Electrostatic copying process and apparatus

An electrostatic copying process which comprises

• (1) the step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photosensitive member having a photoconductive layer by (a) applying an electrostatic charge to the surface of the photosensitive member by energizing a corona discharge device disposed along the path of the photosensitive member and (b) projecting the image of an original onto the charged surface of the photosensitive member by an optical system including an exposure lamp for illuminating the original in an original image exposing area located along the moving path of the surface of the photosensitive member downstream of the corona discharge device, thereby to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member, and at the completion of the image forming step, deenergizing the corona discharge device,
• (2) the step of developing the electrostatic latent image by applying a fine powdery developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member by a developing device provided along the moving path of the surface of the photosensitive member and downstream of the image exposing area, thereby to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member,
• (3) the step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member to a receptor sheet in a transfer station provided downstream of the developing device along the moving path of the surface of the photosensitive member;
• and
• beginning irradiation of the surface of the photosensitive member with light from a lamp taken from the group consisting of a separate lamp and said exposure lamp in an area downstream of the corona discharge device for charging and upstream of the developing device along the moving path of the surface of the photosensitive member only in response to the deenergizing of the corona discharge device for charging at the completion of the electrostatic latent image-forming step (1) and continuing the irradiation for a specified period of time at least substantially equal to the time required for that part of the photosensitive member which is situated in the charging zone to pass the original-image projecting zone during the moving of the photosensitive member.