Electrostatic photocopying apparatus

Claim 1

An electrostatic photocopying machine having a corona discharge device and comprising: a main stand; a vertically positioned supporting column mounted on said main stand; a projection optical unit having a light source for directing light vertically downwardly, saId unit mounted on the upper part of said column; a copying paper support stand mounted on the bottom part of said column in vertical alignment with said optical unit and adapted to have copying paper placed thereon; the corona discharge device being mounted on said vertical column between said optical unit and said copying paper support stand and in vertical alignment therewith, said discharge device spaced a predetermined distance from said support stand to create a weak corona discharge region for said copying paper; container means having developing solution therein and located adjacent to and below said copying paper support stand in vertical alignment thereof, said container means positioned on said main stand, and means provided to selectively move said container means upwardly so that said support stand and copying paper are immersed in said solution; a bias electrode plate pivotally mounted on said column adjacent the mounting of said support stand, said bias electrode plate being pivoted to an inactive vertical position when said corona device is operable, and said bias electrode plate being pivoted to an active horizontal position to be immersed in said developing solution when said container means has been moved upwardly; and said corona discharge device being pivotally mounted and swingable to an inactive substantially vertical position thereby exposing said copying paper to the downwardly directed light when the optical unit is operable.