US4814798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined electrographic printer, copier, and telefax machine with duplex capability
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1988-03-07
•
Granted: 1989-03-21
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Expires: 2008-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrographic printing apparatus is capable of functioning as a copier, printer, and telefax machine, and is also capable of duplex printing. The electrographic printing apparatus includes a photoconductive member in the form of a disposable cassette which is mounted at an angle in the housing. The apparatus include an optical print head which can receive information from a local or remote source to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member and thus act as a printer. The apparatus also includes a device for scanning and digitizing an original document. When the digitized image is transmitted to the optical print head, a copy of the original document is produced. When the digitized image is transmitted over the telephone lines to a remote receiver, the apparatus functions as a telefax machine. The electrographic printing apparatus also includes a first paper path along which a sheet of paper travels and is imprinted on one side by the photoconductive member, and a second paper path which receives the sheet of paper from the first paper path, turns the paper over, and returns it to the first paper path for imprinting on a second side. A paper tray with sidewalls is also provided. The paper tray acts as an alignment correction system before a sheet of paper being duplex printed is imprinted on its second side. Alternatively, the paper tray can serve as a second source of paper for introducing paper into the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Kensuke Fukae
- 👤 Shozo Kaieda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00567; H04N1/0057; H04N1/00572; H04N1/00575; H04N1/00578; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/435; B41J2/447; B41J2/45; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/221; G03G15/223; G03G15/23; G03G15/231; G03G15/232; G03G15/234; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00249; H04N1/00254; H04N1/0058; H04N1/00599; H04N1/00602; H04N1/00681; H04N1/00684; H04N1/00708; H04N1/00763; H04N1/00774; H04N1/00779; H04N1/00785; H04N1/0079; H04N1/23; H04N1/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for producing hard copies of information on a sheet of paper or the like, comprising a housing, a photoconductive member, means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member in response to information received from a local or a remote source, scanning means for scanning and digitizing an original document and for producing a data stream corresponding to information contained on said original document, transmission means for transmitting said data stream to a remote location, and a controller for selectively actuating said selective discharge means, said scanning means, and said transmission means so that said electrographic printing apparatus is switchable between printing information received from a local source, printing information received from a remote source, scanning and copying an original document, and scanning and transmitting an image of an original document to a remote location, said electrographic printing apparatus further comprising a first paper path along which a sheet of paper travels, said first paper path being operative to bring a first side of said sheet into contact with said photoconductive member in a transfer zone to imprint said first side of said sheet, and a second paper path operative to receive said sheet from said first paper path, to turn said sheet over, and to return said sheet to said first paper path at a location prior to said transfer zone so that a second side of said sheet is imprinted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for producing hard copies of information on a sheet of paper or the like, comprising a housing, a photoconductive member, means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member in response to information received from a local or a remote source, scanning means for scanning and digitizing an original document and for producing a data stream corresponding to information contained on said original document, transmission means for transmitting said data stream to a remote location, and a controller for selectively actuating said selective discharge means, said scanning means, and said transmission means so that said electrographic printing apparatus is switchable between printing information received from a local source, printing information received from a remote source, scanning and copying an original document, and scanning and transmitting an image of an original document to a remote location, said electrographic printing apparatus further comprising a first paper path along which a sheet of paper travels, said first paper path being operative to bring a first side of said sheet into contact with said photoconductive member in a transfer zone to imprint said first side of said sheet, and a second paper path operative to receive said sheet from said first paper path, to turn said sheet over, and to return said sheet to said first paper path at a location prior to said transfer zone so that a second side of said sheet is imprinted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoconductive member comprises photoconductive belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt in the form of a disposable cassette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt in the form of a disposable cassette, said cassette being slidably and removably mounted within said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoconductive member is located below said first paper path, said sheet being imprinted from below.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt located below and obliquely to said first paper path, said sheet being imprinted from below.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second paper path is located above said first paper path, said second paper path being adjacent the top of said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an openable lid at the top of said housing, said first and second paper paths being accessible from outside said housing upon opening said lid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sheet is in contact with said photoconductive member substantially only in said transfer zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selective discharge means comprises an optical print head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selective discharge means comprises an LED array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scanning means includes a CCD array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said scanning means includes a light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said scanning means includes an optical fiber bundle for projecting an image of said original document on said CCD array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising transport means for transporting said sheet through said scanning means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising vacuum transport means located above said first paper path for transporting said paper from above.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising alignment correction means located along said second paper path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said alignment correction means comprises a paper tray extending to the outside of said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising sensing means for detccting the presence of a sheet in said paper tray.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said paper tray comprises a second source of paper into said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
226 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for imprinting a sheet of paper or the like, comprising a source of paper, a housing, a photoconductive member for storing an electrostatic image and for imprinting said paper means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member in response to information received from a local or a remote source, scanning means for scanning and digitizing an original document and producing a data stream corresponding to information contained on said original document, transmission means for transmitting said data stream to a remote location, a controller for selectively actuating said selective discharge means, said scanning means, and said transmission means, so that said electrographic printing apparatus is switchable between printing information received from a local source, printing information received from a remote source, copying an original document, and transmitting an image of an original document to a remote location, a paper path along which said paper travels, said paper path comprising a loop and a branch extending therefrom, and paper transport means for receiving said paper from said source, for passing said paper along said loop wherein said photoconductive member imprints a first side of said paper, for turning said paper over, for passing said paper into said branch, and for returning said paper to said loop a second time for imprinting a second side of said paper.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
