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US4068936A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical projection apparatus for image transfer type electrophotographic copiers

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1976-12-21
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1996-12-21
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Abstract

Abstract Optical projection apparatus for an image transfer type electrophotographic copier, wherein prism-shaped reflecting members are disposed at both ends of an optical fiber type image transmitter formed by a bundle of optical fibers having graded refractive indexes, so as to refract an optical path, whereby an optical image of an original document is projected towards the side peripheral surface of a photosensitive drum, reducing the height of the optical projection apparatus and thus providing a compact copier. The optical projection apparatus is so constructed that the image transmitter formed by a bundle of optical fibers having graded refractive indexes is fixedly held between the prism-shaped reflecting members including a prism portion and a support or body portion integrally formed therewith.

Inventors

  • 👤 Teizo Kushima
  • 👤 Takaji Kurita
  • 👤 Hiroaki Mizunoe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/522; G03B27/525; G03B27/528; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/28; G03G15/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 179 words
An optical projection apparatus for use in an image transfer type electrophotographic copier for projecting an optical image of an original document to a photosensitive drum comprising: an image transmitter formed by a bundle of optical fibers of graded refractive indexes disposed obliquely relative to the original document to be copied; two prism-shaped reflecting members respectively disposed in facing relation to each end of the image transmitter, each of said prism-shaped reflecting members including a prism portion and a support portion integrally formed therewith; means for supporting said image transmitter and the support portion of each said prism-shaped reflecting members fixed therebetween; the optical image of the original document being projected through said optical projection apparatus wherein the image is at first reflected through said prism-shaped reflecting member located on the original document side, and projected through the image transmitter and further reflected through the prism-shaped reflecting member located on the photosensitive drum side, whereby the image is projected onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum at a point remote from the top portion of the photosensitive drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 179 words
An optical projection apparatus for use in an image transfer type electrophotographic copier for projecting an optical image of an original document to a photosensitive drum comprising: an image transmitter formed by a bundle of optical fibers of graded refractive indexes disposed obliquely relative to the original document to be copied; two prism-shaped reflecting members respectively disposed in facing relation to each end of the image transmitter, each of said prism-shaped reflecting members including a prism portion and a support portion integrally formed therewith; means for supporting said image transmitter and the support portion of each said prism-shaped reflecting members fixed therebetween; the optical image of the original document being projected through said optical projection apparatus wherein the image is at first reflected through said prism-shaped reflecting member located on the original document side, and projected through the image transmitter and further reflected through the prism-shaped reflecting member located on the photosensitive drum side, whereby the image is projected onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum at a point remote from the top portion of the photosensitive drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
An optical projection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image is projected onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum at the area thereon closest to the image transfer portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
An optical projection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for interrupting scattered rays in a space defined by the facing support portions of the two prism-shaped reflecting members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 199 words
An optical projection apparatus for use in an image transfer type electrophotographic copier for projecting an optical image of an original document to a photosensitive drum which comprises, an image transmitter formed by a bundle of optical fibers of graded refractive indexes disposed obliquely relative to the original document to be copied; two prism-shaped reflecting members respectively disposed in facing relation to each end of the image transmitter, wherein both said prism-shaped reflecting members include a prism portion and a support portion integrally formed therewith; two support plates for retaining said image transmitter and said two prism-shaped reflecting members integrally so as to retain the support portions of said two prism-shaped reflecting members and said image transmitter therebetween; the optical image of the original document being projected through said optical projection apparatus wherein the image is at first reflected through the prism-shaped reflecting member located on the original document side, and projected through the image transmitter and further reflected through the prism-shaped reflecting member located on the photosensitive drum side, whereby the image is projected onto the peripheral surface of said photosensitive drum at a point remote from the top portion thereof and closest towards the image transfer portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 199 words
An optical projection apparatus for use in an image transfer type electrophotographic copier for projecting an optical image of an original document to a photosensitive drum which comprises, an image transmitter formed by a bundle of optical fibers of graded refractive indexes disposed obliquely relative to the original document to be copied; two prism-shaped reflecting members respectively disposed in facing relation to each end of the image transmitter, wherein both said prism-shaped reflecting members include a prism portion and a support portion integrally formed therewith; two support plates for retaining said image transmitter and said two prism-shaped reflecting members integrally so as to retain the support portions of said two prism-shaped reflecting members and said image transmitter therebetween; the optical image of the original document being projected through said optical projection apparatus wherein the image is at first reflected through the prism-shaped reflecting member located on the original document side, and projected through the image transmitter and further reflected through the prism-shaped reflecting member located on the photosensitive drum side, whereby the image is projected onto the peripheral surface of said photosensitive drum at a point remote from the top portion thereof and closest towards the image transfer portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3955888A Cited
US3947106A Cited
US3898678A Cited
US3981575A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-01-16 1981-07-18 1982-01-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-01-16 1985-07-18 1986-01-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-01-16 1989-07-18 1990-01-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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