US3848990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic color copying apparatus
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1973-04-11
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic color copying apparatus comprising an original mount on a housing, means for lighting an original placed on the original mount and thereby exposing a record medium or paper properly to original light images, a belt means supported on a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the recording medium to an exposure position, means for electrically charging part of the medium uniformly prior to the exposure of the original, developing means including as many pigments as primary colors involved which is disposed inside of a recess defined by the belt means for developing the exposed medium, means for transporting the developing means relative to the medium, and means for holding the belt means to prevent the movement of the medium at the time of transportation of the developing means.
Inventors
- 👤 O Otubo
- 👤 I Terashima
- 👤 N Akutsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0121; G03G15/22; G03G15/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus comprising a main housing, at least one transport belt for transporting and supporting a recording paper, guide means for directing the transport belt along a predetermined path, the predetermined path having at least a first planar portion and a substantially Ushaped portion extending substantially transversely to the first planar portion, the transport belt along the U-shaped portion delimiting a recess area for accommodating a developing means, means for moving the recess area from a first position to a second position along the planar portion of the predetermined path, means for feeding a recording paper to a predetermined position along the planar portion of the predetermined path by the transport belt, means for holding the recording paper at the predetermined position, means For uniformly electrically charging the surface of the recording paper held at the predetermined position, means for exposing the recording paper held at the predetermined position to light reflected from an original, the reflected light being projected onto the recording paper through an optical filter unit so as to form a letent charged image on the recording paper, the developing means being located in the recess area for developing a visible image from the latent charged image on the recording paper with toners of at least two primary colors, the developing means being movable along the planar portion of the predetermined path when the recessed area is moved from the first position to the second position so as to engage with the recording paper to develop the visible image on the recording paper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus comprising a main housing, at least one transport belt for transporting and supporting a recording paper, guide means for directing the transport belt along a predetermined path, the predetermined path having at least a first planar portion and a substantially Ushaped portion extending substantially transversely to the first planar portion, the transport belt along the U-shaped portion delimiting a recess area for accommodating a developing means, means for moving the recess area from a first position to a second position along the planar portion of the predetermined path, means for feeding a recording paper to a predetermined position along the planar portion of the predetermined path by the transport belt, means for holding the recording paper at the predetermined position, means For uniformly electrically charging the surface of the recording paper held at the predetermined position, means for exposing the recording paper held at the predetermined position to light reflected from an original, the reflected light being projected onto the recording paper through an optical filter unit so as to form a letent charged image on the recording paper, the developing means being located in the recess area for developing a visible image from the latent charged image on the recording paper with toners of at least two primary colors, the developing means being movable along the planar portion of the predetermined path when the recessed area is moved from the first position to the second position so as to engage with the recording paper to develop the visible image on the recording paper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first planar portion lies in a horizontal plane and the recording paper is held in the predetermined position and extends in a horizontal plane, the developing means including means movable horizontally and vertically relative to the recording paper disposed on the transport belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
206 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus comprising a main housing, a transport belt movable along a path having a flat portion and a portion defining a recess, means for moving the recess from a first position to a second position along said flat portion of the path, means for feeding a recording paper to a predetermined position defined by said flat portion of said path by said transport belt, means for holding said recording paper at said predetermined position, means for uniformly electrically charging the surface of said recording paper held at said predetermined position, means for exposing said recording paper held at said predetermined position to light reflected from an original, said reflected light being projected on said recording paper through an optical filter unit thereby to form a latent charged image on said recording paper, developing means for developing a visible image from said latent charged image on said recording paper with toners of at least two primary colors, said developing means being located in said recess and moved along the flat portion of the path when said recess is moved from said first position to said second position thereby to engage with said recording paper to develop the visible image on said recording paper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
206 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus comprising a main housing, a transport belt movable along a path having a flat portion and a portion defining a recess, means for moving the recess from a first position to a second position along said flat portion of the path, means for feeding a recording paper to a predetermined position defined by said flat portion of said path by said transport belt, means for holding said recording paper at said predetermined position, means for uniformly electrically charging the surface of said recording paper held at said predetermined position, means for exposing said recording paper held at said predetermined position to light reflected from an original, said reflected light being projected on said recording paper through an optical filter unit thereby to form a latent charged image on said recording paper, developing means for developing a visible image from said latent charged image on said recording paper with toners of at least two primary colors, said developing means being located in said recess and moved along the flat portion of the path when said recess is moved from said first position to said second position thereby to engage with said recording paper to develop the visible image on said recording paper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 3, in which said transport belt comprises an endless belt and said developing means comprises a plurality of toners equal in number to primary colors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 3, in which said developing means comprises an inner block and an outer block, said inner block including a plurality of developing troughs to which as many different developing solutions as said developing troughs are supplied, said outer block containing said inner block and being adapted to vertically move said inner block to a predetermined position, and part of said transport belt driven by a drive motor mounted on said outer block is adapted to be held whereby said developing means is rendered movable horizontally relative to the paper through said transport belt means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 5, in which both said belt for transporting said paper and said developing means are moved horizontally by means of a single driving motor mounted on said outer block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 5, in which said plurality of developing troughs contained in said inner block of said developing means are disposed one over another in spaced relationship with each other and are vertically selectively movable for each image-forming cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 5, in which said plurality of developing troughs in said inner blocK are adapted to be stopped vertically at a predetermined position by means of an actuator provided on said inner block and a switch provided on said outer block.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 5, in which a plurality of squeeze rollers disposed at the positions where said paper is fed through in said inner block of said developing means are rotated in synchronism with the movement of said developing means and said transport belt through rollers driven by said transport belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 3, in which said means for feeding paper contained in said main housing comprises means for detecting said paper, means for generating pulses in the number corresponding to the length over which said paper is to be transported in response to an output signal from said detecting means, means for stopping the movement of said transport belt in response to an output signal from a counter for counting the output pulses from said pulse generating means, and means for securely holding said paper transported into position in response to the output signal from said counter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 10, in which said means for holding said paper comprises a holding plate with an aperture and provided on one side of paid paper transported into position and a holding piece provided on the other side of said paper, said holding piece having a pin which pierces said paper and engages said aperture of said holding plate in response to the output signal from said counter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 3, in which said means for delivering said paper comprises a cutter for cutting off unused portions of said paper and means for disposing said unused portions by way of an ordinary path without affecting a copy proper from which said unused portions have been separated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 12, in which said means for disposing unused portions of said paper comprises a switching lever which enters and leaves the ordinary path, a shaft for rotatably supporting said lever, and an electromagnetic solenoid connected to an end of said lever through a tension spring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrophotographic color copying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said transport belt is made of electrically conductive material and said transport belt is substantially charged with the same electric potential as that of said main housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |