Photoconductor support drum for photocopy machine

Apparatus for changing the shape of a thin web-like flexible member while said member is rotating in a substantially circular path comprising:

• a. primary means for supporting said web-like member in a substantially circular configuration and for rotating said member about a central axis;
• b. supply means and take-up means for said web-like member mounted for rotation within said primary supporting means;
• c. slit means formed in said primary supporting means in closely spaced relationship through which said web-like member extends from said supply means to said take-up means after said web-like member passes around said primary supporting means;
• d. means for collapsing a portion of said primary supporting means so as to be out of supporting relationship with said web-like member;
• e. auxiliary supporting means disposed within said primary supporting means at the locations where said portion of said primary supporting means collapses, said auxiliary supporting means normally being disposed in a position where said auxiliary supporting means is out of supporting relationship with said web-like member;
• f. means for moving said auxiliary supporting means to a position where said auxiliary supporting means is in supporting relationship with said web-like member so as to support said web-like member in a flat configuration when said portion of said primary supporting means is collapsed, and
• g. actuating means for actuating said means for collapsing said portion of said primary supporting means and said means for moving said auxiliary supporting means in timed relationship with each other and with rotation of said primary supporting means, whereby said web-like member is maintained in a substantially taut condition throughout the change in shape of said web-like member and said change in shape occurs at a predetermined point in the rotation of said primary supporting means.

In a photocopy machine which utilizes a web photoconductor for making copies of a document by exposing a portion of the photoconductor to a full frame, short duration, high illumination intensity image of the document to produce an electrostatic latent image of the document on the photoconductor which is developed by the application of developer material which in turn is transferred to copy paper, apparatus for handling the photoconductor web comprising:

• a. a hollow drum mounted in the photocopy machine for rotation therein to bring successive portions of the drum surface into operative relationship with copying instrumentalities arranged in a substantially circular path around the drum surface;
• b. a photoconductor web supported by and extending around the drum surface;
• c. first means comprising a pair of arcuate doors formed as a plurality of door segments spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of said drum so as to define slots between each adjacent pair of door segments and being movably mounted on said drum and normally positioned to define a portion of said drum surface and to maintain said photoconductor web in a circular configuration, said means being movable to a collapsed position where said portion of said drum surface is non-circular and having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said drum surface, said doors being pivotally connected to said drum so as to swing inwardly relative to said drum surface thereby rendering the portion of said drum surface defined by said doors non-circular;
• d. a second means movably mounted within said drum and normally positioned to be out of supporting relationship with said photoconductor web, said means being movable to an extended position in which said means supports a portion of said photoconductor web in a flat planar configuration, said second means projects through said slots when said second means has moved to said extended position to support said portion of said photoconductor in said flat planar configuration, and;
• e. actuating means operable to move said first and second means simultaneously from said normal positions to said collapsed and extended positions respectively when said drum reaches a predetermined point of rotation, whereby at said point of rotation said flat portion of said photoconductor web can be exposed to a full frame, short duration, high illumination intensity image of a document.

In a photocopy machine which utilizes a web photoconductor for making copies of a document by exposing a portion of the photoconductor to a full frame, short duration, high illumination intensity image of the document to produce an electrostatic latent image of the document on the photoconductor which is developed by the application of developer material which in turn is transferred to copy paper, apparatus for handling the photoconductor web comprising:

• a. a hollow drum mounted in the photocopy machine for rotation therein to bring successive portions of the drum surface into operative relationship with copying instrumentalities arranged in a substantially circular path around the drum surface;
• b. a single photoconductor web supported by and extending around the drum surface;
• c. a supply means and take-up means for said photoconductor web mounted for rotation within said drum;
• d. a slit means formed in said drum in closely spaced relationship through which said photoconductor extends from said supply means to said drum surface and from said drum surface to said take-up means after said photoconductor web passes around said drum surface;
• e. first means movably mounted on said drum and normally positioned to define a portion of said drum surface and to maintain said photoconductor web in a circular configuration, said first means being movable to a collapsed position in which said portion of said drum surface is non-circular;
• f. second means movably mounted within said drum and normally positioned to be out of supporting relationship with said photoconductor web, said second means being movable to an extended position in which said second means supports a portion of said photoconductor web in a flat planar configuration, and
• g. means operatively interconnecting said first and second movably mounted means for causing simultaneous movement of said first and second movably mounted means from said normal positions to said collapsed and extended positions respectively and back to said normal positions, and
• h. single actuating means operable on one of said first and second movably mounted means for causing said simultaneous movement of said first and second movably mounted means when said drum reaches a predetermined point of rotation during each revolution of said drum.

Apparatus for changing the shape of a thin web-like flexible member while said member is rotating in a substantially circular path comprising:

• a. primary means for supporting said web-like member in a substantially circular configuration and for rotating said member about a central axis;
• b. supply means and take-up means for said web-like member mounted for rotation within said primary supporting means;
• c. slit means formed in said primary supporting means in closely spaced relationship through which said web-like member extends from said supply means to said take-up means after said web-like member passes around said primary supporting means;
• d. means for collapsing a portion of said primary supporting means so as to be out of supporting relationship with said web-like member;
• e. auxiliary supporting means disposed within said primary supporting means at the locations where said portion of said primary supporting means collapses, said auxiliary supporting means normally being disposed in a position where said auxiliary supporting means is out of supporting relationship with said web-like member;
• f. means for moving said auxiliary supporting means to a position where said auxiliary supporting means is in supporting relationship with said web-like member so as to support said web-like member in a flat configuration when said portion of said primary supporting means is collapsed;
• g. means operatively interconnecting said primary and auxiliary supporting means for causing simultaneous movement of said primary and auxiliary supporting means from said normal positions to said collapsed and flat supporting positions respectively and back to said normal positions, and
• h. single actuating means operable on one of said primary and auxiliary supporting means for causing said simultaneous movement of said primary and auxiliary supporting means when said primary supporting means reaches a predetermined point of rotation during each revolution of said primary supporting means.