Exposure apparatus

Claim 2

In an automatic continuous electrostatic recording apparatus of the type wherein a photoreceptor member is mounted for movement past a plurality of processing stations including a charging station at which a uniform electrostatic charge is placed onto the surface of the photoreceptor member, an exposure station at which an image of graphic information is optically projected in flowing sequence onto the charged surface to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, and a development station at which the latent electrostatic image is developed by electroscopic toner material, an improved exposure mechanism for reproducing either line or varying tone images comprising: optical scanning means for projecting a flowing image of graphic information along an optical path onto the surface of a photoreceptor member adapted for movement in timed relation therewith; slit means disposed in the optical path including a first slit defining portion and a second slit defining portion, said first slit defining portion being open and said second slit defining portion having a semitransparent plate containing substantially parallel opaque lines thereon and substantially parallel transparent lines between said opaque lines with the spacing between said opaque lines being substantially equal; said slit defining portions being movably mounted in close proximity to said photoreceptor surface to move from a first position with said first slit defining portion in the optical path to a second position with said second slit defining portion in the optical path whereby each slit defining portion can be moved into and out of said optical path in response to discrete electrical signals; and circuit means to emit discrete electrical signals to position one of said slit defining portions in the optical path according to whether line or varying tone type images are to be reproduced.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said slit means includes means to move said slit defining portions along in parallel relation and at right angles to the optical path.

Claim 4

In an automatic continuous electrostatic recording apparatus of the type wherein a photoreceptor member is mounted for movement past a plurality of processing stations including a charging station at which a uniform electrostatic charge is placed onto the surface of the photoreceptor member, an exposure station at which an image of graphic information is optically projected in flowing sequence onto the charged surface to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, and a development station at which the latent electrostatic image is developed by electroscopic toner material, an improved exposure mechanism for reproducing either line or varying tone images comprising: optical scanning means for projecting a flowing image of graphic information along an optical path onto the surface of a photoreceptor member adapted for movement in timed relation therewith; slit means disposed in the optical path including a first slit defining portion and a second slit defining portion, said first slit defining portion being open and said second slit defining portion having a semitransparent plate containing substantially parallel opaque lines thereon and substantially parallel transparent lines between said opaque lines with the spacing between said opaque lines being substantially equal; said slit defining portions being movably mounted in close proximity to said photoreceptor surface whereby each slit defining portion can be moved into and out of said optical path in response to discrete electrical signals; and circuit means to emit discrete electrical signals to position one of said slit defining portions in the optical path according to whether line or varying tone type images are to be reproduced, wherein said first slit defining portion is formed with a pair of gates movable toward and away from the optical centerline to form a variable width exposure slit, and means to move said gates toward and away from the optical centerline to render different time exposures of said photoreceptor member.

Claim 5

In an automatic continuous electrostatic recording apparatus of the type wherein a photoreceptor member is mounted for movement past a plurality of processing stations including a charging station at which a uniform electrostatic charge is placed onto the surface of the photoreceptor member, an exposure station at which an image of graphic information is optically projected in flowing sequence onto the charged surface to form a latent electrostatic image thereon, and a development station at which the latent electrostatic image is developed by electroscopic toner material, an improved exposure mechanism for reproducing either line or varying tone images comprising: optical scanning means for projecting a flowing image of graphic information along an optical path onto the surface of a photoreceptor member adapted for movement in timed relation therewith; slit means disposed in the optical path including a first slit defining portion and a second slit defining portion, said first slit defining portion being open and said second slit defining portion having a semitransparent plate containing substantially parallel opaque lines thereon and substantially parallel transparent lines between said opaque lines with the spacing between said opaque lines being substantially equal; said slit defining portions being movably mounted in close proximity to said photoreceptor surface whereby each slit defining portion can be moved into and out of said optical path in response to discrete electrical signals; and circuit means to emit discrete electrical signals to position one of said slit defining portions in the optical path according to whether line or varying tone type images are to be reproduced, wherein said first slit defining portion is formed with a pair of gates movable toward and away from the optical centerline to form a variable width exposure slit, and means to move said gates toward and away from the optical centerline to render different time exposures of said photoreceptor member.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said slit means includes optical space control and centering means to maintain a uniform spacing between said gates and a predetermined relationship between said gates and the optical centerline.

Claim 7

Exposure apparatus comprising: optical scanning means for projecting a flowing image of graphic information along an optical path onto the surface of a photoreceptor member adapted for movement in timed relation therewith; slit means disposed in the optical path including a first slit defining portion and a second slit defining portion, said first slit defining portion being open and said second slit defining portion having a semitransparent plate containing substantially parallel opaque lines thereon and substantially parallel transparent lines between said opaque lines with the spacing between said opaque lines being substantially equal; said slit defining portions being movably mounted in closed proximity to said photoreceptor surface to move from a first position with said first slit defining portion in the optical path to a second position with said second slit defining portion in the optical path whereby each slit defining portion can be moved into and out of said optical path in response to discrete electrical signals; and circuit means to emit discrete electrical signals to position a one of said slit defining portions in the optical path according to whether line or varying tone type images are to be reproduced.

Claim 8

Exposure apparatus comprising: optical scanning means for projecting a flowing image of graphic information along an optical path onto the surface of a photoreceptor member adapted for movement in timed relation therewith; slit means disposed in the optical path including a first slit defining portion and a second slit defining portion, said first slit defining portion being open and said second slit defining portion having a semitransparent plate containing substantially parallel opaque lines thereon and substantially parallel transparent lines between said opaque lines with the spacing between said opaque lines being substantially equal; said slit defining portions being movably mounted in closed proximity to said photoreceptor surface to move from a first position with said first slit defining portion in the optical path to a second position with said second slit defining portion in the optical path whereby each slit defining portion can be moved into and out of said optical path in response to discrete electrical signals; and circuit means to emit discrete electrical signals to position a one of said slit defining portions in the optical path according to whether line or varying tone type images are to be reproduced.