Reverse path imaging and transfixing copying machine

Claim 2

A thermographic copier comprising the combination of a radiant source for supplying radiant energy to a first station via a predetermined path, a development station spaced from said first station, reversible transport Means for advancing a heat sensitive member through said first station in one direction to thermally impart an image thereto and for continuing movement of said heat sensitive member in said one direction through said development station to develop said image and for then moving said heat sensitive member back in the opposite direction through said first station to produce a substantially permanent copy of said image, a copy supply tray, means for moving a copy member out of said tray and into contact with said heat sensitive member at a location between said development station and said first station when said heat sensitive member is moving in said opposite direction, and means for selectively energizing said radiant source in preparation for the passage of said heat sensitive member through said first station is said one and said opposite directions.

Claim 3

The copier of claim 1 further comprising means for discharging the copy member and the heat sensitive member from the copier after they have passed through said first station in said opposite direction.

Claim 4

A thermographic copier comprising the combination of a radiant source for supplying a heating station with radiant energy, reversible drive means for conveying an image bearing subject and a heat sensitive member through said heating station in one direction so that said image is thermally imparted to said member and for conveying at least the heat sensitive back through said heating station in the opposite direction, a storage area, a development station located between said heating station and said storage area, and means located between said development station and said heating station for separating the subject and heat sensitive member after they pass said heating station in said one direction; said drive means including means for continuing the movement of said heat sensitive member in said one direction after separation from said subject so that said heat sensitive member is conveyed past said development station for development of said thermally imparted image and into said storage area, and means for subsequently conveying said heat sensitive member in the opposite direction back through said development station and said heating station to fuse the developed image.

Claim 5

A thermographic copier comprising the combination of a radiant source for supplying a heating station with radiant energy, reversible drive means for conveying an image bearing subject and a heat sensitive member through said heating station in one direction so that said image is thermally imparted to said member and for conveying at least the heat sensitive back through said heating station in the opposite direction, a storage area, a development station located between said heating station and said storage area, and means located between said development station and said heating station for separating the subject and heat sensitive member after they pass said heating station in said one direction; said drive means including means for continuing the movement of said heat sensitive member in said one direction after separation from said subject so that said heat sensitive member is conveyed past said development station for development of said thermally imparted image and into said storage area, and means for subsequently conveying said heat sensitive member in the opposite direction back through said development station and said heating station to fuse the developed image.

Claim 6

A copier as recited in claim 3 wherein the developed image is transfixed onto a a copy paper as said heat sensitive member moves through said heating station in said opposite direction.

Claim 7

A thermographic copier comprising the combination of a source for supplying radiant energy to a heating station via a predetermined path, a development station spaced from said heating station, a heat sensitive web extending through said heating and development stations, reversible drive means for selectively moving said web in one direction and in the opposite direction, control means for actuating said drive means to sequentially move a portion of said web through said heating station and said development station in said one direction and to then move said portion of said web back through said heating station in the opposite direction, and means for energizing said radiant source while said portion of said web is passing through said heating station in either of said directions.

Claim 8

A thermographic copier comprising the combination of a source for supplying radiant energy to a heating station via a predetermined path, a development station spaced from said heating station, a heat sensitive web extending through said heating and development stations, reversible drive means for selectively moving said web in one direction and in the opposite direction, control means for actuating said drive means to sequentially move a portion of said web through said heating station and said development station in said one direction and to then move said portion of said web back through said heating station in the opposite direction, and means for energizing said radiant source while said portion of said web is passing through said heating station in either of said directions.

Claim 9

The copier of claim 5 wherein said drive means includes means for presenting an unused portion of said web for each successive copying cycle.

Claim 10

The copier of claim 5 further comprising means for bringing a member bearing an original image into contact with said portion of said web, said reversible drive means including means for moving the image bearing member and said portion of said web through said heating station in said one direction, and means located between said development station and said heating station for separating the image bearing member from said web before moving said portion of said web through said development station.

Claim 11

The copier of claim 7 further comprising means for bringing a copy member into contact with said portion of said weB after said web has completed movement in said one direction, said drive means including means for moving the copy member and said portion of said web through said heating station in said opposite direction.

Claim 12

The copier of claim 8 further comprising means responsive to motion of a copy member toward said web for reversing said drive means to move said web portion in said opposite direction.

Claim 13

The copier of claim 7 further comprising an inlet opening for feeding said image bearing member into contact with said web at a location upstream of said heating station, an outlet opening, and means located between said development station and said heating station for separating said image bearing member from said web during movement of said web in said one direction and for feeding said image bearing member out of said copier via said outlet opening.

Claim 14

The copier of claim 10 further comprising a copy member supply tray, and means for moving a copy member out of said tray and into contact with said web portion at a location between said development station and said heating station when said web portion is moving in said opposite direction.

Claim 15

The copier of claim 10 wherein said outlet opening also serves to feed a copy member toward said web

Claim 16

The copier of claim 12 further comprising means responsive to the feed of a copy member through said outlet opening for reversing said drive means to move said web portion in said opposite direction. 14. A thermographic copier comprising the combination of a radiant source for imaging and fusing at a common heating station, a development station spaced from said heating station, a heat sensitive web extending through said heating station and said development station, reversible drive means for moving said web first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, means for bringing a first sandwich containing a member with an original image thereon and a heat sensitive member into contact with said web to move with said web through said heating station in said one direction, means located between said development station and said heating station for separating the first sandwich from said web after they pass said heating station while traveling in said one direction, means for bringing a second sandwich containing a copy member and a heat sensitive member bearing a developed image into contact with said web at location between said development station and said heating station to move with said web through said heating station in said opposite direction, means for separating the second sandwich from said web and for discharging said second sandwich from the copier and means for energizing said radiant source when said web moves in each of said directions, whereby imaging takes place as said web moves in said one direction and fusing takes place as said web moves in the opposite direction.

Claim 17

The copier of claim 14 further comprising means responsive to the appearance of said second sandwich in the copier for reversing said drive means to move said web and said second sandwich in said opposite direction.