Continuous imaging apparatus

Claim 2

A copying apparatus comprising in combination: a. an image support member; b. a rotatably mounted cylinder for driving said imaging support member; c. a pressure means for holding said image support member in a planar condition, said pressure means comprising an endless belt configuration which contacts only the lateral extremities of said image support member and is juxtapositioned to said drive means; d. means for forming an electrostatic latent image by full frame exposure on the surface of said image support member while said member is held in said planar condition; e. means for wrapping said image support member about said rotatably mounted cylinder; f. means for processing said electrostatic charge pattern on said image support member to produce at least more than one image reproduction; and g. means to return said image support member in a continuous manner to said exposure means so as to prepare said member for another cycle for full frame exposure and rapid processing.

Claim 3

The apparatus as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprises a means for developing said electrostatic latent image with electroscopic developer material and means for transferring said developer material from said support member in imagewise configuration to the surface of a receiving substrate, said developing and transfer means being positioned adjacent to said rotatably mounted cylinder.

Claim 4

The apparatus as disclosed in claim 2 further including cleaning means for removing residual developer material from said image support member.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said image support member comprises a flexible, reusable xerographic plate comprising a photoconductive insulating layer superimposed upon a conductive substrate.

Claim 6

The apparatus as disclosed in claim 4 wherein said processing means comprises a means for developing said electrostatic latent image with electroscopic developer material and means for transferring said developer material from said support member in imagewise configuration to the surface of a receiving substrate, said developing and transfer means being positioned adjacent to said rotatably mounted cylinder.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including a means for removing residual developer material from said xerographic plate and means for uniformly recharging said xerographic plate.

Claim 8

The apparatus as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said processing means comprises at least one induction imaging and developer means positioned adjacent to said rotatably mounted cylinder, said developer means adapted to deposit electroscopic marking particles on said electrostatic latent image.

Claim 9

The apparatus as disclosed in claim 7 further including a means for erasing residual charge from said image support member.

Claim 10

A copying apparatus comprising in combination an image support member, a rotatably mounted cylinder for driving said image support member, a pressure means adapted to hold said image support member in a planar condition during exposure said pressure means comprising an endless belt configuration which contacts only the lateral extremities of said imaging support member and is juxtapositioned to said drive means, means for forming an electrostatic latent image by full frame exposure on the surface of said image support member while said member is held in said planar condition, means for wrapping said image support member about said rotatably mounted cylinder, means for developing said electrostatic latent image with electroscopic marking materials, means for transferring said developer from said image support member in imagewise configuration to the surface of a receiving substrate, said developing and transferring means being positioned adjacent to said rotatably mounted cylinder, said cylinder being adapted to recycle said image support member past said developing and transferring means so as to produce at least more than one image of the original, means for returning said image support member in a continuous manner to said exposure means so as to prepare said member for reexposure and means for cleaning residual developer material from said image support member.

Claim 11

A copying apparatus comprising in combination an image support member, a rotatably mounted cylinder for driving said image support member, a pressure means adapted to hold said image support member in a planar condition during exposure said pressure means comprising an endless belt configuration which contacts only the lateral extremities of said imaging support member and is juxtapositioned to said drive means, means for forming an electrostatic latent image by full frame exposure on the surface of said image support member while said member is held in said planar condition, means for wrapping said image support member about said rotatably mounted cylinder, means for developing said electrostatic latent image with electroscopic marking materials, means for transferring said developer from said image support member in imagewise configuration to the surface of a receiving substrate, said developing and transferring means being positioned adjacent to said rotatably mounted cylinder, said cylinder being adapted to recycle said image support member past said developing and transferring means so as to produce at least more than one image of the original, means for returning said image support member in a continuous manner to said exposure means so as to prepare said member for reexposure and means for cleaning residual developer material from said image support member.

Claim 12

The apparatus as disclosed in claim 9 wherein said image support member comprises a flexible, reusable, electrophotographic plate comprising a photoconductive insulating layer superimposed upon a conductive substrate.