Color electrophotographic copying apparatus capable of color balance adjustment

Claim 2

A color electrophotographic copying apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium having photoconductivity, said apparatus comprising: a. means for illuMinating an original image; b. means for scanning said original image to enable radiation reflected therefrom to be converted into electrical signals, and means for moving said original image, wherein said means for scanning the radiation reflected from said original image comprises a regular polygonal mirror having an axis of rotation extending in the direction of movement of said original image, said regular polygonal mirror being rotatable about said axis of rotation thereof synchronously with the movement of said original image; c. means including wedge-shaped filter means disposed in the path of said radiation for color-resolving said radiation reflected from said scanned original image for providing a plurality of first separate color-resolved radiations; d. means for varying the position of said wedge-shaped filter means to adjust the densities of said color-resolved radiations for the adjustment of the color balance therebetween; e. means for converting said color-resolved radiations into electrical signals and for amplifying such electrical signals and emitting them again in the form of second radiations for a suitable image reproduction on a photosensitive medium; f. means for scanning said second radiations to direct them to a precharge photosensitive medium to thereby form electrostatic latent images thereon; g. developing means for successively imparting color toners to said electrostatic latent images formed on said photosensitive medium by said color-resolved radiations, said color toners corresponding to said electrostatic latent images, respectively; h. means for transferring said color-developed images to a transfer sheet; i. means for cleaning any residual toner on said photosensitive medium; and j. means for retaining said transfer sheet until completion of transferring all the color-resolved images by applying all said process means for each resolved color.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said color-resolving means further comprises a dichroic mirror for providing said first separate radiations; and said converting means includes a plurality of light-receiving elements for generating said electrical signals representing said resolved colors, and means for successively selecting said generated signals for coupling to light emitting means for controlling said light emitting means to provide said second radiations.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said wedge-shaped filter means comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped filters adjustably positioned between said dichroic mirror and said light-receiving elements to vary the transmissibility of said first color-resolved radiations.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an original image having various primary color tones and a copy thereof are juxtaposed on an original carriage; means are provided for generating input signals from said original image and said copy and for comparing said signals; and means are provided for controlling adjustment of said wedge-shaped filters in response to said comparison until the difference between said input signals becomes zero.

Claim 6

A color electrophotographic copying apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium having photoconductivity, said apparatus comprising: a. means for illuminating an original image; b. means for scanning said original image to enable radiation reflected therefrom to be converted into electrical signals, and means for moving said original and said photosensitive medium synchronously with each other; c. means including wedge-shaped filter means disposed in the path of said radiation for color-resolving said radiation reflected from said scanned original image for providing a plurality of first separate color-resolved radiations; d. means for varying the position of said wedge-shaped filter means to adjust the densities of said color-resolved radiations for the adjustment of the color balance therebetween; e. means for converting said color-resolved radiations into electrical signals and for amplifying such electrical signals and emitting them again in the form of second radiations for a suitable image reproduction on a photosensitive medium; f. means for scanning said second radiations to direct them to a precharged photosensitive medium to thereby form electrostatic latent images thereon, wherein said means for scanning the radiation reflected from said original image and said means for scanning and directing said color-resolved radiations to said photosensitive medium are provided by polygonal mirror means rotatable synchronously with the movement of said original image and of said photosensitive medium; g. developing means for successively imparting color toners to said electrostatic latent images formed on said photosensitive medium by said color-resolved radiations, said color toners corresponding to said electrostatic latent images, respectively; h. means for transferring said color-developed images to a transfer sheet; i. means for cleaning any residual toner on said photosensitive medium; and j. means for retaining said transfer sheet until completion of transferring all the color-resolved images by applying all said process means for each resolved color.

Claim 7

A color electrophotographic copying apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium having photoconductivity, said apparatus comprising: a. means for illuminating an original image; b. means for scanning said original image to enable radiation reflected therefrom to be converted into electrical signals, and means for moving said original and said photosensitive medium synchronously with each other; c. means including wedge-shaped filter means disposed in the path of said radiation for color-resolving said radiation reflected from said scanned original image for providing a plurality of first separate color-resolved radiations; d. means for varying the position of said wedge-shaped filter means to adjust the densities of said color-resolved radiations for the adjustment of the color balance therebetween; e. means for converting said color-resolved radiations into electrical signals and for amplifying such electrical signals and emitting them again in the form of second radiations for a suitable image reproduction on a photosensitive medium; f. means for scanning said second radiations to direct them to a precharged photosensitive medium to thereby form electrostatic latent images thereon, wherein said means for scanning the radiation reflected from said original image and said means for scanning and directing said color-resolved radiations to said photosensitive medium are provided by polygonal mirror means rotatable synchronously with the movement of said original image and of said photosensitive medium; g. developing means for successively imparting color toners to said electrostatic latent images formed on said photosensitive medium by said color-resolved radiations, said color toners corresponding to said electrostatic latent images, respectively; h. means for transferring said color-developed images to a transfer sheet; i. means for cleaning any residual toner on said photosensitive medium; and j. means for retaining said transfer sheet until completion of transferring all the color-resolved images by applying all said process means for each resolved color.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said color-resolving means further comprises a dichroic mirror for providing said separate radiations and means are provided wherein said electrical signals representing said resolved colors are successively selected upon completion of a cycle of operation so that such signals are successively emitted in the form of radiations of the respective colors.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said wedge-shaped filter means comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped filters adjustably positioned perpendicular to the optical paths of said separate radiations from said dichroic mirror so as to vary the transmissibility of said color-resolved radiations.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an original image having various primary color tones and a copy thereof are juxtaposed on an original carriage; means are provided for generating input signals from said original image and said copy and for comparing said signals; and means are provided for controlling adjustment of said wedge-shaped filters in response to said comparison until the difference between said input signals becomes zero.