Electrophotographic copying method and apparatus
AssigneeElfotek Ltd.
InventorGenadi Berlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are presented for electrophotographic copying of original information. One cycle of the copying method consists of the following. An electrostatic image of the copying information is recorded onto a recording photoreceptor, and the recording photoreceptor is used to form a latent electrostatic image on an intermediate information carrier. The latent electrostatic image is developed on the intermediate information carrier, and the developed image is transferred onto a final information carrier. The intermediate information carrier is a photoreceptor of a kind capable of, when being charged, storing the charge during a period of time required for producing a desired number of copies.
Claims24
A method of electrophotographic copying of original information utilizing the recording of an electrostatic image of the original information onto a recording photoreceptor, wherein said electrostatic image is in the form of a pattern that has spaced-apart charged regions of a certain polarity that correspond to image elements and are spaced by blanked uncharged regions, the method including at least one cycle comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a latent electrostatic image of the copying information on an intermediate information carrier in the form of a photoreceptor by means of said recording photoreceptor, wherein the intermediate information carrier is such that it, whilst being charged, stores the charge during a period of time required for producing a desired number of copies of the original information;
- (b) developing said latent electrostatic image on the intermediate information carrier;
- (c) transforming the developed image from the intermediate information carrier onto a final information carrier;
- and
- (d) fixing the transformed image on the final information carrier.
A method of electrophotographic copying of original information, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of an intermediate information carrier, said latent electrostatic image being in the form of a potential relief of said surface, wherein said intermediate information carrier comprises a photosemiconductor layer with a dielectric coating, and is such that it, whilst being charged, stores the charge during a period of time required for producing a desired number of copies;
- maintaining said potential relief at a given level during the entire process of copying;
- developing said latent electrostatic image on the intermediate information carrier;
- transforming the developed image from the intermediate information carrier onto a final information carrier;
- and
- fixing the transformed image on the final information carrier.
An electrophotographic apparatus for producing a desired number of copies of original information, the apparatus comprising:
- (i) a cylindrically shaped recording photoreceptor mounted so as to be radially displaceable between its operative and operative positions;
- (ii) a recording system for electrostatic recording of a copying image of said original information onto the recording photoreceptor;
- (iii) a cylindrically shaped rotatable intermediate information carrier in the form of a photoreceptor, which is such that it, whilst being charged, stores the charge during a period of time required for producing said desired number of copies;
- (iv) an imaging system for forming a latent electrostatic image of the copying information on the intermediate information carrier by means of the recording photoreceptor;
- (v) a developer tool for developing the latent electrostatic image on the intermediate information carrier;
- (vi) a transfer means for transferring the developed image onto a final information carrier;
- and
- (vii) a fixating means for fixating the transferred image on the final information carrier.
The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said dielectric layer is transparent to visible light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.