes a vibration apparatus for vibrating the toner hopper mounting part to loosen the unused toner stored in the toner hopper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a common mount member formed with a shaft support portion for supporting a shaft supporting an image carrier and a writing device support portion for supporting the writing device. The common mount portion is affixed to a stationary member. The image carrier and writing device are held in a preselected positional relation via the common mount member. Also, a positional relation between the image carrier and a developing device is set via the common mount member. The image carrier and members surrounding it can be accurately assembled and adjusted in position with ease.

Abstract: A recycling automatic document feeder usable with an electronic copier and others includes a reversing section for feeding a document to a glass platen of the copier while turning it over. The document feeder adapts itself to a single-face and a double-face copy mode as well as to a document through type and an optical scan type exposing system.

Abstract: A slit-scanning type image exposing system for slit-exposing an original image to a photosensitive member which is being moved in a predetermined direction at constant speed, includes a lens and a light source which are moved in a first direction during exposure mode and in a second direction opposite to the first direction during returning mode. In one form of the present invention, an exposure control unit is provided in the region where the light path from the original image to the photosensitive member through the lens is virtually fixed in space. In another form, a shutter member is provided movably between the advanced position where the light path is blocked and the retracted position located away from the light path.

Abstract: A dual-color electrophotographic copier includes a first photosensitive drum having a first layer comprised of a photoconductive material sensitive to light of a first selected color and a second layer formed on the first layer from a photoconductive material sensitive to light of a second selected color and a second photosensitive drum having a third layer comprised of a photoconductive material sensitive at least to the first selected color. A light image from the same original may be applied to the first and second drums simultaneously to form electrostatic latent images on the first and second drums. These images may be developed by differently colored toner and the toner images may be transferred to the same transfer paper superposingly to obtain a dual-color copy image.

Abstract: An original to be copied is placed in a given position. An exposure optics including a movable part is employed to focus an optical image of slitwise segment of the original on a photosensitive member. The photosensitive member moves in a given direction and at a given speed throughout the exposure. The location where the image of slitwise segment of the original is focused moves through the space of the arrangement at a given speed and in a direction opposite from the direction of movement of the photosensitive member throughout the exposure. Consequently, the location corresponding to the initiation of the exposure is situated downstream as viewed in the direction of movement of the surface of the photosensitive member while the location corresponding to the end of the exposure is situated upstream as viewed in the same direction.

Abstract: The optical density pattern of an original document (26) is sensed during scanning movement for radiating a light image of the document (26) onto a photoconductive belt (27) which is held stationary during the scanning. Operating parameters of the apparatus (21) which are to be controlled after completion of scanning are computed as functions of the sensed pattern. Copy sheets of different sizes are provided, and the copy sheet size is selected to be equal to the sensed width of the document (26). Illumination lamps (37) are selectively energized to discharge non-image portions of the belt (27) between scanning and developing in accordance with the sensed dimensions of the document (26). A developing bias voltage is controlled in accordance with sensed document density and contrast.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a photoconductive element includes a cleaning member engaged with the surface of the photoconductive element to remove residual toner therefrom, a toner collecting member for collecting the toner removed by the cleaning member, and a casing for accommodating such members thereinside. The casing is formed with a guide section which permits the cleaning apparatus to be bodily moved in a direction perpendicular to an intended direction of movement of the photoconductive element. The guide section is positioned above the center of gravity position of the casing and farther from the photoconductive element than the center of gravity position. With this arrangement, the casing can be loaded and unloaded without any damage to the photoconductive element.

Abstract: A dry type development apparatus comprising (1) a developer container disposed near a latent-electrostatic-image-bearing photoconductor, a development roller, disposed within the developer container, comprising a rotatable non-magnetic sleeve and inner magnets, for supplying the toner to the photoconductor for development of the latent images, a rotatable bucket wheel for supplying the toner to the development roller, a doctor blade for forming on the development roller a toner layer with a predetermined thickness by scraping the excess toner off the toner layer; and (6) a separator which extends over the bucket wheel and guides the toner scraped off by the doctor blade onto the bucket wheel or to the developer container, includes the improvement wherein the development roller and the bucket wheel are rotated in the same direction, and the toner flows from the lower portion of the developer roller to the bucket wheel, then towards the upper portion of the development roller, and, of the toner transferred from

Abstract: A development apparatus for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on a latent electrostatic image bearing member to a visible image, having a development sleeve for transporting a developer to the latent electrostatic image for developing the same to a visible image, and a developer layer thickness regulating device for regulating the thickness of a developer layer on the development sleeve, in which development apparatus, the developer layer thickness regulation device comprises a pressure application member for applying pressure to the developer layer on the development sleeve by the magnetic force exerted on the pressure application member towards said developer transportation means, the pressure application member being supported so as to be movable in the direction substantially normal to the surface of the development sleeve.

Abstract: A cover (24) is hinged to the top of a housing (22) in such a manner as to be rockable from a closed position and an open position. A platen (23) is provided on top of the cover (24) for supporting an original document (26). A movable charging and scanning unit (32), endless photoconductive belt (27), cleaning unit (61) and fixing unit (54) are provided in the cover (24). A developing unit (39), sheet cassette (44), (46) and feed units and a transfer unit (41) are provided in the housing (22). The various units are easily detachable from the bottom of the cover (24) or the top of the housing (22), thus facilitating easy maintenance and removal of jammed sheets. The overall arrangement provides a substantial reduction in the size of the copying machine (21), especially in the vertical dimension.

Abstract: A cleaning roller having a movable surface formed by a brush of a reduced length implanted thereon and internally housing means for producing a magnetic field is disposed in contact with the surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier in order to remove the particle of a developer therefrom. The cleaning roller is in turn disposed in contact with an auxiliary cleaning roller which is effective to remove the developer particle which is trapped by the first mentioned cleaning roller. The auxiliary cleaning roller is in turn disposed in contact with a remover which removes the developer particle from the auxiliary cleaning roller.

Abstract: A photosensitive member used for an electrophotographic copying process includes an electrically conductive layer and a photosensitive layer formed thereon. The photosensitive layer has a surface region which is subject to an imagewise exposure to form an electrostatic latent image thereon which corresponds to an effective image area on an original which is to be copied. An area of the photosensitive layer other than the surface region which corresponds to the effective image area to be copied represents a photosensitive layer portion which substantially functions as a photosensitive member during a copying process, for example, during a charging step. The photosensitive layer portion is provided with a layer of an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A stack of sheets (59) are placed on a movable bottom plate (53) of a cassette (52) and aligned with a leading edge and a side edge of the cassette (52). A corner separator (66) is provided at the corner of the leading and side edges. The bottom plate (53) is raised so that the top sheet (59) engages with a single feed roller (61) which is disposed adjacent to the corner separator (66). A skew preventing roller (68) engages with the top sheet (59) upstream of the feed roller (61)in a feed direction of the sheet (59). A manual lever (88) is provided to move the skew preventing roller (68) and an arm (56) for raising the bottom plate (53) clear of the cassette (52) for the purpose of detaching or inserting the cassette (52) in a frame (94). In a released position of the lever (88), a portion (122) of the lever ( 88) blocks insertion and detachment of the cassette (52) while the skew preventing roller (68) and raising arm (56) are in operative positions.

Abstract: A drive motor (3) for a photoconductive belt (1) is energized for continuous rotation and connected to the belt (1) through a clutch. The clutch is disengaged and the belt (1) held stationary while an electrostatic image of an original document is formed on the belt (1). Then, the clutch is engaged and the belt (1) driven for developing the electrostatic image into a toner image and transferring and fixing the toner image to a copy sheet. The motor (3) also drives a pulse generator (18) which produces timing pulses. The timing pulses are counted by a counter. A control unit (E19) such as a microcomputer (19) controls the operation of the apparatus in accordance with predetermined counts in the counter. Marks (15.sub.1), (15.sub.2) are provided on the belt (1) in spaced relation. A compensation unit senses the number of timing pulses counted by the counter between sensing of the marks (15.sub.1), (15.sub.2).

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine includes a photosensitive member in the form of an endless belt which repeats a stop and an angular motion. A carriage reciprocates above a flat run of the photosensitive member in parallel relationship therewith when the latter is at rest. A charger, an illumination unit, an optical system and a high tension generator are mounted on the carriage. The charger is utilized to charge the photosensitive member to a given polarity. The illumination unit illuminates an original which is fixedly placed on an original receptacle. The optical system projects an image of the original illuminated onto the photosensitive member. The high tension generator supplies a current to the charger and the illumination unit.

Abstract: Push buttons (9u, 9d) are provided to select the desired intensity of a lamp (1) for electrostatic copying or the like. The selected intensity is numerically displayed. A preset function is provided to preset the intensity to a standard value when power is first applied to the apparatus. The intensity may thereafter be manually varied using the push buttons (9u, 9d). The lamp intensity is controlled by means of phase angle control of a thyristor (2). Provision is made to compensate the phase angle control for variations in the A.C. power supply voltage.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for guiding a movable contact glass, which serves as an original table in an electrophotographic copying machine, to a predetermined exposure position for slit exposure, without any inclination of the contact glass, comprising a drive member for reciprocating the contact glass in the exposure scanning direction and a guide member, which is shorter than the distance from the exposure position to the center of gravity of the contact glass at completion of the exposure scanning and whose upper surface at the exposure position is higher than the other upper surface thereof.The drive apparatus comprises a loop drive transmission member which is rotated in one direction and which substantially reciprocates the contact glass and can have a lock release apparatus capable of making the contact glass movable manually when the contact glass is stopped at its dead point.

Abstract: The sheet separation apparatus for separating a transfer sheet from a toner image bearing photoconductor for use in an electrophotographic copying machine comprises a plurality of separators which are rotatably mounted on a shaft arranged parallel to the photoconductor, and each of the separators is independently urged into pressure contact with the surface of the photoconductor by a spring member through a control member which is substantially integral with the shaft. In one embodiment of the sheet separation apparatus, the control member serves as a protector for preventing toner particles from being scattered from the surface of the photoconductor and in another embodiment of the sheet separation apparatus, the shaft can be turned about a predetermined point of one end portion of the shaft in the direction that the other end portion of the shaft can be moved away from the photoconductor for easy maintenance of the sheet separation apparatus.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes respective feeders for a manually loaded paper and a cassette feeder, both of which are simultaneously operated by single paper feed control means, but the feeding of a manually loaded paper is disabled during a cassette feeding mode while the cassette feeder is disabled during a manually loaded paper feeding mode.