Xerographic reproduction machine

Claim 2

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto sheets of copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of a flexible belt, means for producing a uniform charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a path having at least one section wherein the belt travels in a flat condition to define the exposure station therefor, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illuminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of an original thereon, energizing means for activating the illumination device to its operative condition for a short period of time to effect flash exposure of the original in full frame while the belt moves, the time of each flash exposure being sufficiently short so as not to cause a blurred latent image, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, a paper supply, paper feed means for feeding individually sheets of paper from the paper supply and into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor preparatory to the transfer of developed images thereon, the improvement including control means operatively connected to the energizing means and the paper feed means for actuating the latter in a predetermined timed relationship to activation of said illumination device by the energizing means for effecting the feed of sheets of paper in timed relation tO the production of corresponding latent images on the belt.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 including a registration mechanism interposed between the paper supply and the transfer station and including a member movable into the paper feed path to momentarily arrest and register the leading edge of a sheet of paper prior to the movement thereof to the transfer station, said control means being associated with the registration mechanism for actuating the member to release a sheet for movement in timed relation to activation of said illumination device.

Claim 4

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of an endless flexible belt, means for producing a charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a continuous path having at least one section wherein the belt travels in a flat condition and which defines the exposure station for the machine, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illuminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of an original thereon, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, an image transfer station, and paper feed means for moving individual sheets of paper into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor in order to accomplish the transfer of developed images to sheets of paper, the improvement including energizing means for activating the illumination device to its operative condition for a short period of time to effect flash exposure of the original in full frame while the belt is in continuous movement, the time of the flash exposure being sufficiently short so as not to cause a blurred latent image, control means operatively connected to said energizing means and said paper feed means for effecting equally timed successive activations of the illumination device for producing multiple exposures of an original and for activating the paper feed means in the same timed relationship to each activation of the illumination device.

Claim 5

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of an endless flexible belt, means for producing a charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a continuous path having at least one section wherein the belt travels in a flat condition and which defines the exposure station for the machine, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illuminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of an original thereon, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, an image transfer station, and paper feed means for moving individual sheets of paper into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor in order to accomplish the transfer of developed images to sheets of paper, the improvement including energizing means for activating the illumination device to its operative condition for a short period of time to effect flash exposure of the original in full frame while the belt is in continuous movement, the time of the flash exposure being sufficiently short so as not to cause a blurred latent image, control means operatively connected to said energizing means and said paper feed means for effecting equally timed successive activations of the illumination device for producing multiple exposures of an original and for activating the paper feed means in the same timed relationship to each activation of the illumination device.

Claim 6

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of an endless flexible belt, means for producing a charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a continuous path, an exposure station for the machine, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illuminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of each original thereon, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, an image transfer station, a paper supply, and paper transport means for moving individual sheets of paper from the paper supply into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor in order to accomplish the transfer of developed images thereon, and toner fixing means arranged for receiving the sheets after the transfer of developed images, the improvement wherein the transport means, the transfer station and the toner fixing means are arranged in a position so that paper movement occurs in substantially the same plane thereby effecting the movement of each sheet in substantially a straight path from the paper supply to the fixing means.

Claim 7

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of an endless flexible belt, means for producing a charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a continuous path, an exposure station for the machine, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illuminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of each original thereon, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, an image transfer station, a paper supply, and paper transport means for moving individual sheets of paper from the paper supply into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor in order to accomplish the transfer of developed images thereon, and toner fixing means arranged for receiving the sheets after the transfer of developed images, the improvement wherein the transport means, the transfer station and the toner fixing means are arranged in a position so that paper movement occurs in substantially the same plane thereby effecting the movement of each sheet in substantially a straight path from the paper supply to the fixing means.

Claim 8

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of an endless flexible belt, means for producing a charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a continuous path having at least one section wherein the belt travels in a flat condition and which defines the exposure station for the machine, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illUminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of an original thereon, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, an image transfer station, and paper feed means for moving individual sheets of paper into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor in order to accomplish the transfer of developed images to sheets of paper, the improvement including energizing means for activating the illumination device to its operative condition for a short period of time to effect flash exposure of the original in full frame while the belt is in continuous movement, the time of the flash exposure being sufficiently short so as not to cause a blurred latent image, control means operatively connected to said energizing means for effecting successive activations of the illumination device for producing multiple exposures of an original, said control means being operatively connected to the paper feed means for activating the paper feed means in timed relationship to activation of the illumination device while said activation of the illumination device is being effected.

Claim 9

In an electrostatic machine for reproducing copies of originals onto copy paper having a photoconductive plate in the form of an endless flexible belt, means for producing a charge thereon, means for supporting and moving the belt at a predetermined rate and in a continuous path having at least one section wherein the belt travels in a flat condition and which defines the exposure station for the machine, an illumination device for illuminating an original in full frame when the device is in its operative condition and projecting the illUminated full frame area onto the belt at the exposure station to produce an electrostatic latent image of an original thereon, means for developing the latent image with toner particles, an image transfer station, and paper feed means for moving individual sheets of paper into contact with the belt at the transfer station therefor in order to accomplish the transfer of developed images to sheets of paper, the improvement including energizing means for activating the illumination device to its operative condition for a short period of time to effect flash exposure of the original in full frame while the belt is in continuous movement, the time of the flash exposure being sufficiently short so as not to cause a blurred latent image, control means operatively connected to said energizing means for effecting successive activations of the illumination device for producing multiple exposures of an original, said control means being operatively connected to the paper feed means for activating the paper feed means in timed relationship to activation of the illumination device while said activation of the illumination device is being effected.