Color copying apparatus

Claim 2

A copying apparatus for forming a single electrostatic latent image selectively having one of a plurality of color components of an original image, or sequentially forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images corresponding respectively to said plurality of color components, said images being formed on a moving photosensitive medium, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means movably mounting said photosensitive medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium for exposure; filter means including a predetermined number of color resolving filter units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of any of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; means disposed adjacent said photosensitive medium to form an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive medium corresponding to the projected image; selector means for selecting between a first mode of operation wherein any one of a plurality of color image components of an original is formed on said photosensitive medium, and a second mode wherein said plurality of color image components of an original are formed on said medium; and program control means having an input coupled to said selector means and including means for detecting a signal from said position signal generating means and means for detecting a signal from said primary position signal generating means, said program control means being operable to detect, when the second mode has been selected by said selector means, whether a predetermined one of said filter units extends across the projection path of said exposure means, and, if it does not so extend, drive said filter means to position said predetermined filter unit across the projection path.

Claim 3

A copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exposure means includes a slit exposure opening through which the original image is projected, and a lens for focussing the image upon the photosensitive medium, wherein each of said filter units has an area of rectangular configuration similar to said slit opening and wherein said filter units are spaced from said lens.

Claim 4

A copying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said filter means are provided with a rotatable shaft on which said filter units are supported, and on which an index plate is fixed, and also on which said position signal generating means and said primary position signal generating means are mounted, wherein said rotatable shaft is disposed substantially normal to the projection path of the exposure means.

Claim 5

A copying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said filter means are further provided with a locking mechanism which is operable to stop rotation of said filter units at a predetermined position in the projection path of said exposure means.

Claim 6

A copying apparatus in which images having color components of an original image are sequentially formed on a moving photosensitive medium to form a colored image thereon, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means movably mounting said photosensitive medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium; filter means having a predetermined number of color resolving filter units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; electrostatic latent image forming means arranged along said photosensitive medium; developing means having a predetermined number of developing units using predetermined color developers to develop the latent images formed on said photosensitive medium; and program means having positional signal detecting means and primary position signal detecting means for controlling sequential color reproduction when both said position and primary position signals are detected.

Claim 7

A copying apparatus in which images having color components of an original image are sequentially formed on a moving photosensitive medium to form a colored image thereon, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means movably mounting said photosensitive medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium; filter means having a predetermined number of color resolving filter units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; electrostatic latent image forming means arranged along said photosensitive medium; developing means having a predetermined number of developing units using predetermined color developers to develop the latent images formed on said photosensitive medium; and program means having positional signal detecting means and primary position signal detecting means for controlling sequential color reproduction when both said position and primary position signals are detected.

Claim 8

A copying apparatus in which images having color components of an original image are sequentially formed on a moving photosensitive medium, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means movably mounting said medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium for exposure; filter means driven independently of movement of said photosensitive medium and having a predetermined number of color resolving units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of any of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive medium corresponding to the projected image; developing means using predetermined color developers to develop the latent images formed on said photosensitive medium upon exposure effected by said exposure means; transfer means for holding a transfer medium and contacting the same with said photosensitive medium to transfer the developed images onto said transfer medium; and program means including means for detecting a signal from said position signal generating means and means for detecting a signal from said primary position signal generating means and operable upon detection of said signal or signals from said generating means to control the operation of said copying apparatus in accordance with the color or sequence of colors to be reproduced.

Claim 9

A copying apparatus in which images having color components of an original image are sequentially formed on a moving photosensitive medium, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means movably mounting said medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium for exposure; filter means driven independently of movement of said photosensitive medium and having a predetermined number of color resolving units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of any of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive medium corresponding to the projected image; developing means using predetermined color developers to develop the latent images formed on said photosensitive medium upon exposure effected by said exposure means; transfer means for holding a transfer medium and contacting the same with said photosensitive medium to transfer the developed images onto said transfer medium; and program means including means for detecting a signal from said position signal generating means and means for detecting a signal from said primary position signal generating means and operable upon detection of said signal or signals from said generating means to control the operation of said copying apparatus in accordance with the color or sequence of colors to be reproduced.

Claim 10

A copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said exposure means includes a slit exposure opening through which the original image is projected and a lens for focussing the image upon the photosensitive medium, wherein each of said filter units has an area of rectangular configuration similar to said slip opening and wherein said filter units are spaced from said lens.