226 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for imprinting a sheet of paper or the like, comprising a source of paper, a housing, a photoconductive member for storing an electrostatic image and for imprinting said paper means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member in response to information received from a local or a remote source, scanning means for scanning and digitizing an original document and producing a data stream corresponding to information contained on said original document, transmission means for transmitting said data stream to a remote location, a controller for selectively actuating said selective discharge means, said scanning means, and said transmission means, so that said electrographic printing apparatus is switchable between printing information received from a local source, printing information received from a remote source, copying an original document, and transmitting an image of an original document to a remote location, a paper path along which said paper travels, said paper path comprising a loop and a branch extending therefrom, and paper transport means for receiving said paper from said source, for passing said paper along said loop wherein said photoconductive member imprints a first side of said paper, for turning said paper over, for passing said paper into said branch, and for returning said paper to said loop a second time for imprinting a second side of said paper.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said loop receives said paper from said source with a leading edge in front and a trailing edge in back, and said loop receives said paper from said branch with said trailing edge in front and said leading edge in back.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an openable lid at the top of said housing, said paper path being accessible from outside said housing upon opening said lid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said photoconductive member is disposed below said loop and imprints both sides of said paper from below.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt disposed obliquely and below said loop.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising alignment correction means located along said branch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said alignment correction means comprises a paper tray extending outside of said housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising sensing means for detecting the presence of paper in said paper tray.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said paper tray comprises a second source of paper for introducing paper into said housing from outside said housing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
125 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for imprinting a sheet of paper and the like, comprising a housing, a first source of paper for introducing paper into said housing, a photoconductive member for storing a latent electrostatic image of the information to be imprinted, means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member, a paper route comprising a first paper path operative for receiving paper from said first source and for bringing a first side of said paper into contact with said photoconductive member in a transfer zone to imprint said first side of said paper, and alignment correction means located along said paper route, said alignment correction means also comprising a second source of paper for introducing paper into said housing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
125 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for imprinting a sheet of paper and the like, comprising a housing, a first source of paper for introducing paper into said housing, a photoconductive member for storing a latent electrostatic image of the information to be imprinted, means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member, a paper route comprising a first paper path operative for receiving paper from said first source and for bringing a first side of said paper into contact with said photoconductive member in a transfer zone to imprint said first side of said paper, and alignment correction means located along said paper route, said alignment correction means also comprising a second source of paper for introducing paper into said housing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said paper route further comprises a second paper path operative to receive said paper from said first paper path, to turn said paper over, to introduce said paper into said alignment correction means, and to return said paper to said first paper path at a location prior to said transfer zone so that a second side of said paper is imprinted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said alignment correction means comprises a paper tray extending outside of the housing of said housing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising sensing means for detecting the presence of paper in said alignment correction means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt located below and obliquely to said paper path, said paper being imprinted from below.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising an openable lid at the top of said housing, said first and second paper paths being accessible from outside said housing upon opening said lid.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising vacuum transport means located above said first paper path for transporting said paper from above.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
144 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for producing hard copies of information on a sheet of paper or the like, comprising a housing, a photoconductive member, means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member in response to information received from a local or a remote source, scanning means for scanning and digitizing an original document and for producing a data stream corresponding to information contained on said original document, transmission means for transmitting said data stream to a remote location, and a controller for selectively actuating said selective discharge means, said scanning means, and said transmission means, so that said electrographic printing apparatus is switchable between printing information received from a local source, printing information received from a remote source, scanning and copying an original document, and scanning and transmitting an image of an original document to a remote location,
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
144 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for producing hard copies of information on a sheet of paper or the like, comprising a housing, a photoconductive member, means for uniformly charging said photoconductive member, means for selectively discharging said photoconductive member in response to information received from a local or a remote source, scanning means for scanning and digitizing an original document and for producing a data stream corresponding to information contained on said original document, transmission means for transmitting said data stream to a remote location, and a controller for selectively actuating said selective discharge means, said scanning means, and said transmission means, so that said electrographic printing apparatus is switchable between printing information received from a local source, printing information received from a remote source, scanning and copying an original document, and scanning and transmitting an image of an original document to a remote location,
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said photoconductive member comprises a photoconductive belt located below and obliquely to said first paper path, said sheet being imprinted from below.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said selective discharge means comprises an optical print head.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said selective discharge means comprises an LED array.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said scanning means includes a CCD array.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said scanning means includes a light source.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said scanning means includes an optical fiber bundle for projecting an image of said original document on said CCD array.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising vacuum transport means for transporting said paper from above.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-20 | 1992-09-19 | 1993-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-20 | 1996-09-19 | 1997-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-20 | 2000-09-19 | 2001-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |