U.S. patent number 3,796,488 [Application Number 05/183,416] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for electrophotographic duplicator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Yuji Enoguchi, Masaya Ogawa, Susumu Tanaka.
United States Patent |
3,796,488 |
Tanaka , et al. |
March 12, 1974 |
ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC DUPLICATOR
Abstract
An electrophotographic copying machine utilizes an endless belt
having a conductive film and carrying a photosensitive surface
thereon. The photosensitive surface comprises a thin evaporated
film of a non-crystalloid selenium formed on at least a portion of
the film and an organic semiconductor film deposited on the
evaporated film. The endless belt also includes means for
indicating exposure frames and the endless belt is positioned so
that the photosensitive surface receives the image by a detector
mechanism which senses the exposure frames. The apparatus also
includes a movable frame which is detachably mounted to the copying
machine for tensioning, aligning, and maintaining the belt
flat.
Inventors: |
Tanaka; Susumu (Osaka,
JA), Enoguchi; Yuji (Osaka, JA), Ogawa;
Masaya (Osaka, JA) |
Assignee: |
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
(Osaka-shi, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
13859797 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/183,416 |
Filed: |
September 24, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 28, 1970 [JA] |
|
|
45-85471 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/165; 399/297;
198/813 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
15/263 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
15/00 (20060101); G03G 15/26 (20060101); G03g
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;355/3,14,16
;198/202,184 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Author-Hider et al., Title-"An
Electrographic Printer with Asynchronous Image Belt," Vol. 9, No.
11, 4-67..
|
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Assistant Examiner: Mathews; Alan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Watson, Cole, Grindle &
Watson
Claims
1. An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising:
an exposure station for supporting an original document to be
exposed;
an optical system for projecting a mirror image of said original
document;
means for conveying a photosensitive surface to receive the
projected image, and including an endless belt having a conductive
film thereon and supporting said photosensitive surface, said
photosensitive surface comprising a thin evaporated film of
non-crystalloid selenium formed on at least a portion of said
conductive film, and an organic semiconductor film deposited on
said evaporated film;
means for driving said endless belt;
a movable frame for tensioning and aligning said endless belt;
said endless belt including means for indicating exposure
frames;
means for detecting said exposure frames;
means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said
driving means to position said photosensitive surface to receive
said image;
means for supplying transfer sheets;
means for contacting individual ones of said transfer sheets with
said photosensitive surface; and
2. An electrophotographic copying machine as in claim 1 wherein
said thin
3. An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising:
an exposure station for supporting an original document to be
exposed;
an optical system for projecting a mirror image of said original
document;
means for conveying a photosensitive surface to receive the
projected image and including an endless belt supporting said
photosensitive surface;
means for driving said endless belt;
frame means for maintaining the longitudinal alignment of said
endless belt while being driven including a movable frame supported
on a shaft extending along the longitudinal axis of said endless
belt, said movable frame including a pair of said frames between
which an idling roller is rotatably mounted and over which said
endless belt travels, said side frames each having a protrusion
extending outwardly of said idling roller so that should said
endless belt shift toward either of said side frames, the edges of
said belt will come into contact with one of said protrusions
thereby causing said movable frame to rotate about said shaft to
realign said belt;
said endless belt including means for indicating exposure
frames;
means for detecting said exposure frames;
means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said
driving means to position said photosensitive surface to receive
said image;
means for supplying transfer sheets;
means for contacting individual ones of said transfer sheets with
said photosensitive surface; and
4. An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising:
an exposure station for supporting an original document to be
exposed;
an optical system for projecting a mirror image of said original
document;
means for conveying a photosensitive surface to receive the
projected image and including an endless belt supporting said
photosensitive surface;
a movable frame for tensioning and aligning said endless belt;
means for driving said endless belt and including a clutch;
said endless belt including means for indicating exposure
frames;
means for detecting said exposure frames;
means for supplying transfer sheets;
means for contacting individual ones of said transfer sheets with
said photosensitive surface;
means for developing and fixing the image on said transfer sheets;
and
means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said
clutch to position said photosensitive surface to receive said
image and including a circuit for controlling said means for
driving and said means for
5. An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising:
an exposure station for supporting an original document to be
