US3736055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reproduction apparatus incorporating alternate redevelopment and reimaging cycles for multiple copies
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-17
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A continuously operating transfer reproduction apparatus includes a cyclic control unit which automatically effects alternate redevelopment and reimaging cycles when reproducing multiple copies of the same master. An electrophotographic plate travels in a closed loop past a moving optical system which images the plate with a light image of the master creating a latent electrostatic image on the plate. The latent image is developed at a developing station and transferred to a substrate at a transfer station as the plate travels therepast. Increased throughput speed is achieved by effecting a fixed number of redevelopment cycles while the moving optical system is resetting. Thus, the plate continues its travel past the resetting optical system to the developing station where the latent image is redeveloped and thence to the transfer station for transfer of the developed image to a second substrate. The plate is then cleaned and charged prior to being reimaged with the light image of the same master, and the process continues until the requisite number of copies have been reproduced. In one embodiment, multiple imaging areas, preferably an odd number thereof, are located on the plate facilitating rapid alternate imaging and redevelopment cycles.
Inventors
- 👤 R V Davidge
- 👤 G W Hobgood
- 👤 C A Queener
- 👤 J W Spears
- 👤 B G Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:23
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/14; G03G21/145; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/28; G03G15/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
397 words
An electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus incorporating an electrophotographic plate having at least one image area thereon which travels in a first direction in a closed loop past a plurality of processing stations comprising: mounting means for mounting a master for optical projection; an imaging processing station for projecting a light image of said mounted master onto said image area of said plate as said image area travels therepast creating a latent image on said image area, said imaging processing station including an actuable moving optical projection system for projecting said light image while moving in said first direction from a home position, actuable drive means for moving said optical projection system in said first directIon from said home position and for returning said optical projection system to said home position; a developer processing station for applying electrostatically charged developer material onto said image area thereby developing said latent image whenever said image area travels therepast; a transfer processing station for transferring each developed image from said image area onto a substrate when said image area travels therepast; an actuable processing station actuable for removing a latent image on said image area as said image area travels therepast; position sensing means for sensing the position of said at least one image area with respect to said processing stations; cycle control means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said optical projection system and said drive means when said image area travels past said imaging processing station on a first pass thereby creating a latent image of the mounted master on said image area, for deactuating said actuable processing station and said optical projection system when said image area travels past said actuable processing station and said imaging processing station on at least one next subsequent pass following said first pass thereby retaining said latent image created during said first pass and for actuating said actuable processing station and said optical projecting system and drive means when said image area travels past said actuable processing station and said imaging processing station following said at least one next subsequent pass thereby creating a further latent image of said mounted master on said image area, the latent image on said at least one image area being developed at said developer processing station and transferred at said transfer processing station at least two times before removal thereof at said actuable processing station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
397 words
An electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus incorporating an electrophotographic plate having at least one image area thereon which travels in a first direction in a closed loop past a plurality of processing stations comprising: mounting means for mounting a master for optical projection; an imaging processing station for projecting a light image of said mounted master onto said image area of said plate as said image area travels therepast creating a latent image on said image area, said imaging processing station including an actuable moving optical projection system for projecting said light image while moving in said first direction from a home position, actuable drive means for moving said optical projection system in said first directIon from said home position and for returning said optical projection system to said home position; a developer processing station for applying electrostatically charged developer material onto said image area thereby developing said latent image whenever said image area travels therepast; a transfer processing station for transferring each developed image from said image area onto a substrate when said image area travels therepast; an actuable processing station actuable for removing a latent image on said image area as said image area travels therepast; position sensing means for sensing the position of said at least one image area with respect to said processing stations; cycle control means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said optical projection system and said drive means when said image area travels past said imaging processing station on a first pass thereby creating a latent image of the mounted master on said image area, for deactuating said actuable processing station and said optical projection system when said image area travels past said actuable processing station and said imaging processing station on at least one next subsequent pass following said first pass thereby retaining said latent image created during said first pass and for actuating said actuable processing station and said optical projecting system and drive means when said image area travels past said actuable processing station and said imaging processing station following said at least one next subsequent pass thereby creating a further latent image of said mounted master on said image area, the latent image on said at least one image area being developed at said developer processing station and transferred at said transfer processing station at least two times before removal thereof at said actuable processing station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrophotographic plate having an odd number of image areas thereon and wherein said cycle control means alternately actuates and deactuates said actuable processing station and said optical projection system when an image area travels past said actuable processing station and said imaging processing station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said electrostatic plate having an odd plural number of image areas thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuable processing station includes: an actuable charging station for charging said image area of said electrophotographic plate when said image area travels therepast, said charging station being located prior to said imaging station in said first direction of plate travel; said cycle control means actuating and deactuating said charging station in the same actuation-deactuation sequence applied to said optical projection system when the image area travels past said charging station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuatable processing station includes: an actuable cleaning station for cleaning residual developer material from said image area of said plate when said image area travels therepast, said cleaning station being located prior to said imaging station in said first direction of plate travel; said cycle control means actuating and deactuating said cleaning station in the same actuation-deactuation sequence applied to said optical projection system when the image area travels past said cleaning station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means moves said optical projection system in a second direction opposite said first direction when returning said optical projection system to said home position; at least one of said at least one image areas travelling past said imaging processing station during the movement of said optical projectiOn system in said second direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said electrophotographic plate having an odd number of image areas thereon and wherein said cycle control means alternately actuates and deactuates said actuable processing station and said optical projection system when an image area travels past said imaging processing station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said electrophotographic plate having an odd plural number of image areas thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrostatic transfer reproduction apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said mounting means retains said master in a stationary position and wherein said optical projection system includes a movable carriage for scanning said mounted master.
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) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |