Abstract: The heat and pressure rolls of a fusing apparatus for an electrophotographic copying machine are shifted into pressure contact with one another while a support sheet bearing a toner powder image passes therebetween, and are separated while the sheet is not therebetween. A driving mechanism drives both rolls when not in contact, while one of the rolls drives the other while in pressure contact. A shifting mechanism is actuated by a sheet detector for shifting the rolls into and out of contact.In another embodiment, the rolls are in light rolling contact, with no sheet passing therebetween, under the weight of one of the rolls idly mounted in place. A pressing mechanism presses the rolls into pressure contact, upon actuation by a sheet detector, while the sheet passes between the rolls.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying apparatus in which a photoreceptor, a developing device and a cleaning device for residual toner particles are integrally incorporated in a casing as one unit so as to be releasably inserted into the copying apparatus housing for efficient replacement and maintenance of such major components. The copying apparatus is further provided with a copy paper sheet feed device which can be changed over from manual sheet insertion to automatic sheet feeding or vice versa by simply one operation.

Abstract: An optical illumination device for use in a copying apparatus of the type wherein an object is to be illuminated and an image thereof is to be projected through a particular image transmitter formed of a plurality of optical fibers of graded refractive index in bundled configuration to a light sensitive surface, comprises a source of illumination light and a light guide duct of substantially flattened cubic body. The light guide duct is designed such that rays of light from the light source accommodated within the light guide duct are directed towards a curved reflective surface and subsequently converge at one point on the transparent support structure for the support of the original to be copied thereon to form a strip or ribbon of light available for illumination of the original to be copied.

Abstract: An image transmission means for employment in a photocopying machine wherein a document to be copied is scanned and image-wise light reflected therefrom is directed onto a photosensitive medium which is moved at a speed equal or proportional to the document scanning speed. The image transmission means comprises an image-transmitting light-conducting fiber array which transmits image light reflected from a document onto a photosensitive medium, and is so mounted that photosensitive medium portions which are less exposed due to characteristic variation in light transmission efficiency of different portions of the fiber array are disposed longitudinally with respect to the document image. Illumination of a document is provided by one or two tubular alternating current fluorescent lamps which are actuated to provide illumination which varies at a frequency and to a proportion that are selected with reference to the characteristic variations of different portions of the light-conducting fiber array.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copier having an endless photoconductive belt whose circumference is an integral multiple of one dimension of each of two sizes of exposure areas corresponding to two sizes of copy paper. A set of cams for each size of copy paper operates switches to control the operation for that paper size. At the end of each exposure cycle the belt is positioned so that the next exposure is made on a different area of the belt and so that the image is not located over the seam or joint in the belt. The belt is charged at the end of every copying cycle so that the next cycle can begin with immediate exposure, and the size of the area charged is set automatically when the size of the copy is selected.

Abstract: A separating device for copy paper sheets for use in a photocopying apparatus includes a long, thin separating tape of an insulating material which is disposed lengthwise, in the direction of advance of a copy paper sheet, between one side edge of the photoreceptor surface and the corresponding side edge of the copy paper sheet to be separated, and a pick-off thread or string of an insulating material stretched diagonally and slantwise across the plane into which the copied paper sheet is fed. One side of the copied paper sheet is initially separated by the separating tape, and as the sheet is further delivered, it passes under the pick-off thread so as to be wholly peeled off the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: A magnetic brush developing apparatus for use in a dry process electrophotographic copying apparatus which includes a developing roller rotatably provided adjacent to a movable photoreceptor surface and comprising a rotatable outer cylinder and a plurality of pairs of stationary magnets fixedly disposed around the outer cylinder at predetermined angles from one another with a first pair of the stationary magnets directed toward the photoreceptor and with a second pair directed toward a sump of developing material. In each pair of magnets, especially in the first pair for development, two magnets are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance to form soft magnetic brush bristles for uniform quality of copied images.

Abstract: An electrophotographic sensitive member comprises of a flexible web having a photosensitive layer and provided with a longitudinally uni-directionally heat contractible insulating connector sheet of a predetermined length extending from one end thereof. In attaching the sensitive member over an endless support, the free end of the sensitive member is adhered to the free end of the connector sheet and the connector sheet is contracted to tightly embrace the member on the endless support upon the application of heat.