Claim 11

A copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said exposure means includes a slit exposure opening through which the original image is projected and a lens for focussing the image upon the photosensitive medium, wherein each of said filter units has an area of rectangular configuration similar to said slit opening and wherein said filter units are spaced from said lens.

Claim 12

A copying apparatus for forming a single electrostatic latent image selectively having one of a plurality of color components of an original image, or sequentially forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images corresponding respectively to said plurality of color components, said images being formed on a moving photosensitive medium, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means endlessly movably mounting said photosensitive medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium for exposure; filter means including a predetermined number of color resolving filter units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of any of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; means disposed adjacent said photosensitive medium to form an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive medium corresponding to the projected image; selector means for selecting between a first mode of operation wherein any one of a plurality of color image components of an original is formed on said photosensitive medium, and a second mode wherein said plurality of color image components of an original are formed on said medium; program control means having an input coupled to said selector means and including means for detecting a signal from said position signal generating means and means for detecting a signal from said primary position signal generating means, said program control means being operable to detect, upon selection of said second mode by said selector means, whether a predetermined one of the filter units is placed across the projection path of said exposure means, and, if it is not placed, drive said filter means to place the predetermined one across the projection path; developing means using predetermined color developers to develop the latent images formed on said photosensitive medium upon exposure effected by said exposure means; and transfer means for supporting a transfer medium and contacting the same with said photosensitive medium to transfer developed images onto said transfer medium.

Claim 13

A copying apparatus for forming a single electrostatic latent image selectively having one of a plurality of color components of an original image, or sequentially forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images corresponding respectively to said plurality of color components, said images being formed on a moving photosensitive medium, said apparatus comprising: a photosensitive medium; means endlessly movably mounting said photosensitive medium; exposure means for projecting therethrough an original image upon said photosensitive medium for exposure; filter means including a predetermined number of color resolving filter units selectively movable into the projection path of said exposure means; position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the movement of any of said filter units into the projection path of said exposure means; primary position signal generating means for generating a signal in response to the setting of said filter units into a predetermined primary position; means disposed adjacent said photosensitive medium to form an electrostatic latent image on said photosensitive medium corresponding to the projected image; selector means for selecting between a first mode of operation wherein any one of a plurality of color image components of an original is formed on said photosensitive medium, and a second mode wherein said plurality of color image components of an original are formed on said medium; program control means having an input coupled to said selector means and including means for detecting a signal from said position signal generating means and means for detecting a signal from said primary position signal generating means, said program control means being operable to detect, upon selection of said second mode by said selector means, whether a predetermined one of the filter units is placed across the projection path of said exposure means, and, if it is not placed, drive said filter means to place the predetermined one across the projection path; developing means using predetermined color developers to develop the latent images formed on said photosensitive medium upon exposure effected by said exposure means; and transfer means for supporting a transfer medium and contacting the same with said photosensitive medium to transfer developed images onto said transfer medium.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said program control means stops, upon selection of the second mode by said selector means, the operation of at least said exposure means until the predetermined one of the filter units is placed across the projection path.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said filter means includes means for supporting the filter units rotatably about an axis substantially perpendicular to the projection path.

Claim 16

A copying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said exposure means includes a slit exposure opening through which the original image is projected and a lens for focussing the image upon the photosensitive medium, wherein each of said filter units has an area of rectangular configuration similar to said slit opening and wherein said filter units are spaced from said lens.

Claim 17

A copying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said filter means are provided with a rotatable shaft on which said filter units are supported, and on which an index plate is fixed, and also on which said position signal generating means and said primary position signal generating means are mounted, wherein said rotatable shaft is disposed substantially normal to the projection path of the exposure means.

Claim 18

A copying apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said filter means are further provided with a locking mechanism which is operable to stop rotation of said filter units at a predetermined position in the projection path of said exposure means.

Claim 19

A copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said photosensitive medium is endlessly rotatable.

Claim 20

A copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said program control means stops, upon selection of the second mode by said selector means, the operation of at least said exposure means until the predetermined one of the filter units is placed across the projection path.

Claim 21

A copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said filter means includes a means for supporting the filter units rotatably about an axis substantially perpendicular to the projection path.

Claim 22

A copying apparatus according to claim 5, where said filter means includes means for supporting the filter units rotatably about an axis substantially perpendicular to the projection path.

Claim 23

A copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said filter means includes means for supporting the filter units rotatably about an axis substantially perpendicular to the projection path.