exposed;
an optical system for projecting a mirror image of said original
document;
means for conveying a photosensitive surface to receive the
projected image, and including an endless belt having a conductive
film thereon and supporting said photosensitive surface, said
photosensitive surface comprising a thin evaporated film of
non-crystalloid selenium formed on at least a portion of said
conductive film, and an organic semiconductor film deposited on
said evaporated film;
means for driving said endless belt;
a movable frame for tensioning and aligning said endless belt;
said endless belt including means for indicating exposure
frames;
means for detecting said exposure frames;
means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said
driving means to position said photosensitive surface to receive
said image;
means for supplying transfer sheets, said transfer sheets each
comprise a conductive base member and a thin dielectric film coated
on said conductive base member;
means for contacting individual ones of said transfer sheets with
said photosensitive surface and including a conductive roller
engaging said conductive base member; and
6. An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising:
an exposure station for supporting an original document to be
exposed;
an optical system for projecting a mirror image of said original
document and including a flash device for illuminating said
original document;
means for conveying a photosensitive surface to receive the
projected image, and including an endless belt having a conductive
film thereon and supporting said photosensitive surface, said
photosensitive surface comprising a thin evaporated film of
non-crystalloid selenium formed on at least a portion of said
conductive film, and an organic semiconductor film deposited on
said evaporated film;
means for driving said endless belt;
a movable frame for tensioning and aligning said endless belt;
said endless belt including means for indicating exposure
frames;
means for detecting said exposure frames;
means responsive to said detecting means for actuating said flash
device;
means for supplying transfer sheets;
means for contacting individual ones of said transfer sheets with
said photosensitive surface; and
7. An electrophotographic copying machine as in claim 6 wherein
said movable frame is detachably mounted to the copying machine and
includes a driving roller for moving said endless belt, a movable
frame supporting said driving roller and supported on a shaft
extending along the longitudinal axis of said endless belt, and
means for extending said
8. An electrophotographic copying machine as in claim 7 wherein
said movable frame further includes means for engaging each side of
said endless belt to rotate said movable frame about said shaft to
re-align
9. An electrophotographic copying machine as in claim 6 wherein
said means for driving includes a clutch and said means responsive
to said detecting means controls said clutch and includes a circuit
for controlling said
10. An electrophotographic copying machine as in claim 6 wherein
said thin
11. An electrophotographic copying machine as in claim 6 wherein
said transfer sheets each comprise a conductive base member and a
thin dielectric film coated on said conductive base member and said
means for contacting includes a conductive roller engaging said
conductive base member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a practical copying machine
serviceable to produce a copy of books or the like, and more
particularly, to an electrophotographic copying machine of the type
in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a
photosensitive plate in response to a mirror image of an original
picture image by applying the Carlson image producing process.
Subsequently, thereafter a dielectric coated paper contacts the
photosensitive plate and the electrostatic latent image is
transferred onto the dielectric coated paper by means of the
so-called electrostatic transfer method.
The practical copying machine in the prior art has been represented
by a xerography type copying machine and an electrofax type copying
machine. The former has been used because a plurality of copied
sheets can be rapidly obtained thereby and these copies consist of
uncoated papers of light weight, and therefore are easy to handle.
However has the disadvantage that good clarity of a picture can not
be expected from these copies since the exposure of a picture image
is carried out by means of an original picture projecting optical
system which moves relative to the angular velocity of and
concurrently with a photosensitive substance on the surface of a
drum. Further, due to the physical processes such as the cascade
development, the transfer, and the cleaning operation carried out
directly on the photosensitive substance, the quality of the
picture is degraded on account of the photosensitive substance
which is accordingly damaged and degenerated. Moreover; the
outstandingly large size of the copying machine itself cannot be
avoided in relation to the image making process which must be
accomplished therein.
The latter type machine has been used because the copying machine
itself is of a small size owing to the simplified image making
process, and the copying speed of the first copy sheet is fast, as
well as the quality of the obtained copy is superior to that of the
former machine. However, it has the great disadvantage in that due
to the quality of the photosensitive zinc oxide paper of the
obtained copy, the treatment of the obtained copy is not so
feasible as the instance of an uncoated paper.
As described above, even though these practical copying machines in
the prior art have been widely used by making use of their
respective advantages, neither of them is completely satisfactory
due to the aforementioned disadvantage.
The known TESI method is an image producing method by which an
electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive body is
transferred onto a different dielectric coated paper and is then
developed, but there are a variety of modes involved therein. For
example, a dielectric coated paper contacts a photosensitive
substance having an electrostatic latent image formed thereon, and
both bases of the dielectric coated paper and the photosensitive
substance are grounded. Then the dielectric coated paper is
separated therefrom, and the electrostatic latent image being
accordingly transferred onto the dielectric coated paper. According
to this method, no physical process to be affected on the
photosensitive substance is required in order to transfer the
electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive substance, and a
copy consisting of a desirable dielectric coated paper can be
effected therefrom.
While, at present, no practical copying machine in which the
aforementioned method was embodied has been developed. This fact
depends on the conventional photosensitive substance according to
which the intensity of a copy is too low to obtain clear copies, in
a case of the repeated use of an identical photosensitive plate, on
account of the pre-exposure effect, and which is never appropriate
to practical use from the view point of the required high speed in
the copying operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventors of the present invention have disclosed a
photosensitive plate of which the structure and the photosensitive
mechanism are quite different from those of a photosensitive
substance or a photosensitive sheet for use in a practical copying
machine in the prior art, and which has great mechanical strength
and flexibility, and is capable of being charged to a high
potential of 1,000V or higher. Also the photosensitive plate also
is highly sensitive to such a degree that the exposure of a picture
image can be carried out solely with several lux-sec and with the
pre-exposure effect reduced to an outstandingly small value.
Additionally it is further capable of forming an electrostatic
latent image of high contrast and high resolving power. The
inventors have also disclosed a transfer sheet onto which an
electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive plate can
be efficiently transferred by means of the most simplified TESI
method as described above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a practical
electrophotographic copying machine of the electrostatic latent
image transfer type which uses the aforesaid photosensitive plate
and transfer sheet.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
electrophotographic copying machine of the electrostatic latent
image transfer type, in which an electrostatic latent image
consisting of a mirror image of a picture image is formed on a
photosensitive plate disposed on an endless belt, and the
electrostatic latent image is transferred onto a transfer
sheet.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an
electronic photograph copying machine which is endowed with high
sensitivity and high resolving power so that the electrostatic
latent image therein can be easily transferred.
The other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent through the description of an embodiment thereof as
set forth below.
The present invention is characterized by the following features
which are required to attain the various objects of the present
invention as described above.
One feature of the present invention resides in that an original
sheet exposure station is mounted to the top of a copying machine,
and an exposure optical system which projects the overall mirror
image of a picture image is disposed under the rest exposure
station. An endless belt conveying device which includes such
structure as a belt zigzag preventer, a belt tensioner and a belt
flattener at the projecting location. Also a photosensitive plate
is adhered to the endless belt so as to provide an original picture
projection part. The result is the capability of a picture image
copy having outstandingly high quality as compared with that of the
drum type sequential exposure process of the prior art.
Another feature of this invention resides in that the
photosensitive plate disposed on the endless belt is the same size
as an original picture to be projected thereon, and either one
sheet or plural sheets thereof are arranged thereon so that the
photosensitive plate is effectively made use of.
Still another feature of this invention resides in that arranged
around the endless belt conveying device are a corona discharge
device, an electrostatic image transfer conductive roller and a
photosensitive plate location detecting device, and the
photosensitive plate is set up in such a manner that it is usually
kept stationary at the location of the linear plane portion of the
endless belt, and is conveyed during a copying operation. Then it
is stopped at the initial location just when the final copying
operation is completed, the mechanical degeneration of the
photosensitive plate being accordingly prevented.
Further another feature of this invention resides in that a control
circuit is provided in order to programmably control the drive and
stop actions for the endless belt conveying device, as well as all
operations such as the ON-OFF action for the corona discharge
device, the ON-OFF action for the illuminating light source of the
original sheet exposure station, and the ON-OFF action for the
transfer sheet supplying device. Thereby any useless conveyance of
the photosensitive plate and any wasteful consumption of power are
obviated, in addition, a speedy copying operation is accordingly
made possible.
Another specific feature of this invention resides in that the
endless belt conveying device is removably mounted to the machine
body, and a belt zigzag preventing roller of the endless belt
device is pressed against a belt tensioner device so as to enable
the endless belt to be easily replaced.
Still another specific feature of this invention resides in that a
thin evaporated aluminum film is provided on the endless belt as an
electrode. Also arranged thereon is a flexible photosensitive plate
composed of successive laminations of a thin evaporated film of a
non-crystalloid selenium, either an organic semiconductor paint
film or a thin evaporated film of a non-crystalloid selenium, a
thin evaporated film of a Se-Te alloy, and an organic semiconductor
paint film. The transfer sheet is such that a thin film of a high
dielectric substance is coated on a paper base which has been given
a conductive treatment. Copies thereby obtained are better and
clearer than those obtainable by means of a practical copying
machine in the prior art, in addition, a speedy copying operation
being accordingly made possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIGS. 1A - 1C are illustrative views showing respectively the
structure of a photosensitive plate and a transfer sheet which are
adoptable to a copying machine in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outside appearance of a
copying machine in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view showing an essential part of
the copying machine.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an endless belt of the copying
machine, wherein a part of the endless belt is cut away.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an essential part of the
endless belt.
FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view showing the photosensitive
plate location detecting device of the copying machine, and
FIG. 7 is an illustrative electric diagram of control circuitry for
the copying machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A photosensitive plate P for use in the present invention is, as
shown by FIG. 1A, composed of a flexible film base a consisting of
a polyester film with a thickness of 75.mu., a thin aluminium film
b evaporated on base a to serve as an electrode, a very thin
non-crystalloid selenium evaporated film c laminated on aluminium
film b, and an organic semiconductor paint film d coated on
selenium film c. The semiconductor paint consisting of a polyvinyl
carbazole (PVK), a diphenyl trichloride (flexibility agent) and a
monochlorobenzene (solvent). The PVK film d of the uppermost layer
holds electric charges, and the thin selenium film c is for
absorbing light rays and generating electric charge carriers. The
thin aluminium film b forms a high rectifying barrier at the
boundary interface with the selenium film c and completely checks
positive holes from pouring into the thin selenium layer c. When
the surface of the photosensitive plate is negatively charged and
exposed to light rays, the positive holes generated in the thin
selenium film c migrate to the PVK film d, and are shifted towards
the surface thereof. The electric charge at the surface is
neutralized so as to form an electrostatic latent image thereon.
The above construction is a particular photosensitive plate which
has been improved intensity and contrast characteristics of the
picture image.
Next, if the photosensitive plate is modified, as shown by FIG. 1B,
in such a manner that a thin evaporated film e of a Se-Te alloy is
interposed as an intermediate film between the PVK film d and the
thin selenium film c, the sensitivity of the photosensitive plate P
is greatly increased because the thin selenium film c will no more
longer absorb light rays and merely checks positive holes against
their migration thereinto by forming a high rectifying barrier at
the boundary interface with the aluminium evaporated film b. It is
possible to mix tellurium in a weight ratio ranging from 10 percent
up to 60 percent into the selenium so as to make up the Se-Te alloy
film e.
Moreover, since photosensitive plates P are respectively so
constructed that the selenium film c and the Se-Te alloy film e are
so thin- each thickness is less than 1.mu. -the PVK film d is made
of a macromolecular substance, and the aluminum film b and the
selenium evaporated film c are solidly adhered to each other in
such a way that the aluminium film is first exposed to the glow
discharge and forcibly oxidized by ion-bombardment. Selenium is
evaporated thereon in a vacuum so as to obtain a strong cohesion
therebetween, and when the photosensitive plate is shaped, for
example, into an endless belt, even if it is stretched between two
rollers of 30 m .phi. and continuously rotated at the high speed of
1 m/sec for a period of 1,000 hours, the aluminium film does not
separate from the selenium film, and accordingly it can be reliably
put to practical use as a belt-like photosensitive plate.
The photosensitive plate P is charged and an electrostatic image is
formed thereon by an exposure of a picture image. Subsequently a
transfer sheet T, as shown by FIG. 1C is contacted therewith which
is composed of a paper g of a thickness from 25 .mu. to 150 .mu..
The combined plate and transfer are given a conductive treatment,
and a dielectric resin film h coated on the paper g by painting to
a dry thickness from 2 .mu. up to 10 .mu.. The resin may comprise
any resin of high dielectric strength such as, for instance,
polyethylene, wax, alkyd resin, cellulose acetate, epoxide, and
vinyl chloride acetate copolymer. The attached transfer sheet T is
then pressed from its rear side by means of a roller which has been
grounded and thereafter it is developed in a liquid. The result is
a copy which is better than that obtainable by a practical copying
machine in the prior art, particularly, if the photosensitive plate
of the construction shown in FIG. 1B is used. It was confirmed that
when it was charged to a potential higher than --1,000V, and
exposed to a picture image of several lux-sec, then obtained on the
transfer sheet T was a very clear visible image with no background
contaminated and having high contrast and high resolving power
(more than 50 lines/mm).
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic views showing the overall
construction of the copying machine in accordance with the present
invention, wherein, on the top of a housing 1 of the copying
machine, a glass plate 2 for use as a photographing station is
fixed. Arranged under both sides of the photographing glass plate 2
are light sources 5 affixed with reflection shades 4 which
illuminate the photographing surface of an original picture 3 which
is positioned on the glass plate 2. Light sources 5 being, for
example, an iodine lamp or a xenon lamp with a form approximate to
a tubular light source. The light rays incident upon the surface of
the original picture 3 are introduced to a mirror image projecting
optical system which comprises a first planar mirror 6 for
reflecting the light, a set of projection lenses 7, and a second
planar mirror 8. The optical system is arranged underneath the
glass plate 2 as shown in FIG. 3. Projection lenses 7 comprising
either one lens or plural lenses, or else a zoom lens, and being
arranged in such a way that the enlargement, the equality and the
reduction of an image size is thereby made possible as desired. But
such an arrangement is not shown in the drawing, as it is a well
known means. A photosensitive plate P on which a mirror image of
the original picture 3 being focused by means of the projecting
optical system is mounted onto an endless belt 10 which is conveyed
by an endless belt conveying system 9, and only one plate P is
shown in the drawing, but it may be modified to a number of
plates.
The detailed construction of the endless belt conveying device 9
will be hereinbelow described with reference to FIG. 4. Both side
plates 11 and 12 composing the main body of the endless belt
conveying device 9 are solidly built up by means of both side plate
connecting members 13 and 14, and a plate 15 is disposed so as to
occupy the area corresponding to the projected location between the
top levels of both side plates 11 and 12 in order to keep endless
belt 10 flat. Moreover rollers 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted to
both side plates 11 and 12 on the fore and aft sides of the
flatness keeper plate 15 in order to keep the endless belt 10 in a
plane. Members 15 through 17 constituting a belt flatness keeping
device.
Furthermore, on a bearing holding member 18 rigidly fixed to the
side plate connecting member 13, two bearings 20 and 21 which hold
a shaft 19 are mounted, and fixed on one end of the shaft 19 is the
main part of a metal fitting 24 of which side flanges 23 rotatably
support a roller 22 for preventing any possible zigzag of the
endless belt 10. Formed on the side flanges 23 are protrusions 23'
which prevent the belt 10 from projecting axially outwards of the
roller 22 due to any zigzag tendency. Assuming now that the belt 10
is dislocated towards the side plate 12, the side edge 10' of the
belt 10 comes into contact with the protrusion 23', thereby the
metal fitting 24 is clockwise rotated about the shaft 19 so as to
raise up that side with respect to the shaft 19. The lateral
tensional mode of the belt 10 is accordingly varied, tbe belt 10 is
therefore shifted towards the side plate 11 so that it is
automatically returned to its initial situation, as well as the
metal fitting is also returned concurrently to its initial
status.
Also provided is a belt tensioning device which comprises a collar
25 disposed between bearings 20 and 21 of the shaft 19 and fixed to
the shaft 19 by means of a stop screw. A compression spring 26 is
interposed between the collar 25 and the bearing 21,and which
tensions the belt 10 by biasing the metal fitting 24 together with
the roller 22 at all times in the axially left direction of the
shaft 19 on account of the compression spring 26.
The belt zigzag preventing roller, flatness keeper rollers 16 and
17, and a belt driving roller 27 which is rotatably fitted to both
side plates 11 and 12 and drives the endless belt 10, are all
covered by the endless belt 10.
An grounded conductive roller 28 is rotatably mounted on the main
body of the copying machine so as to abut the belt drive roller 27
as shown in FIG. 3, and an electrostatic transfer station is
composed of these two rollers 27 and 28.
As shown in FIG. 4, a gear 29 which is fixed on one end axle of the
roller 27 is arranged so as to mesh, at the time when the endless
belt conveying device is placed into its operating location, with a
gear 31 which is driven by a sprocket wheel 30 which is rotatable
only when it is engaged by an electromagnetic clutch CL so as to be
interlocked with the chain transmission from a motor Mm which is
continuously running as a driving source provided in the main body
of the copying machine.
In the case where the endless belt 10 is composed of a flexible
dielectric substance, such as polyester film, namely, in the case
where the flexible film base a in the photosensitive plate P of the
construction shown by FIGS. 1A and 1B, the photosensitive plate P
is composed of a conductive layer 32, as shown in FIG. 5, such as
an evaporated aluminum layer, a carbon powder containing resin
layer, a CuI layer etc., which is made up around the periphery of
both side edges of the endless belt. Roller 33 is rotatably fitted
to a spindle rigidly fixed to the main body of the copying machine,
grounded and arranged so as to be always kept in contact with the
conductive layer 32. Aluminum electrode b of the photosensitive
plate P shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is also grounded.
Whereas, in the case where the endless belt 10 itself is a
conductive belt, such as a stainless belt, a Ti belt etc., it is
sufficient to use a roller 27 which has been made conductive and is
grounded.
Arranged around the endless belt conveying device 9 and installed
to the main body of the copying machine are, with the exception of
the conductive transfer roller 28, the devices that are included
shown in FIG. 3 in which are a corona discharge device 34 and two
photosensitive plate tip detecting devices 36 and 37 for detecting
a photosensitive plate tip detection mark 35 which has been
inscribed on the endless belt 10 as shown in FIG. 5.
The photosensitive plate location detecting devices 36 and 37 are
respectively as shown in FIG. 6. A dark chamber 38 is separated
into two compartments, an illuminating lamp L is disposed in one
compartment thereof, and a photoelectric element CdS is disposed in
the other compartment. The compartments being respectively provided
with a small hole 38' through the bottom thereof, whereby a
photosensitive plate tip detection mark 35 which has been inscribed
on a highly reflective member such as an evaporated aluminium layer
is detected by the photoelectric element CdS by virtue of the lamp
L of which the light beam is reflected on the mark 35, and becomes
incident upon the photoelectric element CdS so that the arrival of
the photosensitive plate P thereat can be determined. However, the
top detection for the photosensitive plate P may be carried out in
accordance with any other known means such as, for instance, to
provide the belt 10 with a small hole by which a micro switch is
actuated, or else to provide a cam which can be interlocked with
the belt 10.
The photosensitive plate P on the endless belt 10 is operated in
such a manner that it is usually kept stationary at the location
detected by the detecting device 36 as shown in FIG. 3. But during
a copying operation it is conveyed until it arrives at the
projecting location where its movement is terminated on account of
its being detected by the other detecting device 37. Upon
completion of the exposure, it is again conveyed until it arrives
at the initial location where its movement is stopped owing to the
detecting device 36 which detects it again.
At a location above both rollers 27 and 28 composing the
electrostatic image transfer station, stacked on a rack 39 are a
plurality of transfer sheets T each of which is to be made up into
a final copy, and which are sent out one by one sequentially by
means of a feeding roller 40 driven by a motor M.sub.T. It is
understood that each sheet is transmitted in accordance with a
predetermined control determined by the movement of the belt 10. It
is controlled so that both tips of the photosensitive plate P on
the belt 10 and the transfer sheet T are simultaneously conveyed
into the clearance between both rollers 27 and 28.
Arranged beneath the transfer station are a pair of transmitting
rollers 44 and 45 for introducing the transfer sheet T into the
clearance between a developing belt 42 and an electrode 43 which
are both disposed in a liquid type developing apparatus 41. The
developing apparatus being constructed in such a manner that a
liquid type developer is circulated by means of a pump 47 driven by
a pump motor M.sub.p (not shown in FIG. 3) so that the developer
sucked from a developer reservoir 46 is supplied to the developing
apparatus 41 through a supply pipe 48. Any excess of the developer
is returned to the reservoir 46 via a return pipe 49, and excessive
developer contained in transfer sheet T being squeezed by means of
a pair of squeezing rollers 50 and 51 arranged appropriately in the
developing apparatus 41. A conveyor belt 54 is disposed for
conveying the transfer sheet from the developing apparatus 41 to a
copy receiving tray 53 which is fixed to the side plate 52 of the
copying machine. Also disposed above the conveyor belt 54 is a dry
fixing device 57 consisting of a heater 55 and an air fan 56 driven
by a fan motor M.sub.F not shown in the drawing. The heater 55 is
not necessarily required in the case where a self fixing agent is
contained in the developer. In addition, transmitting rollers 44
and 45, developing belt 42, squeezing rollers 50 and 51, and
conveyor belt 54 are all interconnected with the motor M.sub.M,
which is the driving source of the endless belt 10, by the
transmitting means of the sprocket wheel and the chain.
The copying machine of the present invention being constructed as
described above, the electric circuit thereof is connected as shown
in FIG. 7. A main switch S.sub.M, a starting switch S.sub.W and an
exposure light quantity regulating dial D are mounted at their
respective locations where they are easily handled from the outside
of the copying machine as shown in FIG. 2.
The operation of the copying machine in accordance with the present
invention will now be described. The main switch S.sub.M is first
switched to "ON". The motor M.sub.M, the pump motor M.sub.P and the
fan motor M.sub.F are thereby driven, and the heater 55 is
simultaneously activated. The transmitting rollers 44 and 45, the
developing belt 42, the squeezing rollers 50 and 51, and the
conveyor belt 54 are concurrently driven, but the endless belt 10
is not driven owing to the clutch having been disengaged. The
liquid type developer is continuously circulated by the pump motor
M.sub.P which is running.
After an original picture 3 is placed on the glass plate of the
photographing exposure station 2, if the starting switch S.sub.W is
pressed in order to start a copying operation, thereby the first
control circuit A.sub.1 is actuated so that the clutch CL is
operated so as to have the driving force of the motor M.sub.M
transmitted to the driving roller 27. The endless belt 10 is
accordingly rotated to have the photosensitive plate P conveyed,
and a high voltage transformer HV shown in FIG. 7 is simultaneously
activated so as to render a corona discharge device 34 shown in
FIG. 3 operable. Consequently, the photosensitive plate P is in
sequence charged so as to be made photosensitive as it is conveyed
under the corona discharge device 34. At the time when the
photosensitive plate P arrives at the projecting location, more
particularly, at the moment when the top detection mark 35 is
aligned with the photosensitive plate tip detecting device 37, the
tip detection circuit B.sub.1 is actuated so as to render the
second control circuit A.sub.2 operable. On account of the
activation of this control circuit A.sub.2, the high voltage
transformer HV is cut off so as to have the operation of the corona
discharge device 34 terminated. Concurrently the current to the
clutch CL is also shut off so that the rotation of the endless belt
10 is terminated, the photosensitive plate P being thereby stopped
at the projecting location.
Simultaneously, the light source 5 is actuated so as to illuminate
the original 3, thereby a mirror image of the original image is
projected on the photosensitive plate P via the planar mirror 6,
the projection lens 7 and the planar mirror 8, and an electrostatic
image being accordingly formed thereon.
Additionally, the control of the second control circuit A.sub.2 is
carried out by means of the exposure light quantity adjusting dial
D via an exposure light quantity adjustment circuit C.
Upon completion of the operation due to the second control circuit
A.sub.2, the third control circuit A.sub.3 is actuated so that the
light source 5 is extinguished, and the current to the clutch CL is
in turn restored so as to have the endless belt 10 again rotated.
Simultaneously, the motor M.sub.T is also started so that another
transfer sheet is taken out from the stack by means of the feeding
roller 40.
The photosensitive plate P and the transfer sheet T are together
caught between both rollers 27 and 28 so as to contact closely with
each other. The electrostatic image on the photosensitive plate P
is transferred to the transfer sheet T. The photosensitive plate P
is conveyed after the completion of the transfer, and at the moment
when the tip detection mark 35 thereof is sensed by the detecting
device 36, the tip detection circuit B.sub.2 is actuated so as to
terminate the operation of the third control circuit A.sub.3.
Consequently, the clutch CL is disengaged so as to terminate the
rotation of the endless belt 10, and the photosensitive plate P
being thereby stopped at the initial location thereof.
Whereas, the transfer sheet T having the electrostatic image
transferred thereon is immediately conveyed by means of the
transmitting rollers 44 and 45 to the liquid type development
apparatus 41. The electrostatic image is developed with a toner
while the transfer sheet T is being conveyed by the development
belt 42 towards the squeezing rollers 50 and 51 which squeeze off
the excessive developer contained in the transfer sheet T, which is
thereafter conveyed on the revolving conveyor belt 54 and dried
thereon until it is sent out to be stacked in the receiving tray
53.
In addition, the control circuits aforementioned are respectively
composed of by making use of various known means such as, for
example, a timer, a cam and a microswitch, a means being
sequentially operated by virtue of a relay and a microswitch, and
the like.
The descriptions shown hereinbefore are all concerned solely with
the operation in the case where only one photosensitive plate P is
disposed on the endless belt 10 and only one copy is produced
therefrom. However, any predetermined number of copies can be
continuously made up when plural copies are demanded, if a known
counter which is not shown in the drawing is provided, and the
first control circuit A.sub.1 is made operative at each time when
the detection mark 35 is detected by the detecting device 36 until
the final transfer sheet is signaled by the counter, and the
endless belt 10 is continuously rotated until the predetermined
number of copies are made.
Furthermore, if another photosensitive plate is additionally
mounted on the planar portion of the endless belt 10, so that
plural photosensitive plates are arranged thereon, the copying
speed for the plural sheets is thereby made faster. Moreover, in
the case where the photosensitive plate P is flexible, wherein
disposed on the endless belt 10 is a thin evaporated aluminium
film, and sequentially laminated thereon are a thin evaporated
non-crystalloid selenium film, a thin film layer consisting of
either an organic semiconductor paint or an evaporated
non-crystalloid selenium, a thin evaporated Se-Te allow film, and
an organic semiconductor paint film, the photosensitive plate P is
not always required to stop at the original picture projecting
location because of its outstandingly high sensitivity. The
formation of an electrostatic image can be successfully carried out
by means of a mere instantaneous projection thereof with a flash
bulb such as a xenon lamp or the like. Moreover, if the second
control circuit A.sub.2 is not endowed with the function to cut off
the current flowing to the clutch CL, the continuous copying
operation can be accomplished at an increased high speed.
Furthermore, in the copying machine according to the present
invention, the endless belt conveying device 9 can be easily taken
out of the copying machine by disengaging its gear 29 from the gear
31. The endless belt 10 is also capable of being taken out by
inwardly pushing the zigzag preventing roller 22 against the bias
of the compression spring 26. Accordingly, the replacement of the
photosensitive plate P can be easily accomplished.
Since the copying machine according to the present invention is as
described above, a picture image of an outstandingly high quality
can be produced, as compared with that in accordance with a
conventional copying machine, for example, a transfer type copying
machine such as a sequential exposure system provided on a drum
with a photosensitive substance. Any change of the magnification
such as the reduction or the enlargement thereof can be very simply
put in practice, also on account of no drum being required therein.
There exists only a small dead space so that there is provided a
transfer type copying machine of a compact conformation size which
could not be heretofore realized. Further, there are obtained
copies that are light and easy to handle, since they are comprised
of dielectric coated sheets of high quality owing to the super fine
grains particular to the liquid type development. Additionally,
because the photosensitive plate P is disposed on the flat portion
of the endless belt 10, and it is located at the flat portion at
all times when the belt is stationary, the photosensitive plate is
not impaired by any mechanical permanent strain so that it can be
effectively put to use. Moreover, the copying machine is capable of
rapidly producing a plurality of copies by means of the program
control, and each of the copies obtained by said copying machine
provided on the endless belt thereof with a flexible photosensitive
plate composed of a thin evaporated aluminum film, and thin film
layers which are further laminated in sequence thereon, and which
comprise an evaporated non-crystalloid selenium film, a film of
either an organic semiconductor paint or an evaporated
non-crystalloid selenium, an evaporated Se-Te alloy film, and an
organic semiconductor paint film, is better and clearer than the
same obtained by any conventional practical copying machine as well
as it becomes possible to make a multitude of copies at a higher
speed than ever before. In addition, the photosensitive plate can
be replaced merely by replacing the endless belt only, and the
replacement can be very simply and easily carried out. As described
hereinabove, the present invention is outstandingly effective in
that it is capable of providing an ideally practical copying
machine which is endowed with the advantages of the individual
copying machines in the prior art, and from which the disadvantages
thereof have been eliminated.
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