Copy machine having photoconductive belt

Claim 2

An electrostatic copying machine including in combination, an endless belt having a surface carrying a film of photoconductive material, a charging unit for applying an electrostatic charge to a surface passing thereby, an exposure unit mounted for movement between limit positions and adapted to be actuated to translate an image of an original over an area of a stationary surface positioned adjacent thereto, a developer system adapted to be actuated to apply developer to a stationary surface positioned adjacent thereto over an area corresponding in size to said area, means for effecting transfer of a developed image from said belt to a length of copy material, means mounting said charging unit and said exposure unit and said developer unit and said transfer means at spaced locations along the length of said belt, means adapted to be actuated to drive said belt to move said surface successively past said units and said transfer means, means for actuating said drive means to move said surface successively past said units and said transfer means, means responsive to movement of said belt length to a position adjacent to said exposure unit for deactivating said drive means and for moving said exposure unit between said limit positions and for actuating said exposure unit to translate said image over said area, means responsive to movement of said exposure unit for reactivating said drive means to move said length to a position adjacent to said developer unit, means responsive to movement of said belt for again deactivating said drive means with said area substantially in registry with said developer unit, and means for again reactivating said drive means to move said lengtH toward said transfer means.

Claim 3

A copy machine as in claim 1 including means providing a cushion of fluid for supporting said belt over a major portion of the length thereof.

Claim 4

A copy machine as in claim 1 in which said belt is generally horizontally disposed to form upper and lower generally parallel stands, means mounting said charging and exposure units in spaced relationship adjacent to said upper stand and means mounting said developing and transfer units in spaced relationship adjacent to said lower stand.

Claim 5

A copy machine as in claim 1 in which said exposure unit mounting means means comprises a reciprocating carriage.

Claim 6

A copy machine as in claim 1 in which said transfer means comprises means for bringing a sheet of copy material into intimate contact with an image on said belt, means for holding a sheet of copy material in escrow adjacent to aid contact means, and means for actuating said escrow means to feed a sheet of said copy material to said contacting means.

Claim 7

A copy machine as in claim 1 in which said belt driving means comprises a roller supporting said belt and in which said transfer means comprises a pressure transfer roller forming a nip with a portion of said belt on said support roller.

Claim 8

A copy machine as in claim 6 in which said means for feeding a sheet of copy material to said transfer unit comprises means for holding a sheet of copy material in escrow adjacent to said nip and means responsive to movement of a developed-image-bearing portion of said belt toward said nip for actuating said escrow means to release the sheet of copy material for movement into said nip.

Claim 9

A copy machine as in claim 1 in which said transfer means comprises a pressure platen, means mounting said platen for movement toward and away from said belt, and means for moving said platen toward said belt while said belt is stationary to carry a sheet of copy material on said platen into positive engagement with said belt, and in which said copy material feed means feeds a sheet to said platen.

Claim 10

A copy machine as in claim 1 in which said transfer means comprises pneumatic means for moving a sheet of copy material into positive engagement with said belt.

Claim 11

An electrostatic copying machine including in combination, an endless belt having a surface carrying a film of photoconductive material, a charging unit for applying an electrostatic charge to a surface passing thereby, an exposure unit adapted to be activated to translate an image of an original to a surface positioned adjacent thereto, means mounting said exposure unit for movement between a first limit position and a second limit position to cause the exposure unit when actuated to translate an image of an original over an area of said surface, a developer system for applying developer to a surface positioned adjacent thereto, means for effecting transfer of a developed image from said belt to a length of copy material, means mounting said charging unit and said exposure unit and said developer unit and said transfer means at spaced locations along the length of said belt, means adapted to be actuated to drive said belt successively past said units and said transfer means, means responsive to movement of said belt length on one operation of said machine for deactivating said drive means and for moving said exposure unit from said first limit position to said second limit position and for actuating said exposure unit to translate said image, means responsive to movement of said exposure unit into said second limit position on said one operation for reactivating said drive means, means responsive to movement of said belt length on another operation of said machine for deactivating said drive means and for moving said exposure unit from said second limit position to said first limit position and for activating said exposure unit to translate said image, and means responsive to movement of said exposure unit into said first limit position on said other operation for Reactivating said drive means.

Claim 12

An electrostatic copying machine including in combination, an endless belt having a surface carrying a film of photoconductive material, a charging unit for applying an electrostatic charge to a surface passing thereby, an exposure unit adapted to be activated to translate an image of an original to a surface positioned adjacent thereto, means mounting said exposure unit for movement between a first limit position and a second limit position to cause the exposure unit when actuated to translate an image of an original over an area of said surface, a developer system for applying developer to a surface positioned adjacent thereto, means for effecting transfer of a developed image from said belt to a length of copy material, means mounting said charging unit and said exposure unit and said developer unit and said transfer means at spaced locations along the length of said belt, means adapted to be actuated to drive said belt successively past said units and said transfer means, means responsive to movement of said belt length on one operation of said machine for deactivating said drive means and for moving said exposure unit from said first limit position to said second limit position and for actuating said exposure unit to translate said image, means responsive to movement of said exposure unit into said second limit position on said one operation for reactivating said drive means, means responsive to movement of said belt length on another operation of said machine for deactivating said drive means and for moving said exposure unit from said second limit position to said first limit position and for activating said exposure unit to translate said image, and means responsive to movement of said exposure unit into said first limit position on said other operation for Reactivating said drive means.