Photocopying machine having removable modules

Claim 2

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform for positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said Housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said first rollers, a partition in said housing between a chamber for said developing device and said delivery device, mounting means provided in said housing for said partition arrangement, wherein the said partition arrangement is pivotable on said mounting means and forms a guide element from the outlet of said developing device to a lower pair of transport rollers.

Claim 3

A copying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partition consists of two sections which are interconnected detachably by means of interengaging elements and retain one another in the engaged position, whilst in the release position they are foldable, one element forming the guide member and the other, narrower element forming a support, and the hinge-like mounting means are arranged on the wider section along its bottom edge and on a raised part of the housing bottom, which raised portion has an oblique section which continues the said wider wall section when it is in its erected position.

Claim 4

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform for positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said fIrst rollers, the path of paper travel provided by said transport means has a U-shaped configuration with the legs of said U extending horizontally and the connecting web extending vertically, the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel extending from said stack holder toward one end wall of said housing, the connecting web extending downwardly from said upper leg and adjacent said one end wall of said housing and the lower leg of said path of travel extending from the connecting web toward the other end wall of said housing to said delivery device, one of said covers being positioned in said housing above and adjacent to the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel and said charging device and switching means being located aligned below the opening closed by said cover so that said charging device and switching means are accessible and removable through the opening, guide and abutment means being secured within said housing and being open at the upper ends thereof for supporting and securing said charging device and switching means within said housing, said one end wall of said housing adjacent the connecting web of said U-shaped path of travel having an opening therein closed by another of said covers which is hinged to said housing, said surface element of said exposure device being positioned adjacent said end wall and being removable through said hinged cover therein, means associated with said surface element for releasably engaging said surface element with said exposure platform, said unit including said exposure platform comprises locking members, cooperating elements for said locking members positioned adjacent said exposure platform, guide means provided in conjunction with said locking members on the walls of said housing which extend in the direction of the legs of the U-shaped path of travel of the copying paper, and a unit module including said surface element being supported and held within said housing by said guide means with said locking members and cooperating elements securing said surface element in position adjacent said exposure platform and being withdrawn from said housing through said one end wall thereof adjacent the vertically arranged portion of said U-shaped path of travel.

Claim 5

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform for positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said fIrst rollers, the path of paper travel provided by said transport means has a U-shaped configuration with the legs of said U extending horizontally and the connecting web extending vertically, the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel extending from said stack holder toward one end wall of said housing, the connecting web extending downwardly from said upper leg and adjacent said one end wall of said housing and the lower leg of said path of travel extending from the connecting web toward the other end wall of said housing to said delivery device, one of said covers being positioned in said housing above and adjacent to the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel and said charging device and switching means being located aligned below the opening closed by said cover so that said charging device and switching means are accessible and removable through the opening, guide and abutment means being secured within said housing and being open at the upper ends thereof for supporting and securing said charging device and switching means within said housing, said one end wall of said housing adjacent the connecting web of said U-shaped path of travel having an opening therein closed by another of said covers which is hinged to said housing, said surface element of said exposure device being positioned adjacent said end wall and being removable through said hinged cover therein, means associated with said surface element for releasably engaging said surface element with said exposure platform, said unit including said exposure platform comprises locking members, cooperating elements for said locking members positioned adjacent said exposure platform, guide means provided in conjunction with said locking members on the walls of said housing which extend in the direction of the legs of the U-shaped path of travel of the copying paper, and a unit module including said surface element being supported and held within said housing by said guide means with said locking members and cooperating elements securing said surface element in position adjacent said exposure platform and being withdrawn from said housing through said one end wall thereof adjacent the vertically arranged portion of said U-shaped path of travel.

Claim 6

A copying apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the walls for mounting said unit module including said surface element having centering profiles thereon and said unit module having corresponding mating profiles which extend in the direction of withdrawal of said unit module, and both sides of said unit module being provided with retaining levers with angled arms, and the walls mounting said unit module being provided with pins with which these angled arms cooperate by pivoting to lock said surface element in place.

Claim 7

A copying apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said arms have a wedge-shaped working surface and are of elastic construction, and are angled so that, when the closure is made, the levers pass beyond a dead center position.

Claim 8

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform for positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said first rollers, the path of paper travel provided by said transport means has a U-shaped configuration with the legs of said U extending horizontally and the connecting web extending vertically, the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel extending from said stack holder toward one end wall of said housing, the connecting web extending downwardly from said upper leg and adjacent said one end wall of said housing and the lower leg of said path of travel extending from the connecting web toward the other end wall of said housing to said delivery device, one of said covers being positioned in said housing above and adjacent to the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel and said charging device and switching means being located aligned below the opening closed by said cover so that said charging device and switching means are accessible and removable through the opening, guide and abutment means being secured within said housing and being open at the upper ends thereof for supporting and securing said charging device and switching means within said housing, said one end wall of said housing adjacent the connecting web of said U-shaped path of travel having an opening therein closed by another of said covers which is hinged to said housing, said surface element of said exposure device being positioned adjacent said end wall and being removable through said hinged cover therein, means associated with said surface element for releasably engaging said surface element with said exposure platform, said developing device is a drawer-shaped unit module arranged with its inlet below the exposure platform, guide means are provided in said housing extending in the direction towards said cover through which said developing device is movable, and a roller arranged on the said unit module and a roller arranged on the platform form a pair of transport rollers leading into said developing device, and said developing device has outlet means downstream of which a pair of outlet transport rollers is arranged within said housing, and said developing device has a downwardly offset step behind said outlet means and one roller of said pair of outlet transport rollers is located within the said step.

Claim 9

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform for positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said first rollers, the path of paper travel provided by said transport means has a U-shaped configuration with the legs of said U extending horizontally and the connecting web extending vertically, the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel extending from said stack holder toward one end wall of said housing, the connecting web extending downwardly from said upper leg and adjacent said one end wall of said housing and the lower leg of said path of travel extending from the connecting web toward the other end wall of said housing to said delivery device, one of said covers being positioned in said housing above and adjacent to the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel and said charging device and switching means being located aligned below the opening closed by said cover so that said charging device and switching means are accessible and removable through the opening, guide and abutment means being secured within said housing and being open at the upper ends thereof for supporting and securing said charging device and switching means within said housing, said one end wall of said housing adjacent the connecting web of said U-shaped path of travel having an opening therein closed by another of said covers which is hinged to said housing, said surface element of said exposure device being positioned adjacent said end wall and being removable through said hinged cover therein, means associated with said surface element for releasably engaging said surface element with said exposure platform, said developing device is a drawer-shaped unit module arranged with its inlet below the exposure platform, guide means are provided in said housing extending in the direction towards said cover through which said developing device is movable, and a roller arranged on the said unit module and a roller arranged on the platform form a pair of transport rollers leading into said developing device, and said developing device has outlet means downstream of which a pair of outlet transport rollers is arranged within said housing, and said developing device has a downwardly offset step behind said outlet means and one roller of said pair of outlet transport rollers is located within the said step.

Claim 10

A copying apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the apparatus contains a partitioning wall above the developing device, mounting means with springs being provided on the said partitioning wall carrying a roller, wherein the upper side of the developing device carries a friction wheel and driving means of the apparatus drive through transmission means the said roller and support with the said friction wheel the insertion of the developing device.

Claim 11

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform foR positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said first rollers, the path of paper travel provided by said transport means has a U-shaped configuration with the legs of said U extending horizontally and the connecting web extending vertically, the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel extending from said stack holder toward one end wall of said housing, the connecting web extending downwardly from said upper leg and adjacent said one end wall of said housing and the lower leg of said path of travel extending from the connecting web toward the other end wall of said housing to said delivery device, one of said covers being positioned in said housing above and adjacent to the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel and said charging device and switching means being located aligned below the opening closed by said cover so that said charging device and switching means are accessible and removable through the opening, guide and abutment means being secured within said housing and being open at the upper ends thereof for supporting and securing said charging device and switching means within said housing, said one end wall of said housing adjacent the connecting web of said U-shaped path of travel having an opening therein closed by another of said covers which is hinged to said housing, said surface element of said exposure device being positioned adjacent said end wall and being removable through said hinged cover therein, means associated with said surface element for releasably engaging said surface element with said exposure platform, said delivery device includes a plug-in plate fitted in said housing which is adapted to be pulled out to provide access to the lower leg of the U-shaped path of travel, and one of said second rollers of at least one pair of transport rollers is mounted in the region of the delivery device on said plug-in plate and at least one said fixed driven first roller is arranged on the housing so that in the inserted position of said plug-in plate it makes contact with said second roller on said plug-in plate.

Claim 12

A copying apparatus including a housing; a charging device, an exposure device including an exposure plate for an original accessible on the outer surface of said housing and a unit including an exposure platform and a surface element cooperating with said exposure platform foR positioning individual sheets of copying paper in an exposure station formed in said exposure device, a developing device with developing media, a fusing device, a stack holder for a stack of sheets of copying paper, and a delivery device for discharging developed sheets of copying paper from said housing being located within said housing; transport means within said housing forming a path of travel for conveying individual sheets of copying paper from said stack holder through said charging device, exposure device, developing device and fusing device to said delivery device; switching means for controlling said charging device, exposure device, fusing device and transport means and including actuating members adapted to be operated by an original passing over said exposure plate; wherein the improvement comprises that said housing comprises a plurality of openable covers for gaining access to the interior of said housing, said transport means comprising a number of pairs of rollers spaced along the path of travel of the sheets of copying paper within said housing, each said pair of rollers comprising a first roller and a second roller, each of said first rollers being secured within said housing and being spaced inwardly relative to its corresponding said second roller from the adjacent said openable cover in said housing; means within said housing for driving said first rollers; each of said second rollers being freely rotatable and movably mounted within said housing for displacement from the path of travel of the copying paper through said housing; said charging unit, surface element and developing device being separately removable through openings closed by said covers along with said second rollers so that access to the path of paper travel is attainable without removing said first rollers, the path of paper travel provided by said transport means has a U-shaped configuration with the legs of said U extending horizontally and the connecting web extending vertically, the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel extending from said stack holder toward one end wall of said housing, the connecting web extending downwardly from said upper leg and adjacent said one end wall of said housing and the lower leg of said path of travel extending from the connecting web toward the other end wall of said housing to said delivery device, one of said covers being positioned in said housing above and adjacent to the upper leg of said U-shaped path of travel and said charging device and switching means being located aligned below the opening closed by said cover so that said charging device and switching means are accessible and removable through the opening, guide and abutment means being secured within said housing and being open at the upper ends thereof for supporting and securing said charging device and switching means within said housing, said one end wall of said housing adjacent the connecting web of said U-shaped path of travel having an opening therein closed by another of said covers which is hinged to said housing, said surface element of said exposure device being positioned adjacent said end wall and being removable through said hinged cover therein, means associated with said surface element for releasably engaging said surface element with said exposure platform, said delivery device includes a plug-in plate fitted in said housing which is adapted to be pulled out to provide access to the lower leg of the U-shaped path of travel, and one of said second rollers of at least one pair of transport rollers is mounted in the region of the delivery device on said plug-in plate and at least one said fixed driven first roller is arranged on the housing so that in the inserted position of said plug-in plate it makes contact with said second roller on said plug-in plate.

Claim 13

A copying apparatus as set forth in claim 8, comprising at least two support rollers located in the zone of said delivery device on both sides of said housing, and said plug-in plate has angled flangEs guided on the said support rollers and at least one side of the opening from said delivery device is provided with a spring-loaded pawl having a locking element which engages in front of a side member of said housing at the opening.

Claim 14

A copying device as set forth in claim 9, wherein guide grooves, open towards the center are formed on the underside of the plug-in plate, with a withdrawable slide plate mounted therein, and wherein the plug-in plate forms in this zone the bottom of the open housing.