Multiple mode image processing apparatus and method

Claim 2

A multiple mode image processing apparatus having a movable photoconductive member (19), means (15, 16) for producing images on said photoconductive member, image reading means (61) for reading said images to provide image signals representative of the images read, and data transmission means (76) for transmitting said image signals; at a predetermined image signal transmission rate, characterized by: drive means (31) for moving said photoconductive member either continuously or in steps at a speed compatible with said predetermined image signal transmission rate.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 including means (25) for xerographically processing said images to provide copies of said images, characterized by: said drive means moving said photoconductive member at a second speed compatible with said xerographic process when processing said copies xerographically.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said processing means includes developing means (25) for developing said images on said photoconductive member and transfer means (27) for transferring said developed images to copy substrate material, characterized by: said image reading means (61) reading said images after developing by said developing means but before transfer by said transfer means.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said image producing means includes a platen (12) for supporting documents to be reproduced, charging means (23) for charging said photoconductive member in preparation for imaging, and exposure means (15, 16) for exposing said photoconductive member to documents on said platen to produce images on said photoconductive member, characterized by: said drive means moving said photoconductive member at said second speed when exposing said photoconductive member.

Claim 7

A multiple mode image processing method in which differences between the rate at which images are processed xerographically and the image signal transmission rate of a data transmission system are accommodated, said image signals being transmitted in either synchronous or asynchronous fashion by the data transmission system, the steps characterized by: in a xerographic processing mode, moving a photoconductive member at a first speed while processing images xerographieally; in a scan mode, reading said images on said photoconductive member as said images are being xerographically processed by scanning said photoconductive member to produce image signals representative of the images read; while reading said images, moving said photoconductive member uninterruptedly or in steps at a second speed compatible with said image signal transmission rate whereby said photoconductive member acts as a buffer to accommodate the difference between said image signal transmission rate and said xerographic processing rate; and following reading of said images, returning said photoconductive member to said first speed for further xerographic processing of the images read.

Claim 8

A multiple mode image processing method in which differences between the rate at which images are processed xerographically and the image signal transmission rate of a data transmission system are accommodated, said image signals being transmitted in either synchronous or asynchronous fashion by the data transmission system, the steps characterized by: in a xerographic processing mode, moving a photoconductive member at a first speed while processing images xerographieally; in a scan mode, reading said images on said photoconductive member as said images are being xerographically processed by scanning said photoconductive member to produce image signals representative of the images read; while reading said images, moving said photoconductive member uninterruptedly or in steps at a second speed compatible with said image signal transmission rate whereby said photoconductive member acts as a buffer to accommodate the difference between said image signal transmission rate and said xerographic processing rate; and following reading of said images, returning said photoconductive member to said first speed for further xerographic processing of the images read.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 6 characterised by the st I p of: providing said images through exposure of said photoconductive member to document originals while moving said photoconductive member at said first speed.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 6 characterised by the step of: providing said images by scanning said photoconductive member and exposing said photoconductive member in accordance with image signals input at said data transmission rate while moving said photoconductive member uninterruptedly or in steps at said second speed.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 6 characterised by: developing said images in said xerographic processing mode; and reading said developed images in said scan mode.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 6 characterised by the step of: asynchronously stepping said photoconductive member in response to transmission of said image signals whereby to provide said second photoconductive member speed.