Automatic xerographic plate development system

Claim 1

An automatic system for developing an image from a xerographic plate, which during exposure to x-rays and ambient light is enclosed in a cassette, comprising a development station, an image transfer station, a cleaning station, a changing station, input-output means, and an elevator having, from bottom to top, a stack of stored plates, a first, second, third and fourth level, the fourth level having a means for heating said plate to remove residual images, wherein the above mentioned components are situated within the system in the order stated from one end of the system to the other, said input-output means further comprising, from top to bottom, an input station into which the cassette containing an exposed plate is inserted, an output station from which is discharged a charged plate enclosed within a cassette, and an image output station where the finished image, on paper, is delivered to the operator, and further comprising means for transporting said plate through the system, which also has levels corresponding to those of the elevator, to the various stations in the following order; from the input station to the first level of the elevator, to the third level, to the other end of the system, to the second level, to the development station, to the transfer station, to the cleaning station, to the elevator, to the fourth level, and then onto the top of the stored stack of plates.